Sola Devotions

The Large Catechism – part 84

Scripture Text: John 9:3

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From the Word: Jesus answered, “It was not because this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God would be manifested in him.” (John 9:3)

From the Confessions: The Large Catechism, The Ten Commandments

The Second Commandment

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

This is a blessed and beneficial discipline, and very effective against the devil, who is always around us, lying in wait to bring us into sin and shame, calamity and trouble. But he is disinclined to hear God’s name, and cannot long remain where it is spoken and called upon from the heart. Indeed, many a terrible and shocking calamity would befall us if God did not preserve us by our calling upon his name. I have tried it myself, and learned from experience that sudden and great calamity was often immediately averted and removed by calling upon God. To confound the devil, I say, we should keep his holy name in our mouths, so that he may not be able to injure us as he desires.

Pulling It Together: There is no easier way for the works of God to be demonstrated in our lives than by our calling upon the Father. See the different ways we pray it is so. May your name be holy among us. May your will be done. Meet our needs, Father. Forgive us of our sins. Help us forgive our neighbors. Lead us out of temptations. Rescue us from evil in the holy name of Our Father. In all these ways, as we pray these seven petitions that Jesus taught us, God is invoked and his power is displayed in his church.

Prayer: Help me to pray, Holy Spirit. Amen.

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The purpose of Epistles, A Guide to Reading the Scriptures is twofold: to encourage Christians to read God’s Word on a regular basis, and to help the reader slow down and concentrate on each chapter of the epistles before moving on to the next.

Author

Mark Ryman

Rev. Mark E. Ryman serves as Pastor for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC. Previously, Pastor Ryman has served other congregations in North Carolina and Ohio, as well as a call to specialized ministry with Sola Publishing.