Meaningful Ministry: Sent with Godā€™s Own Authority – Week of July 15, 2024

I will utter hidden things, things from of oldā€”things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.

Psalm 78:2b-4

Almost everyone I have met has a Christmas tradition or two. Mine maybe isnā€™t so much of a formal tradition, but it was something that happened every year when I was growing up. My family would travel to my grandparentsā€™ house over Christmas break, and we would spend a few days with all my cousins and aunts and uncles. Without fail, one of those nights we spent at Grandma and Grandpaā€™s would end in the cousins playing downstairs and the adults reminiscing of old times in the living room upstairs. And every year I would sneak upstairs to listen to their stories. I still have vivid pictures in my mind of some of the stories they told: the one where my grandpa had his camera almost stolen from around his neck by a guy riding a Vespa in Italy; the one where my grandparents stayed in a strangerā€™s hut while traveling through the Middle East: the many stories about my uncles playing basketball with the neighbors until Grandma rang the little bronze dinner bell from the porch.

The memories shared between people, especially family, are so special.

But the truths shared from God our Father are of incomparable value.

Now, there is one thing we must confront. Quite often thereā€™s a fear that surrounds sharing the Gospel of Jesus. Maybe youā€™ve felt it. We clam up. Our palms get sweaty. Human worry says we wonā€™t have the right words. Rejection tempts us to stop.

Donā€™t let the devilā€™s attempts overcome you in your efforts to preach the Good News! We need not – because we are sent with Godā€™s own authority. The Almighty God goes with us. His Spirit leads us. His truth and mercy have freed us from the devilā€™s snares, and now we stand victorious with all the power of God. We hold the gift of eternal life on our tongues. May we never forget that the gospel holds the most powerful words we will ever speak!

Jesus, our Savior, took our sins to the cross. He bore our every worry, doubt, our failure to speak and act. He crushed the enemyā€™s plan to ensnare us and keep us from proclaiming the goodness of God. On that Sunday morning, Jesus rose from the grave, and our victory speech was written. It is finished. The grave cannot hold us. We have eternal life with God promised to us – it is written!

Now speak it!

Speak it with pride. Proclaim it with power in your voice. Donā€™t be ashamed – you hold the words of eternal life! Why keep them to yourself?

The pictures Iā€™ve painted in my mind from the stories of my grandparents, aunts and uncles are so clear to me, but the picture I have painted of the glory that is awaiting me with my Savior Jesus is so much better. Whatā€™s even better is the fact that one day it will not be merely a picture in my imagination. I will experience the glory of God with my very own eyes. And so will you!

You have God’s authority. Go and tell someone.

Prayer:

Almighty God, go with us. Send your Spirit to empower us. Expel the fear we have when sharing your grace and mercy with others. Give us zeal for the gospel and for your people! As the hymn writer once wrote:
Send, O Lord, your Holy Spirit
On your servants now, we pray;
Let them all be faithful shepherds
That no lamb be led astray.
Your pure teaching to proclaim,
To adore your holy name,
And to feed your lambs, dear Savior,
Make their aim and sole endeavor. Amen.

Christian Worship 21 898:1

Early Childhood Ministry Educator’s (ECME) Devotions are brought to you by WELSĀ Commission on Lutheran Schools.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International VersionĀ®, NIVĀ®. Copyright Ā©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.ā„¢ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.