We are God’s people….but what does that mean???
Devotional/ Discussion Question of the Day.
6 To show that you are his children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who cries out, “Father, my Father.” Galatians 4:6 (TEV)
Therefore it is the intent of this commandment to require true faith and trust of the heart which settles upon the only true God and clings to Him alone. That is as much as to say: “See to it that you let Me alone be your God, and never seek another,” i.e.: Whatever you lack of good things, expect it of Me, and look to Me for it, and whenever you suffer misfortune and distress, creep and cling to Me. I, yes, I, will give you enough and help you out of every need; only let not your heart cleave to or rest in any other.
The Large Catechism of Martin Luther.
We talk of faith all the time in the church. But I think we often mistake it for something that it is not.
Faith is not the doctrine we teach, the doctrine that has been handed down to us. Our Faith is not a description of our practices and policies that define the Church, or even the church itself.
All these things are good, but it is not at the core of that which we must past down.
Faith is described in Luther’s words above – the trust of the heart which settles upon the only true God and clings to Him alone. That is faith!
It is what drives us to call our to God, recognizing that He is our Father, our Abba – our Daddy. That we need Him and need His protection, His guidance, His correction, His love. And we have it, for He has promised it, and His promises are always true in Christ Jesus.
We are His people, His children, His beloved. He has drawn us into a relationship with Him, a relationship that is described with the words faith, hope and love.
May we never look past this, or take it for granted. Rather let us rejoice in a God who desires that we cling to Him… that invites it, that delights in our clinging to Him.
Cling to Him this week…
Amen.
Title page of the Large Catechism of Martin Luther, printed in Leipzig in 1560 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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Posted on June 24, 2013, in Devotions and tagged Christ, christianity, faith and trust, galatians 4, God, Jesus, large catechism of martin luther, Luther, Religion and Spirituality, spirituality. Bookmark the permalink. 1 Comment.
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