Readings for Epiphany Four

Deut. 18:15-20

1 Cor. 8:1-13

Mark 1:21-28

Passage to Ponder:         And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. (Deuteronomy 18:19 ESV)

Devotion:  When the Lord speaks, it’s a matter of life and death, though all too often, we don’t see it as such.  Maybe it’s because of the way or through whom the Lord chooses to speak- in this instance Moses and those who are called to speak the Word of the Lord in the office of “prophet”.  “If only God would just speak to me directly- then I would …” fill in the blank.  We forget that the Lord choose to speak to His creation through the voice of a prophet at creation’s request!  And yet, when we hear the word of the Lord proclaimed, it is all too easy for us to dismiss it because of the means by which the Word comes.

Prophets (modern day pastors) are called by God to speak the Word of the Lord- and it is a matter of life and death- but not because the prophets/pastors say so- because God says so. “But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’” (Deuteronomy 18:20 ESV)  It’s never up to the prophet/pastor to speak on his own, but what the Lord reveals through His Word.

The good news is that God desires to speak to His creation- and that He desires life- not the death of his creation!  For this reason Jesus was born among us to be raised up as the perfect prophet, “from among their brothers, who speaks all that the Lord has commanded him”(Deuteronomy 18:18 ESV)  Hear what the Lord has commanded Him to speak:

                Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

                Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “… Whoever has seen me has seen the Father... Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.  (John 14:6-10 ESV)

                                And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:33-34 ESV)

 “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”(Hebrews 1:1-2 ESV)   When our Lord speaks, it is a matter of death- and life!