Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Thursday after the First Sunday after Trinity Sunday

Posted on June 10, 2021 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
Leave a comment

Scripture: St. Matthew 10:26-33 (NKJV)

10:26 Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.

27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Devotion

Our fear of God should be greater than our fear of the world. When we fear the world, it is because it threatens us in our body and makes our lives difficult. When we fear the Lord, it is because He threatens with eternal punishment all those who hate Him and transgress His Commandments. The world can only kill us once, but the death of the wicked is an everlasting thing.

Also, our love of God should be greater than our love of the world. While we fear God according to His Law, we love Him for His Gospel. Dr. Luther writes, “But terrible as are these threatenings, so much the more powerful is the consolation in the Promise, that those who cling to God alone should be sure that He will show them mercy, that is, show them pure goodness and blessing” (Large Catechism, First Commandment). To love the world is to throw God’s love back in His face, but to confess His love to others is to believe in Him as a gracious and loving Savior.

Whether we are called and ordained servants in His Church, or simply brothers and sisters in the faith, we all have occasion to confess our Savior before men. Let us not shy away from that confession, but be bold and walk in faithful love as Christ was bold in His love for us.

Prayer: O God, the Strength of all them that put their trust in Thee, mercifully accept our prayers; and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without Thee, grant us the help of Thy grace, that in keeping Thy commandments we may please Thee, both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Leave a Comment