I Peter 1: 10-12 - Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

God is not silent. Ours is a God who communicates with us. In the Old Testament, He spoke by the prophets. In our time, the time of the New Testament, He speaks to us through His Son, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2). This does not mean that Jesus shows up and speaks to us face to face. Rather, God communicates with us through His Word in its written (the Bible), proclaimed (preaching), and sacramental (Baptism, the Lord’s Supper) forms. And He has one topic He is particularly chatty about: Christ’s work for your salvation!

As soon as Adam and Eve were deceived into rebelling against God, He began talking about the coming of Jesus, telling the serpent that the Messiah would crush His head (Genesis 3:15). He promised Abraham a descendant who would be a blessing to the nations (Genesis 12:3). Moses promised a prophet greater than himself who would speak God’s Word (Deuteronomy 18:15-20). King David wrote Psalms describing the sacrificial death of our Lord in great detail (for example: Psalm 22). The prophets, like Isaiah, predicted the sufferings and glories of our Lord roughly 700 years before Jesus was born of Mary (Isaiah 52:13-53:12). So accurate were Isaiah’s prophesies that they read like eyewitness accounts.

All of this, Peter tells us, was about Jesus. Also, it was all in service to you! In the Old Testament, God is like a father who could not bear keeping a marvelous surprise a secret from His children. So, He kept dropping hints and giving signs of the coming salvation. You and I are the children who have received the gift of Jesus whom God the Holy Spirit has been talking about all along! Sounds like a great topic of conversation for you to have with a friend!

Father, I praise you that you have not been silent about your Son, whom you sent for my salvation. You have spoken forgiveness and faith into my heart through your Word. Forgive me for not attending to what you have to say more faithfully. Teach me to listen with ears of faith. AMEN!

*The symbol on the top of this devotional stands for “Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum.” It is a Latin phrase which means “The Word of the Lord endures forever.” This phrase, based on I Peter 1:24-25, served as the battle cry of the Lutheran reformers as it reminded them that God’s Word alone was sufficient to teach them God’s will. The symbol was on flags, banners, uniforms, and even swords as a sign of unity among those who suffered for confessing their faith in Christ alone. *

Pastor Bob

Labels: word-remains-forever