“For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be strengthened; that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.” Rom. 1:11,12
Devotional Thought For The Day
This is the deep-seated and heartfelt motivation for all ministry of the Word of God, the glorious work of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is God’s intent and purpose, both in giving us His Word and providing for the ministering of that Word within the church and to all the world. It provides us with the greatest joy and comfort, a shared comfort and joy. It is centered in a “mutual” faith – one that is common, united, agreed upon, and shared together, based in the wondrous love of God in Christ Jesus and the blessed promises that He has given to those who believe in Him. Through His Word, His assurances and promises, and also His loving instructions for our lives, great spiritual gifts and blessings are dispensed and received – strength and comfort and wise direction. For this we too long to see one another, to spend time together, and to communicate God’s Word, love, and will to one another. This is what worship within the church has traditionally been about, and also the time we spend together in studying God’s Word, Holy Scripture, in Bible Study. It yields mutual blessings – flowing back and forth between teachers of the Word and hearers, as we are first taught and then privileged to confess our faith together.
Obviously, this blessedness is the gift of God provided through His Word, the Bible. This blessedness that Paul is describing comes only through this real and genuine Word of God, through that which He has given to us in the Bible, and only through such teaching which is completely consistent with the Bible and conforming to it. Though counterfeit “blessings” can be created by false teachings – whatever their origin may be, such dynamics always end up being empty or even destructive of genuine faith and the blessings of God. So God has provided the biblical emphasis on accurate and truthful teaching of the Word of God, and the many warnings to beware of false teachers, false prophets, and the spirits which do not come from God [1 John 4:1-6; 2 Cor. 11:13-15]. The blessings come through sharing a “mutual faith,” one that is formed and shaped completely by the blessed Word of God, so that we are “united in the same mind and the same judgment.” [1 Cor. 1:10] This blessedness is so valuable and important that we are always “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” [Eph. 4:3] But obviously we understand that this “unity of the Spirit” and unity of mind and judgment is always in accord with the Word He inspired, that written in Holy Scripture, His book, the Bible – so that we are united also with God. Whenever God’s Word, the Bible, has been abandoned, true faith and the blessings of Christ and salvation are ultimately obscured and lost.
May all of our teachers, our leaders, be true servants of God’s Word, eager to “see us” and to impart true spiritual blessings to us through His Word. May we be eager to receive such blessings, longing to see those who teach us God’s Word, yearning to be strengthened and comforted in mutual faith – so that we are among those who are passing these same blessings back to our teachers. Pray God that we are also so eager and longing for these blessings that we allow nothing to keep us from the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. May the joy, peace, comfort, and strength that God wills for all of His people to be blessed with continue to fill the hearts and minds of all of us!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, thanks and praise be to You for the blessings You have earned for us in Your suffering and death on the cross, and which You freely distribute to us through the preaching and teaching of Your Word and in Your blessed Sacraments. Thank you for the mutual benefit of the blessings that flow between teachers and hearers, so that all of us are being strengthened and comforted in a mutual and united faith. Continue to work Your good and gracious will in our lives, through Your Word, that we may be blessed forever. Amen.