Home > Reading > NALC Devotions – July 12, 2017

Today’s readings: 1 Samuel 2:12-26; Acts 2:1-21; Luke 20:27-40

“I just want to be a sheep, bah-bah (come on now, sing along)… I don’t want to be a Sadducee, cause they’re so sad you see.” In today’s Gospel reading, we learn why they are so sad. They did not believe in the resurrection. So, they asked Jesus a trick question, even quoting God’s law. So, “sad you see!”

At least three points emerge from this scenario:

1. Do you believe in the resurrection and life hereafter? The fact that recent books such as Heaven is for Real and Five Minutes in Heaven have found their way onto bookshelves might be evidence of people struggling with this question. May I urge you to seek the answer instead, in daily Bible reading and study instead of clinging to human interpretations and expositions.

2. Sometimes God’s word is used inappropriately to deceive us. Like Jesus, we too should put the biblical quote into its proper context (v. 35-37) and allow scripture to interpret itself.

3. The resurrected life invites us into a totally new reality (v. 34-36). It is not this life all over again. See also Revelation 21.

Prayer: Dear Lord, give us the resilience to want to be your sheep and not fall prey to any sad and misguided false doctrines. Amen.

Today’s devotion was written by Heidi PuntPastor of Christ United Lutheran Church in Granite Falls, NC.

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