Home > Reading > The Daily Lectionary – June 26, 2016

acts15-7

Numbers 14:26–45; Acts 15:1–12; Luke 12:49–56

Our Lord Jesus Christ comes to liberate us in this Word. The flesh wishes to interpret this Word in such a way that Jesus seeks to separate us through the power of the law. However, unlike the Pharisees, Jesus divides us from those who seek the power of the law unto salvation with his electing word of resurrection. Our gracious God separates us through the power of the gospel from the things that hinder us under a yoke of slavery. He gives us something greater than worldly peace. He gives us his peace, and in giving us his peace, he gives us a home.

So Jesus passionately undergoes the baptism we cannot undergo. He is not distressed because he is afraid, but because he cannot wait to have us as his own, raising us from the dead and freeing us for freedom. As Tom Petty says, “The waiting is the hardest part.” Christ loves you eternally, and again, gives himself to you in this word: “I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!”

Prayer: Father, thank you that once again, you separate us from the power of the law and bring us under your eternal gospel power so that we would be free by your Word alone. Amen.

Today’s devotion was written by Matthew McCormick, Pastor of Church of the Resurrection, North Charleston, SC.

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