Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Wednesday after the Second Sunday after the Epiphany of our Lord

Posted on January 20, 2021 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: St. John 1:15-18 (NKJV)
 
1:15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’”
 
16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
 
Devotion
 
“No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”
 
This is an important point that needs to be taught whenever someone says they are “spiritual” or they “believe in God,” but they don’t want to be part of the Christian Church. God has glorified Jesus Christ and said “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matt. 17:5) No one truly sees or worships God unless they see Him in the Gospel of Jesus Christ crucified.
 
Satan would have us believe that there are different paths to holiness and having a “personal relationship with God.” But any other vision, or version, of God ends up being twisted and incomplete. Apart from Christ, ideas about the divine just end in frightening power and judgment against our sinful, frail humanity. The Jews reject Jesus as Lord and look to a false god that has left them waiting for a king that isn’t coming. Islam rejects Jesus as Lord and looks to a false god who encourages violence and deception. False teachers reject Jesus as Lord and encourage people to look to their own works and sentiments, which change and fail quickly and constantly. But when we look at the cross of Christ Jesus we are shown the true God, who became one of us and laid down His life to pay for our sins. He alone is the God that is worthy of our love and trust!
 
Prayer: Almighty and Everlasting God, who dost govern all things in Heaven and Earth, mercifully hear the supplications of Thy people and grant us Thy peace all the days of our life; 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.

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