Daily Readings - Sat Oct 20 2018

¹⁵Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,¹⁶Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;¹⁷That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:¹⁸The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,¹⁹And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,²⁰Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,²¹Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:²²And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,²³Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Luke

Chapter 12

⁸Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:⁹But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.¹⁰And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.¹¹And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:¹²For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

Sermon

In today's readings, we explore the profound relationship between faith, wisdom, and the Holy Spirit. The first reading from Ephesians highlights Paul's gratitude for the Ephesians' faith and love, as he prays for their enlightenment and understanding of God's plan. He emphasizes the hope and inheritance believers have in Christ, who is exalted above all creation as the head of the Church. This passage underscores the richness of our spiritual inheritance and the unity we share in Christ's body. The Gospel from Luke shifts focus to Jesus' teachings on confession and the Holy Spirit's role. Jesus assures us that acknowledging Him before others will be met with His acknowledgment before the angels, while denial leads to denial. He also warns against blaspheming the Holy Spirit, the only unforgivable sin. Jesus then comforts His followers, promising that the Holy Spirit will guide their words when they face persecution or scrutiny. These readings together remind us of the Holy Spirit's vital role in our lives. Ephesians shows the Spirit as the source of wisdom and revelation, while Luke portrays the Spirit as our guide in times of trial. In our daily lives, this means trusting in the Spirit's guidance, especially in our speech and actions. When we face challenges, we can rely on the Spirit's wisdom to navigate them with grace and truth. The moral lesson here is one of faithfulness and trust, encouraging us to remain steadfast in our confession of Christ and open to the Spirit's leading. By doing so, we embody the hope and unity that define our life in Christ.