Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 8:18-9:12; Matthew 23:13-39
Your dwelling place is in the midst of deceit; (Jeremiah 9:6a)
Dear children of God, never is this more true than in your high school and college years.
While you can and should honor and obey your teachers and professors, and look at them as gifts of God to do you good, still you must be on your guard when it comes to what they are teaching you. Is it in harmony with what you have learned from God’s holy Word? Does it proceed from and point to God as, at least, the Maker of all things and the One who establishes all truth?
As you continue to discover and prepare for your God-given, yet earthly vocations, remember that the vast majority of higher education is based upon the rejection of all things supernatural. That is, unless something can be seen, tested, and measured it does not and cannot exist. Of course that would include the God who made all that they see, test and measure. “Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man...” (Romans 1:22-23)
Don’t be deceived. Though you dwell amongst lies and liars, and even fools, they are still there to do you good. God uses even such as these to prepare you for your life’s vocation so that you, as His baptized and forgiven child, may serve your neighbor with all worldly knowledge and skill.
And above all, continue to hear the Word and receive the Sacrament so that you will be armed with the wisdom and strength of God with which the Holy Spirit prepares you to sort out the truth from the deceit. So equipped and fortified, you can be certain God will work good through all these things and through you, who are called according to His purpose—in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
In the very midst of life Snares of death surround us; Who shall help us in the strife Lest the foe confound us? Thou only, Lord, Thou only! We mourn that we have greatly erred, That our sins Thy wrath have stirred. Holy and righteous God! Holy and mighty God! Holy and all merciful Savior! Eternal God! Save us lest we perish In the bitter pangs of death. Have mercy, O Lord! (LSB 755: 1)