We have received the Spirit who is from God

The Theme of the Day: On Earth is not His Equal!

(Job 41:20-34) Job 41 ends with this description of Leviathan. “On earth is not his equal.” These words famously appear in Martin Luther’s hymn, A Mighty Fortress is our God.  On Palm Sunday Christ was greeted with palm branches—the ancient symbol for victory. Job 41 is also all about victory. God’s victory over that same evil foe who still means deadly woe!

Rejoicing in My Suffering.

(Romans 5:1-8). Paul doesn’t tell me that suffering is like some spiritual exercise. He speaks of God pouring out a gift into my heart. Suffering is not the cause, but the occasion of God’s gift of love and thus Paul’s occasion for joy.

Eyes to See

(John 9:1-41). Jesus healed the blind man and gave him eyes to see—not only to see the physical world around him but also to see Jesus as the Christ (John 9)—so Jesus heals our sinful blindness and gives us eyes to see the truth. Ultimately, it is the light of Christ that enlightens our vision and reveals who we truly are.

He Is No Myth!

(II Peter 1:16-21). Peter has seen and touched and heard the Lord of Life speak. Peter’s experience of the One who is the Truth is far more substantive than any myth.

We have received the Spirit who is from God

(I Corinthians 2:1-12). Paul is trying to get his congregation and us to lose our reliance on the ways of this world. He uses the example of his own preaching, but also notes that it came among them with power and the Spirit of God. It was not because Paul was right, but God was right. Thus, both Paul and the Corinthians need to put aside their own ideas and let the Spirit of God have his way with them.