Monday, July 24, 2023

Tuesday prior to Proper 12

 



Deuteronomy 7:6-9 - The Lord is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love. We are loved and blessed because the Lord first loved us. Yet this love must be reciprocated by His people to others. Thus in the New Testament we are reminded, “We love because He first loved us” {1 John 4:19}.

God’s faithfulness is guaranteed in his oath concerning his people.

He swore to Abraham to bless his seed and to bring blessing to the nations through his seed (v. 8). The oath is found in Genesis 22:16–18. This is the basis of his choosing of Israel.

That oath includes blessing for us. It was kept, and still is kept, ultimately in Christ’s work and applies to all the believing children and heirs of Abraham, including Gentiles with faith. (See Hebrews 6:13–19; Galatians 3:7ff.). Now both Jews and Gentiles who trust in Christ are the new Israel and may trust that the Lord is faithful never to leave nor forsake them.

All Christians are called to the holy purpose of faithfully serving and testifying to the Lord who has redeemed them. We are the new Israel, a holy “nation” to tell of his wonderful deeds to a world that still needs his marvelous light.[1]

A prayer before we study the WordAlmighty God, our heavenly Father, without Your help our labor is useless, and without Your light our search is in vain. Invigorate the study of Your holy Word that, by due diligence and right discernment, we may establish others and ourselves in Your holy faith.



[1] https://concordiatheology.org/2014/07/proper-12-%E2%80%A2-deuteronomy-76-9-%E2%80%A2-july-27-2014/
Image “God so loved the world” copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
Prayer from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
 


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