Devotion for 11 September

A brief prayer is offered that you can add to your daily prayers this week. The scripture is from our Sunday Service Bulletin for today.  We are continuing a sermon series on the teaching of the scriptures comprising a foundation of our faith. Today’s Epistle and Gospel texts focus on the nature and character of Jesus’ words.

Epistle Reading: 2 Timothy 3: 16-17 (English Standard Version)

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 7:26 (English Standard Version)

And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

Devotion: Our “User’s” Manual

The “breathed out by God” in our epistle text is an allusion of creation. So that, as God created life, he also directed the creation of the Scriptures. The reference to “man of God” likely describes a pastor or perhaps a called servant of the Word. A very good analogy here was talked about in our sermon today, where we imagined how the bible is our “users’ manual”. Referring to our manual and following the directions will keep us on the straight and narrow. Some of us have quite the collection of user’s manuals at home because some of the new technology “must haves” require a lot of care and feeding. I think this is a pretty good analogy to the care and feeding we sinners require. With regard to following instructions, our Gospel text has Jesus wrapping up His sermon on the mount when He talks about building a house on the sand.  in those days, the audience would have gotten the message because flash floods were an issue in Palestine. Also in using the “foolish” remark he is echoing several instances in Proverbs and Psalms where literally “fools” are those who leave God out of their lives. [Please see Ps 14:1, 53:1, Prov 12:15-16; 14:33] His sermon conclusion, then, about both hearing and doing the word, offers up a secure future for the wise disciple who not only hears His words but also follows direction.

We pray: Lord help us be obedient to your word. Amen