Home > Reading > NALC Devotions – May 12, 2017

Today’s readings: Jeremiah 31:15-22; Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 7:1-17

Let us talk about F.A.I.T.H. for just a moment; F.A.I.T.H. as a true gift of God’s grace, (Eph 2:8-9) and F.A.I.T.H. as a vehicle for healing.

Free – Jewish leaders approach Jesus requesting that he heal the Roman official’s servant because, “he is the one who built us our synagogue” or in layman’s terms, he deserves help because he is a good man. The next story shares how the widow’s son is brought back to life for no other reason except Jesus’ compassion on the weeping mother.

Adoration – We do not hear much more about the servant and his healing or how people responded to it, but we do hear that the funeral procession was “seized” with fear “and they glorified God” when they saw what Jesus had done. In the presence of God’s power we are overwhelmed with adoration.

Initiative – In both of these stories, Jesus initiates healing with just a simple word. The same word we now hold in written form and hear proclaimed.

Tragedy – There was impending death and certain death woven in each of these stories, yet Jesus manages to change the tragic circumstances into triumphant celebrations for new life.

Healing is freely orchestrated by God, producing adoration and it changing tragedy.

Prayer: Guard our hearts, O Heavenly Father, to wait on you in our hour of need. Amen.

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

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