Read Leviticus 10
Read Romans 10
What great encouragement lies in this chapter. Encouragement to remind us of our own salvation. Encouragement then also to carry the Gospel to others.
Paul (as he likes to do) reminds us again that salvation comes not by works. The one who relies on their works claims in a sense that they are able to ascend into heaven to bring Christ to earth, or to descend to the abyss to raise up Christ from the dead. This, of course, is not possible for anyone to do save God alone. But just as absurd as that thought is, so it is absurd to believe that we can merit our own salvation.
That's a good thing to remember next time we have a hard time calling sins to mind. Yes, even we Lutherans who have "saved by grace" hammered into our heads can get caught up in thinking how great and wonderful and holy we are. But we are nothing, except for what Christ is in us.
But here is the encouragement. Faith comes by hearing the word of Christ. One of the Lutheran "sola" statements, we rejoice that we are saved "sola fide," that is, by faith alone.
This then motivates us to reach out to others. For we have the Word of Christ in us. It is in our mouths, even on our unholy lips. Yes, the Holy Spirit cleanses our sin and purifies us to speak God's Holy Word to others.
And this Word has power. It can make the dead to live, and the decaying regenerate. This is why Paul challenges us to think about how people can believe if they don't hear this Word. How can they hear unless someone speaks it to them? And how will we speak it unless we are sent.
Indeed, we are sent. Jesus tells us to "Make disciples of all nations" by baptizing and teaching.
So, we go and speak the Word to those around us. You can call it a command if you like. I call it an reminder to seize every opportunity!
Ask Yourself:
Why is it easy to speak the Word to some people, but difficult to others?
Is there anything I can do to make it easier to witness in those difficult circumstances?
Pray:
"We praise You, O Lord, for welcoming us through the words of all those who bring to us the Good News of Your love. Place that faith-creating Word on our lips, that we may speak to those who have not yet heard or believed. Amen." (TLSB p. 1931)
Study with me tomorrow,
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
What's the deal with Nadab and Abihu? I don't get what they did?
ReplyDeleteGod gave very detailed, very specific commands on what they were to do. They chose to burn "unauthorized fire," that as part of their service they burned incense in a way that God had not commanded them. I'm not the expert to know if they were bringing pagan worship practices into God's holy worship, or if the sin was just veering away from the command of God by taking matters into their own hands and deciding they were qualified to conduct worship however they pleased. I believe it is definitely safe to say that what they did was wicked, not just an honest mistake.
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