3 Devotions based on this coming 2nd Sunday after Pentecost
Pentecost 2-Old Testament
TEXT: Exodus 19:2-8
TITLE: Priests Forever
“…and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” Ex. 19:6
The astute reader already recognizes these words are a cross reference to 1 Peter 2:9 which says, But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. This confirms the facct that w all are a nation of Priests meant to spread the Gospel to all the world of the Light of Jesus, with the power to forgive sins as was given to the Priests in times of old.
On the one hand, we are all sinners, and anything but Priests. But on the other hand, we are Priests as described above, and this only by the grace of God! Have we any idea of the ramifications here? We have a one way ticket to heaven as long as we do not allow our sinful nature to take over our holy will; that is, God’s holy will. We have the free will to ignore God’s grace, but who would want to! For we cannot shut down God’s eternal love for us! That remains the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow! PTL!
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for making us a kingdom of Priests and showing us ‘the Way!’ Help us in our unbelief to keep from denying You as our Supreme Priest, i Jesus Name, Amen.
2nd Sunday after Pentecost-Epistle
TEXT: Rom. 5:6-15
TITLE: L and G
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Rom. 5:6
Interestingly, this vs. 6 is almost a carbon copy to vs. 8 which reads, …that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. In a sense, this verse is a Gospel in a nutshell like John 3:16…For God so loved the world, etc. Also, in one verse we have summed up the entire Old Testament Law… while we were still weak, and then the Gospel of the New Testament with… at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
Law and Gospel is the basis of all scripture and needs to be preached by every Christian Pastor who, by God’s grace, “gets it!” We get it by going to church. That isn’t to say, ‘church saves us!” For only Jesus does that (on the cross)! Or, we can say 1 Pet. 3:15…Baptism doth now save us!” and we would be correct again! What a blessing to receive such things as the promise of eternal life, forgiveness of sins, and life now in His Spirit for all time. On the one hand, sinners destined to hell, while on the other hand, saved by grace!
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for Your Law to show us our sins, keep us on the way, and provide a rule or guide for us as we live in Your grace, in Jesus Name, Amen.
2nd Sunday after Pentecost-Gospel
TEXT: Matt. 9:35-10:8 (9-20)
TITLE: Taking It Personal
The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Matt. 9:37-38
Do you ever take things personally? I believe to say ‘no’ to that Q is to make yourself a liar! How can we not take things personally. Sometimes when people ask the age of another person, or ask a lady if she’s pregnant and she’s not (just because she may have a few extra pounds), it becomes offensive to that person…They took it personally! It just so happened I took this verse personally and as a result, I became a Pastor!
On the one hand, every other Christian including myself, this verse is just words on a page that don’t mean a thing….at least to our fallen nature. We are all different and with different gifts and the Lord calls us to love God and one another. On the other hand, by grace we all take this verse personally and we either become Pastors, or missionaries (but not members of the Royal Priesthood for we already are!) or, one’s who support missions and follow all aspects of the Christian life. I pray you take these words personally!:)
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for helping us take Your Word personally, in Jesus Name, Amen.