Lent - Week 3 - Saturday

Welcome to Luther 4 The Busy Man, the week of Oculi's Saturday, our scripture reading

comes from the book of Luke 9 verses 46 through 50.

An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest, but Jesus knowing

the reasoning of their hearts took a child and put him by his side and said to them,

whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives

him who sent me, for he who is least among you all is the one who is great.

Our scripture lesson comes from the book of Luke 11 verse 23, he who is not with me

is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.

The gospels are replete with many fine sayings which set forth very important teachings.

This is also the case in Christ's words at the end of the gospel concerning the healing

of the mute demoniac.

He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.

The devil is not with me, for I drive him out, and so he must certainly be against me.

However, the saying refers not only to the devil, but to the blasphemers on whom also

he passes sentence and condemnation here.

They are against him because they are not with him.

To be with Christ means to think with Christ, that is to believe in Christ, to believe

that his works and not our works help us, that is Christ's position, and that is what

he teaches.

To gather with Christ is to do good in love and to be rich in good works.

He who does not believe in Christ is compelled to rely on his own works, such a man is not

with Christ but against Christ.

He denies Christ because he builds on his own works.

A man who does not love does not gather with Christ, but performs vain works whereby

he becomes worse and gets further away from faith.

Let us pray.

Lord God, our loving Heavenly Father, grant us at all times such an understanding and

clarity of faith that we are always absolutely with Christ and not against him, gathering

with him and not scattering.

Amen.

Find the print version of the Luther for the Busyman Daily Devotional at ambassadorpublications.org.

Luther for the Busyman is produced by the free Lutheran Bible College and seminary in

Plymouth, Minnesota.

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