“May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in your faith, that by the power of the Holy Spirit, your whole life and outlook may be radiant with hope.” (Romans 15:13, Phillips New Testament)
Does your whole life and outlook radiate with hope?
Our Lord, through Paul, sets forth this worthy goal for us with full confidence that it is, with the help of the Holy Spirit, eminently achievable. As followers of Christ, dare we say no? – Luther
“I have chosen you.” (John 15:16a, KJV )
Today, a reminder from Oswald Chambers’ devotional, “My Utmost for His Highest”: “Keep that note of greatness in your creed. It is not that you have got God, but that He has got you.” – Luther
“And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.” (Galatians 3:27-29, New Living Translation)
The U. S. holiday we observe today honors both a man and a movement, the impetus for each being the Gospel of Christ.
All of humanity’s propensity to divide; to discriminate based on those divisions; and to elevate one group above another, is evidence of our corrupt nature. The antidote to this poisonous practice is the acceptance of — and obedience to — our Jesus.
It is important to note that the movement for racial equality in our nation did not begin in the courthouse; and it did not begin in the statehouse; and it did not begin in the schoolhouse. It began in the community of Christ: The Church. The Civil Rights Movement’s anthem, “We Shall Overcome,” was sung in the worship services and prayer meetings of the Christian faithful long before it appeared on folk music play lists.
Only in Christ is there true equality of persons. This message is both our heritage and our future. – Luther
