Home > Reading > NALC Devotions – July 26, 2017

Today’s readings: 1 Samuel 12:1-25; Acts 8:14-25; Luke 23:1-12

There Jesus stood, one against the crowd. He had the power to save himself, but he refused. He knew God’s will and he knew what was about to happen: the ridicule, the beatings, and the crucifixion. Yes, he is the Son of God, but he is also fully human, so fear, alienation, and pain were things he fully experienced.

Jesus had three choices. He could have recanted and accepted the norms of the day. If he would have embraced the Jewish teachings of the day, he would have been the greatest Jewish scholar of all time. He could have called on God to deliver him. Or he could have accepted his call and stood firm. We know what Jesus chose and we know the results.

What about our call? How do we respond in the face of our sometimes counter cultural message? Do we remain quiet? Do we bail on what we believe, absorbing instead the latest societal norms into our theological and moral view? Or do we stand firm in the face of the accusations? Do we defend what we know to be the true teachings of God’s word? Like Jesus we too have three choices: play it safe, go along with the crowd, or stand firm.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, give us the strength today to stand firm even in the midst of persecution; in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today’s devotion was written by Steven King, Pastor of Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lincolnton, NC.

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