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. In 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,” Isaiah 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,
30 January, 2023—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,
31 January 2023—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, 01 February 2023—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, 02 February 2023—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 an oratorical 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, 03
February 2023—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, 04 February 2023—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 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 Yu 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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