[When available, audio recordings of these devotions are posted at http://www.redeemerclc.info/audio-devotions]
Saturday, July 9, 2016
Luke 12:48 And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more.
USE YOUR BLESSINGS TO BLESS OTHERS
As citizens of the U.S. we are blessed by God through the freedoms we have as Americans. As our nation celebrates its origins in connection with the Fourth of July, we do well to ask our Lord to enable us to more fully use the freedoms we celebrate in the service of the Gospel message. Freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, and freedom of speech are liberties our Savior-God has given us to put to use in sharing with others the message of forgiveness of sin and eternal life in Christ.
Freedom of religion is the freedom not only to profess what we believe, but to practice it as well. Let us thank God for this freedom by using the Bibles we have on a daily basis, by faithfully gathering with our fellow Christians in the exercise of our faith, by fervently praying as our Savior has taught us, by taking the Gospel to dying sinners here and everywhere.
Freedom of assembly for us as Christians means coming together around the Word of God and there not only praising God but especially (gracious wonder!) being served by God Himself through Word and Sacrament. Let us thank God we can do this without fear of arrest, censorship, or persecution-- by acting upon our opportunities to worship with the attitude of the Psalmist of old,
"I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the LORD!'" (Psalm 122:1).
Freedom of speech is a blessing we do not always appreciate as fully as we might. That will change the more we use our tongues to thank God for the Good News about Christ our Lord-- by speaking to others of the Savior's sacrificial love for us and His victory over death on our behalf.
Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing My great Redeemer's praise,
The glories of my God and King, The triumphs of His grace!
See all your sins on Jesus laid; The Lamb of God was slain;
His soul was once an offering made For every soul of man.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 360:1, 6)
