| THE DAY OF PENTECOST The True Water of Life May 31, 2020 We recall the Feast of Pentecost, fifty days after our Lord’s resurrection. In God’s wisdom, this is one of the feasts all were required to attend in Jerusalem. In this way God provided for the largest gathering from the farthest reaches where His people lived in order to discover what Pentecost was really all about. We hear the Word of God spoken to us in our own language, that powerful, mighty Word through which the Holy Spirit creates and strengthens the gift of saving faith in us. This faith is like living water flowing through our entire being bringing the refreshment of the forgiveness of all of our sins and a new and godly purpose for the living of our days. The water Jesus gives is the true water of life. “Rise, Shine, You People” [LSB 825] Rise, shine, you people! Christ the Lord has entered Our human story; God in him is centered. He comes to us, by death and sin surrounded with grace unbounded. See how he sends the pow’rs of evil reeling; He brings us freedom, light and life and healing. All men and women, who by guilt are driven, now are forgiven. Come, celebrate; your banners high unfurling, Your songs and prayers against the darkness hurling. To all the world go out and tell the story of Jesus’ glory. Tell how the Father sent the Son to save us. Tell of the Song, who life and freedom gave us. Tell how the Spirit calls from ev’ry nation God’s new creation. Psalm 25:1-15 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. 3 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. 4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. 5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. 6 Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD! 8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. 9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. 10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. 11 For your name's sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great. 12 Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. 13 His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. 14 The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. 15 My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. John 7:37–39 37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given since Jesus had not yet been glorified. The Holy Spirit showed Himself in dramatic fashion on that first Pentecost. The Holy Spirit was present, God’s Word was preached, and 3000 were brought to faith by the Spirit through the Word. Ultimately when we are talking about Pentecost, we are talking about faith in our Savior Jesus Christ. This is what is being presented in Jesus’ words, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.” (John 7:37) We need faith to work through the ongoing pandemic, and the protests, and the violence of the past week. The answers will not come from ourselves but from our God who cares for us. Violence comes from hate and the only true answer is God’s love shown most dramatically in Jesus’ death on the cross to pay for our sins and His resurrection to prove His victory over sin, death, and Satan’s power. John writes about this love as he records Jesus’ words. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (John 13:34) Jesus loved us enough to die for us. Our response to difficult times based on God’s love is what can we do to help others. Maybe that is what James meant when he writes, “Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2: 18) What we believe needs to be reflected in what we do, that is how we will best influence what goes on around us. Our best influence comes through our faith and our strength to endure will also come through that same faith. Jesus’ words give us promise and assurance. “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:38) Our faith comes from God and God can use that faith to reach others. “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9–13 Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. BENEDICTION The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Numbers 6:24–26 |
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Devotion 5/31/2020
Devotion 5/31/2020
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