Bible Readings and Devotion for May 18, 2020
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Devotion for May 18, 2020
By Pastor David Tinker
Monday, May 18, is the 40th anniversary of my Confirmation. On May 18, 1980 I affirmed by Baptism in the presence of God’s people and of our loving God, the Father, Son, Holy Spirit. When I affirmed my baptism, I was connecting with my faith, and giving glory to our God. I was honoring the Lord who had founded my faith in what God has first done for me in Jesus Christ. I was committing love God and loving my neighbor. When I was baptized on September 18, 1966, I was united to Jesus in the name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is worthy of praise, just because he is God. On top of that, we give praise to God for all he has done for us in the work of Jesus Christ. We praise and thank him for Jesus’ death on the cross for our sin. We praise and thank him for his glorious rising from the dead. We praise and thank him for the forgiveness of our sin. We praise the Holy Spirit for leading us to God’s most excellent way, both now and forever.
The Apostle Paul gives a powerful expression of this in the opening part of his letter to the Ephesians, chapter 1, verses 3 through 14. I like to call it “An Ode to the Holy Trinity”. It has three distinct sections praising or giving “Doxa” to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Each section ends with a similar note of praise to that person of the Trinity. Let’s read this now:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5 He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
FATHER: to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9 he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory.
SON: … for the praise of his glory.
13 In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; 14 this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.”
HOLY SPIRIT: to the praise of his glory.”
We are blessed to have a way of proclaiming a Doxology. This Doxology is to the praise of the God revealed to us as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thankfully we know who God is, and what he has done for us in Jesus Christ.
When we realize the greatness of our God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we are guided to two main responses. One is to praise God, and the other is to serve and build up others. As we go through our days, no matter what we say or do, it is an opportunity to rejoice in our God and to love our neighbors.
Prayer
God of heaven and earth, before the foundation of the universe and the beginning of time you are the Triune God: Author of creation, eternal Word of salvation, life-giving Spirit of wisdom. Guide us to all truth by your Spirit, that we may proclaim all that Christ has revealed and rejoice in the glory he shares with us. Glory and praise to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen
Prayer from Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Copyright © 2020 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
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