Daily Devotion 3/5: Psalmody: Psalm 118:22-29 Additional Psalm: Psalm 119:41-48 Old Testament Reading: Job 37:1-24 New Testament Reading: John 12:1-19 Writing: Whoever wants to belong to the one, invisible Church must be an upright Christian, striving with great earnestness to do what God has commanded and to leave undone what He has forbidden. Such a person also has the holy duty to belong, where he can, to an orthodox visible church because this, too, is a clear command of God. According to God’s Word, a person should not only have the right faith in his heart, but he should also confess it with his mouth and his deeds. Therefore, whoever wants to belong to the true invisible Church also joins with those who confess the faith of this Church…. No one who wants to be saved is free to remain alone, to separate himself from the multitude of other confessors of the truth, and to keep the divine service only for himself. Instead, each person is bound to keep himself where the Word is preached in an open and orderly manner. As David testifies, “I hate the assembly of evildoers…. I wash my hands in innocence and go around Your altar, O Lord, proclaiming thanksgiving aloud, and telling all Your wondrous deeds” (Psalm 26:5-7). Christ says, “And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector” (Matthew 18:17). When the apostles converted 3,000 souls on the first Pentecost, the Book of Acts reports that “they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (2:42). Later, when those zealous for the faith wanted to go out, the apostles cautioned, “[Do] not [neglect] to meet together, as is the habit of some” (Hebrews 10:25). And as Paul exhorts in [1 Corinthians 1:10], believers should tolerate “no divisions among you,” but instead should be “united in the same mind and the same judgment.” -C. F. W. Walther Hymnody: Ride on, ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die. O Christ, Thy triumphs now begin O’er captive death and conquered sin. -Ride On, Ride On in Majesty (LSB 441:2) Prayer of the Day: Almighty God, grant that in the midst of our failures and weaknesses we may be restored through the passion and intercession of Your only-begotten Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Suggested Reading from the Book of Concord: Epitome of the Formula of Concord IX-X
Posted on: Mon, 03 Mar 2014 23:56:58 +0000
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