Lutheran Daily Devotional 12 February 2022 || Saturday Message By Lutheran Hour Ministries.
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TOPIC: Ponder
SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 4:12 – For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Lutheran Daily Devotional 12 February 2022 Message
There is great value in pondering God’s Word. Every time we hear a Bible-based sermon, God works through His Word. The picture of who God is and who Jesus is, and why Jesus died on the cross becomes clearer because the Holy Spirit opens our mind. The Word of God enlivens us, blessing us with spiritual health and vigor (see Psalm 1:2-3).
Discussing who Jesus is helps sharpen and clarify our faith as well. From intense discussions on Christ’s ministry and identity, major Creeds were established such as the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. These Creeds are refined confessions of the Christian faith—clear statements of who Jesus is, what He did to save us from sin’s curse, and how He will one day return in glory.
The daily pondering of God’s Word is a wise exercise. Also helpful is when we commit to memory some of Scripture’s greatest passages. For fans of Isaiah, there’s this classic text concerning Jesus: “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5).
But we don’t need to stop there. We can add the following verse, too. All of us, the Bible says, men, women, and children are in need of God’s grace, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). These three verses from Isaiah beautifully declare God’s love to us in Jesus, hundreds of years before He was born.
The apostle Paul reminds us in many ways that we see life only “dimly,” or unclearly (see 1 Corinthians 13:12-12). Nevertheless, this is why God has given us not only His Word, but also His Holy Spirit to guide us. Then, by daily meditation on His Word, we can see Jesus more clearly, understand His words more fully, and rejoice in His grace and mercy more completely.
And so, my friends, keep God’s Word close at hand. Make it part of your daily routine just as you might exercise your body, or engage in some other pursuit. Jesus said, “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63b). Ponder, therefore, like Mary did, the wonder of the Savior in your life (see Luke 2:13-20). Then, live joyfully every day with the biblical promise, “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4b).
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, lead us by Your Holy Spirit as He guides into all truth concerning Your Son, Jesus Christ. In His Name we pray. Amen.
From “Mary: A Reminder of Spiritual Mothers,” a sermon from Rev. Dr. Wallace Schulz, former Speaker of The Lutheran Hour
Reflection Questions:
- What is the value of having creeds about the Christian faith?
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How do you think the Word of God can discern our thoughts and our hearts’ intentions?
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When was the last time you read the Bible with someone else? What were you doing?
Today’s Bible Readings: Exodus 14-15 Matthew 26:36-75
Lutheran Daily Devotional 12 February 2022. Lutheran Hour Ministries is a trusted resource in global media that equips and engages a vibrant volunteer base to passionately proclaim the Gospel to more than 150 million people worldwide each week. Through its North American headquarters and ministry centers on six continents, LHM reaches into more than 60 countries, often bringing Christ to places where no other Christian evangelistic organizations are present. LHM’s flagship ministry, The Lutheran Hour®, airs weekly on more than 1,800 radio stations and the American Forces Network.
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