August 9 Daily Devotional

28 Jul August 9 Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS

YAHWEH HAS RESCUED YOU

Colossians 1:13-14 “ . . . He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Have you been rescued?  Was there a time when you were drowning and someone saved you?  Perhaps you were in an auto accident and trapped in your car which required members of the local rescue squad to extricate you. Not so dramatic, but was there a time when at a young age you climbed a tree and were unable to find your way safely back to the ground? You were rescued by your father with his trustee ladder to bring you back down to the ground.

In today’s devotional verse St. Paul discusses another time you were rescued. “He (Yahweh) rescued us (you) from the dominion of darkness. . .”  You most likely do not remember this rescue.  However, if you were baptized, God through the work of the Holy Spirit using the sacrament of holy baptism extricated you from the control of sin, Satan, and the world.  You were their captive.  Under their control you were doomed to die and suffer eternally in hell.

The pouring of simple water over your head accompanied by the brief words, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” the Holy Spirit through this water and word won brought about your release from your captivity of your evil, wicked enemies.  Through this sacrament the Holy Spirit created faith in your heart to accept Jesus and His atoning, cleansing shed blood for the forgiveness of your sins.  John writes, “ . . . if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

Colossians 1:13-14 speaks loud and clearly to you that “He (Yahweh) has rescued us (you) from the dominion of darkness (sin, Satan, world and hell) and brought us (you) into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we (you) have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Prayer:  Thank You heavenly Father for sending Jesus to rescue me from eternal death in hell and earn for me a place in the mansion of heaven.  Amen.

All Christians who have been baptized, Who know the God of heaven,

And in whose daily life is prized The name of Crist once given:

Consider now what God has done, The gifts He gives to ev’ryone

Baptized into Christ Jesus!

You were before your day of birth, Indeed, from your conception,

Condemned and lost with all the earth, None good without exception.

For like your parents’ flesh and blood, Turned inward from the highest good,

You constantly denied Him.

But all of that was washed away— Immersed and drowned forever.

The water of your Baptism day Restored again whatever

Old Adam and his sin destroyed And all our sinful selves employed

According to our nature.

In Baptism we now put on Christ— Our shame is fully covered

With all that He once sacrificed And freely for us suffered.

For here the flood of His own blood Now makes us holy, right, and good

Before our heav’nly Father.

O Christian, firmly hold this gift And give God thanks forever!

It gives the power to uplift In all that you endeavor.

When nothing else revives your soul, Your Baptism stands and makes you whole

And then in death completes you.

So use it well! You are made new— In Christ a new creation!

As faithful Christians, live and do Within your own vocation,

Until that day when you possess His glorious robe of righteousness

Bestowed on you forever!

(LSB 596)