Lutheran Daily Devotional 10 September 2022 || Speaking to the Heart

Lutheran Daily Devotional 10 September 2022 || Saturday Message By Lutheran Hour Ministries

Read Lutheran Daily Devotional 10 September 2022

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TOPIC: Speaking to the Heart

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 4:10 – But Moses said to the LORD, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since You have spoken to Your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”

As any Lutheran Hour Speaker can tell you, they regularly receive correspondence from their listeners. In regard to that, a Christian lady summarized my responsibility in one simple sentence: “Speak to our spiritual needs.” How very true I thought. This is the necessity of every Christian preacher who is faithful to his calling.

Preaching that does not touch the spiritual needs of those in the pew or those listening over the radio is like a “noisy gong” or a “clanging cymbal” (see 1 Corinthians 13:1). Preaching that is centered on current events and headlines often has little to do with sharing the Gospel. Preaching that is more concerned with ecclesiastical niceties than with the fear, guilt, and doubt that plague our souls is a violation of Christ’s command to “proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15b).

“Speak to our spiritual needs,” my friend wrote, and then she added: “Be helpful.” That is exactly what I intend to do. As a Christian minister and teacher, I know about the spiritual needs of modern society. I have counseled people who were grappling with sins such as thievery and cheating and fraud. I’ve spoken at length with people who were ruined by alcoholism, sex, drugs, or other corrupt behaviors.

In talking to these people, I have seen tears of repentance and heard words of heartfelt confession. And I have seen joy in the eyes of those who understood—often for the first time—God’s full and free forgiveness made possible in the life, death, and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. And I have realized that though I am full of excuses and clever defenses that just like Moses I too can still be used by God to share His Good News message with others.

Scripture’s message from God is extensive, touching man’s life at every important point. The essence of it is simple. It tells us that we were created by God in His own image—we are fearfully and wonderfully made, but altogether dependent on God. It tells us of God’s living orders for man: man must be perfect. It tells us of man disobedience: man sins. And it tells us of God’s justice: “the wages of sin is death”—eternal death.

And then it tells us of God’s remedy, “but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). In this divine gift of love for mankind, God is ready to forgive us all for Jesus’ sake—and for Jesus’ sake alone.

As the writer of the book of Hebrews says, “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until His enemies should be made a footstool for His feet. For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:12-13).

That’s the message from God I have for you today.

WE PRAY: Heavenly Father, let us both hear and speak Your message as we ought. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

From “A Message from God,” a sermon excerpt from Rev. Dr. Armin Oldsen, former Speaker of The Lutheran Hour

Reflection Questions:

1. Have you ever felt incapable of some task God placed before you? How did that go?

2. How can we communicate and interact with others in a way that is godly and helpful?

3. How does God speak to us today?

Today’s Bible Readings: 2 Chronicles 27-28    Acts 19:1-20

Lutheran Daily Devotional 10 September 2022 from LHM will help strengthen and encourage your faith as you do the same for others. Have them delivered right to your inbox, podcast the audio devotional, access them on your mobile device through the FREE app, or listen with Spotify, iHeart Radio, Alexa, or Google Home. Seasonal Devotions for Advent and Lent are also available in both English and Spanish. Perfect for personal reflection or to share with family, friends and congregations, these seasonal meditations will help prepare you to celebrate the true meaning of these seasons. Lutheran Daily Devotional 10 September 2022