Today's Reading: Romans 12:6-16
Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 39:1-10,17-29; Romans 7:21 -8:17
"And having gifts according to the grace given to us differently; if prophecy, according to the analogy of the faith; if service in the serving, if the teaching, in the teaching." (Romans 12:6-7)
Boy, are there a lot of different perspectives out there nowadays! Some follow a Goth or an Emo track, while others a more traditional path. Atheists, agnostics, new-age religionists, Muslims, Mormons, charismatics, conservative Christians, and a host of other religious points of view can be found. Because people themselves are so different, so, too, are their spiritual pursuits.
But what about us Bible-believing Christians? Is it ok ay to saunter off of the beaten-path to embrace all sorts of new ideas and belief systems? After all, each one of us is gifted differently from other Christians. Is there a way that' s only right for you, and a different path that' s equally valid for the next person? Just how do Christians who are different deal with their different gifts?
In this so-called "post-modern" age where everybody does their own thing, and no one truth seems better than any others, Christians are given to take a stand. However different your gift might be, the proclamation of truth in it must be according to the analogy of the faith. This means that you compare (like an analogy does) any new truths to the "Faith" of Holy Scripture.
For it is not "any old teaching" that pleases God, but only The T eaching which comes from the prophets of old, and from Jesus and His apostles that is to be embraced. So if your friends are enticing you to become interested in some new teaching of an odd group, beware. Take the time to compare these new teachings to the Law and Gospel teaching of God' s Word.
For the grace of God, and the faith in Him that you hold to don' t ever change. The Law/Gospel message of your sin and God' s mercy is still the same. God' s love for you in Christ Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. The forgiveness He offers in Gospel preaching, at the font, and at the C ommunion rail remain just as trust worthy as ever.
"O Word of God incarnate, O Wisdom from on high, O Truth unchanged, unchanging, O Light of our dark sky; We praise You for the radiance That from the hallowed page, A lantern to our footsteps, Shines on from age to age." (LSB 523:1)