Time in the Word
An Excellent Way
of Life
The life of a Christian is the primary
subject of this Sunday. It is a way of life that is better than living by the
letter of the Law. According to Isaiah, true fasting results in meeting the
social needs of people. The Epistle gives the source of Christian living – a Gospel
of power and not the wisdom of man. Christ is the Word of Life. We ask that we
may see and hear Him as the Life.
Light
is the dominant theme of Epiphany. A candle is a symbol of the season. Christ
is the Light of God whose glory is manifested throughout the season. Epiphany 5
continues the theme of life but with a different twist. Now Christians are the
light of the world because they are in Christ. In the Gospel, Jesus tells His
followers, “You are the light of the
world,” Isiah in the Old Testament says the light shines out of those who
properly fast. In the Epistle lesson, the source of the light is in the
crucified Christ proclaimed by Paul.
Monday, 3 February, 2014—Psalm 119:1-6; antiphon, Psalm 112:12—In the Introit for Sunday, we pray,
Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me Your statutes! This Psalm is an acrostic based on
the Hebrew letter Aleph. We meditate on the Word of our Lord and we walk
blameless as we are directed by Him who speaks to us in and through that same
word.
Tuesday, 3 February 2014—Psalm 15—This psalm gives instruction to
those who wish to have access to God at His temple. Thomas Jefferson called this psalm the picture of “a true
gentleman.” This is a testimonial of the man of God. What does God require of
the individual who seeks his company? He expects right conduct, right speaking
(verses 2-3a), right relationships with others (verses 3b-4), and a right use
of wealth (verse 5) (see Psalm 24). Who
swears… (Verse 4) i.e. who keeps his word whatever the cost; Verse 5, one
of the Jewish laws, see Leviticus 25:36-37. It was not a total ban on lending
at interest, but applied to fellow Israelites.
Wednesday,
5 February 2014—Isaiah
58:3-9a—The godly life is expressed in service.
Among most Christians today, fasting is scarcely practiced. If Isaiah were
living today, he probably would not have used it. Though fasting is not
generally practiced, the principle still applies. Religiosity in terms of
cultic practices, without practical helpfulness to the neighbor, does not bring
God’s blessings. When we put our religious devotions into sharing with the less
fortunate, we open ourselves to God’s presence and blessings.
Thursday,
6 February 2014—1
Corinthians2:1-12—The Christian life results from a
gospel of power. Paul decided to know nothing except Christ. Is that smart?
Paul knew more than most. He knew how to make a living by making tents; the Bible
thoroughly, for he was a student of the great Gamaliel; the philosophies of the
day, for he was a university student. When it came to making a living, we need
to know much. When it comes to making a life, knowledge and wisdom are useless.
It is enough to know Christ, for He is the truth about God and life.
Weakness
can be strength. This was the case with Paul. He felt that his ability to speak
oratorically in great wisdom, as was the custom of his day, was inferior.
With
fear and trembling, he perhaps stuttered and stammered the words of the Gospel.
In spite of his halting speech, people came to accept Christ as Savior. What
did this prove? The Word of the cross is the power to win people to Christ.
Friday,
7 February 2014—Matthew
5:13-20—The Christian life exceeds living by the Law. Followers of Jesus, Disciples of Christ are the light of the
world. Since Jesus said He was the light of the world, this may seem to be a
contradiction. Christians are light. You do not become light by good works. You
are light because, and only because, you are in Christ, the Light. The light
you have is not produced by your own. You are only the reflection of the light
of Christ who dwells in you by faith. If you are not seen as light in the dark
world, it indicates you are not in Christ. If the light is in you, it will be
seen by your good works, which result as naturally as a candle sheds its light
as a natural part of its essence.
The word “righteousness” has a
twofold meaning. Its ethical meaning embraces virtue, goodness, and
uprightness. The religious meaning means being rightly related to God and
neighbor. The righteousness of God is God’s rightly relating us to Himself. The
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was an ethical righteousness, which
involved a strict keeping of the letter of the law. The Christian has a righteousness
that exceeds the ethical. It is a right relationship with God and with people.
Anger is a symptom of a broken relationship. Forgiveness renews the
relationship.
Saturday, 8 February 2014—1John
3:16-19; Hebrews 13:16; Matthew 25:40—Sunday’s Hymn of the Day is Thy Strong Word (LSB #578). This wonderful hymn tells the story
of salvation as the Lord speaks to us in and through His Word. All three
persons of the Trinity are mentioned in the last stanza. God the Father,
light-creator, Jesus is the one eternal God begotten from the Father light of
light. The Holy Spirit is the light-revealer. Together with angels in heaven,
we praise the Triune God Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Collects
for Epiphany: Lord God,
on this day You revealed Your Son to the nations by the leading of a star. Lead
us now by faith to know Your presence in our lives and bring us at last to the
full vision of Your glory.
Father,
You revealed Your Son to the nations by the guidance of a star. Lead us to Your
glory in heaven by the light of faith. We ask this through our Lord Jesus
Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God,
forever and ever.
Father,
You make known the salvation of humankind at the birth of Your Son. Make us
strong in faith and bring us to the glory You promise. We ask this through our
Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives, and reigns with You and the Holy
Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Collects
for Epiphany 5: O Lord, keep Your Church continually in the true faith that,
relying on the hope of Your heavenly grace, we may be ever defended by Your
mighty power.
O God, You know that we cannot withstand
the dangers, which surround us. Strengthen us in body and spirit so that with Your
help, we may be able to overcome the weakness that our sins have brought upon
us.
Collect for Psalm 112: Lord Jesus You are the light shining
in darkness for the upright. Teach us to love one another as You love us, that
we might bring peace and joy to the world and find the happiness of Your home where
You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
forever. Amen
Sources:
Prayers from Lutheran
Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House
Lectionary
Preaching Workbook Series A by John Brokhoff © 1980 CSS Publishing Lima OH
For All the
Saints A Prayer Book for and By the Church Vol. II © 1995 by the American
Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi,
NY
Luther’s Seal © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
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