“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)

“What?  I never told him THAT!”  Whenever we find ourselves misquoted or misrepresented we object and want to set the record straight.  “No, what I really said was . . . .”  If we care so much for our speech, how much more must God care for His!

By His words, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1, Psalm 33:6, Hebrews 11:3).  So also did Jesus heal the sick, cast out demons, and preach good news by His words, and by His word believers are born anew (1 Peter 1:23).  God is jealous for His word for good reason—on it hangs life and salvation!

Here is why preachers and doctrine alike matter so much.  Both have to do with God’s word, the very word of life.  Each generation of the Church seeks to raise a new flood of preachers so that they may carry that word forward, not only to safeguard its truth—“God says THIS, not THAT”—but also to share it, that many may hear and believe.

Whom do you know who would make a good preacher?

LET US PRAY: O Lord of the harvest, raise up preachers after Your own heart who so love Your word as to study it, cherish it, and teach and proclaim it freely; through Christ our Lord.  Amen

Pastor Steven K. Gjerde

Zion, Wausau

“Because of Your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring gifts to You. Rebuke the beasts in the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples, trampling under foot the pieces of silver; He has scattered the peoples who delight in war.”  (Psalm 68:29-30)

The true temple is God Himself who makes Himself  known through the Incarnation. The proper reverence and awe is for the One who was, who is and who is to come. Through Him all things have their being. What can a king give that was not first the Lord’s? The war against the Lord will one day end and all will be shown as He has intended from the beginning. Come and worship the Lord.

Lord these principles are easy to read, see and understand but hard to do. I seem to have many things that get in the way of my simply praising You as all shall do in eternity. Teach me to praise and worship, not as the world teaches, but as You teach it.  Guide my life to live in such a way that my heart is always looking to You, the temple of the city of peace, that I may be led by Your goodness.

Lord Jesus, God made flesh, the walking temple, lead me into the holiness You give by grace that I would not become what I imagine, but like You. Lead me deeper into the mysteries of faith that You have revealed and help me be guided always by the Holy Spirit to do what is right and fitting, now and forever. You have come to lead the way, so lead me this day and every day in righteousness. Amen.