The Living Word Does Not Change

walking in the truth

Introduction:  How many Lutherans does it take to change a light bulb? Change? What change!? [Sorry. Many of you have undoubtedly run across this "joke" before, but it seemed like a good preface to this devotional.]

Today's Truth from Scripture

"Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace . . . " Hebrews 13:7-9a [emphasis added]

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a lamp unto my path." Psalm 119:105

"Jesus answered, 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father except by Me." John 14:6

Today's Devotional Thoughts

The very first course I took when I started working on a Masters in a state university in the late '70s was taught by a very well-educated professor--who, we surmised--had possibly never taught at any previously level. [True confession time:  I didn't quite finish this Masters program. I started & completed another Masters when we moved to Nebraska.]

I say that for two reasons. She would lecture, stopping every once & awhile to turn & write something on the white board before resuming. When it was time for our break, she would leave the classroom. We would glance at each other's notes. Despite a white board crammed full of words & phrases, all of our notebooks were . . . blank. As in, absolutely.

The second reason was the major research paper we were assigned to write. She explained the topic at our first meeting. [We met once per week in an evening class. Most of us were English or reading teachers, somewhat or very familiar w/the mechanics of composition.] Her explanation was "somewhat" vague. The next week a student complained about one of her requirements for footnotes. So the professor changed her guideline. The following week there was another complaint, & the professor changed her guideline again. This was followed by groans & a flurry of complaints, because by then some students had began writing their papers [I wasn't one of them. The paper wasn't due until the end of the term.] & now they would have to go back & make changes. So the NEXT week, after thinking things over, she allowed us to be flexible with our "foot-noting" style. It was a long semester.

Where am I going with this? Well, first of all, the analogy between my professor & Jesus Christ is weak insofar as the former being a mere "teacher" & the latter being the Savior of the world. Jesus did His fair share of teaching & it wasn't long before He earned the label "rabbi," even from His opponents, but His message was clear & consistent--& radically different--from the beginning.

"I AM the Way THE Truth & THE Light . . . " Since OT times "I AM" was language reserved for Yahweh & Yahweh alone. How dare Jesus refer to Himself in the same manner! Talk about an inconvenient truth--He identified Himself with this godly reference because He was--in fact--God, Jesus ("savior") Christ ("the anointed one"), the Son of God.

More than a rabbi or teacher, Jesus came into the world to save sinners. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one & only Son that whoever believes in Him will not die eternally but have eternal life." (John 3:16) His message remained consistent day after day, week after week, throughout His earthly ministry.

His message ran counter to the religious thought of His day, which taught that one could only be right with Yahweh by observing not just the moral Law of the 10 Commandments but also literally hundreds of rabbinical laws added to the Law over the course of hundreds of years . . . how many steps you were allowed to walk on the Sabbath . . . whether it was lawful to heal the sick on the Sabbath, just to name two.

His message was radically different & He remains "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" yesterday, today, & tomorrow. Forgiveness & salvation are only possible through faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord & Savior . . . & faith in Jesus is only possible by the grace of God. We can't earn it. We can't buy it. We can't wish it.

And how do I know this? 

• "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
• His "word is a lamp unto my feet and a lamp unto my path."
• Jesus Christ--the Living Word--has His stamp imprinted all over His inerrant, written Word . . . Holy Scripture.

Today's Prayer Thoughts

Jesus Loves Me
"Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong; They are weak, but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so." *
* Source:  LSB #588, st. 1

Thy Strong Word
"Thy strong word did cleave the darkness, At Thy speaking it was done.
For created light we thank Thee, While Thine ordered seasons run.
Alleluia, alleluia! Praise to Thee who light does send!
Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia without end!

"From the cross Thy wisdom shining Breaketh forth in conqu'ring might;
From the cross forever beameth All Thy bright redeeming light. 
Alleluia, alleluia! Praise to Thee who light does send!
Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia without end!" *
* Source:  LSB #578, st. 1 & 4

Missionary News

Lois & I have "adopted" two missionaries:  Pastor Stuart & Debra Freese, who are preparing to serve in Ghana & West Africa, probably beginning soon after the 1st of the year. They are spending their time now getting ready for this assignment, which includes traveling to spread the word about the mission work in Africa & raising support with the help of Gary Thies. Some of you know Gary from his work via Mission Central. [http://missioncentral.us/missioncentral/welcome] I have Stu & Deb's permission to share the following information with you.

• Email: debra.freese@lcmsintl.org
• Email:  stuart.freese@lcmsintl.org
• Facebook:  www.facebook.com/FreesesinAfrica/ (NOTE:  You don't need a Facebook account to view this page.)
• Website:  http://debrafreese.wix.com/freesesinafrica
• Giving Page:  http://www.lcms.org/freese