Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Wednesday within the Octave of Whitsunday

Posted on May 18, 2016 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
Leave a comment

Scripture: Isaiah 45:18-21 (NKJV)

18 For thus says the Lord,

19 I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in vain’; I, the Lord, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

20 “Assemble yourselves and come; Draw near together, you who have escaped from the nations. They have no knowledge, who carry the wood of their carved image, and pray to a god that cannot save.

21 Tell and bring forth your case; Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, a just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me.”

Devotion

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). Together with the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit created the world. God the Holy Trinity did not create the world without purpose, but established it as a place to be inhabited—a place to be filled with life.

Filling the world with life has been the work of the Holy Spirit from the very beginning. He is the Lord and Giver of Life, Who brings the breath of life to flesh to create living beings (Gen. 2:7) and, even more, Who brings the life of the Spirit to those who are dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1). From ancient time—from the very beginning of the habitation of this world by man—the Holy Spirit has declared to all mankind the tender mercies of the One, True God. Through the preaching of the Word in the world, the Spirit Who always accompanies that Word has drawn unbelievers into faith. He calls out idolaters who worship a god made in their own image, calling them to faith in the God Who has made man in His own image. He dwells within the hearts of believers and leads them to pray not to a god made of wood who cannot save, but to the Ever-Living God not made with hands Who saves His faithful people from sin and death by Christ Jesus.

We pray: Lord and Giver of Life, continue to bring life to me daily by Your grace through the Word and Sacraments of Christ Jesus, My Savior, that I might enjoy the fullness of Your life here, and the fullness of eternal life hereafter; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Leave a Comment