20 Jan February 18th Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S FIRST LETTER TO THE  CHURCH AT THESSALONICA

REJECT EVERY KIND OF EVIL

1 Thessalonians 5:22 “Reject every kind of evil”

The original Greek word that is translated in today’s devotional verse “reject’ has the meaning of keeping a safe distance from or to abstain from evil.  This is what Jesus taught you to pray for in the Lord’s prayer in the seventh petition, “But deliver us from evil.”

Luther explains the words of the seventh petition, “We pray in this petition, in summary, that our Father in heaven would rescue us from every evil of body and soul, possessions and reputation, and finally, when our last hour comes, give us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven.” (Small Catechism, page 198)

The Psalmist promises, “The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life.  The Lord will keep your going out and coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” (Psalm 121:7-8) 2 Thessalonians 3:3 says the Lord will “guard you from all evil.”  And, 2 Timothy 4:18 has this promise, “The Lord will rescue (you) from every evil deed and bring (you) safely into His heavenly kingdom.”

If you try on your own to abstain from evil, you will fail.  Satan, the world, and your sinful flesh are stronger than you.  You need the Lord on your side.  Through the pen of Jeremiah Yahweh promises, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.” (Jeremiah 29:11-12)

Daily, as you pray the Lord’s prayer, especially as you pray the seventh petition you are praying to your almighty, loving Father to help you to stay far away from all evil and to help you to abstain from it.  Solomon therefore exhorts you to, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Prayer:  Guard me, O Lord, from all evil and sin and each day guide me as You would have me to live to keep me far from and to abstain from all evil.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Lord, Thee I love with all my heart;

I pray Thee, ne’er from me depart,

With tender mercy cheer me.

Earth has no pleasure I would share.

Yea, heav’n itself were void and bare

If Thou, Lord, wert not near me.

And should my heart for sorrow break,

My trust in Thee can nothing shake.

Thou art the portion I have sought;

Thy precious blood my soul has bought.

Lord Jesus Christ, my God and Lord, my God and Lord,

Forsake me not! I trust thy Word.

Yea, Lord ‘twas Thy rich bounty grave

My body, soul, and all I have

In this poor life of labor, Lord,

Grant that I in ev’ry place

May glorify Thy lavish grace

And help and serve my neighbor.

Let no false doctrine me beguile;

Let Satan not my soul defile.

Give strength and patience unto me

To bear my cross and follow Thee.

Lord Jesus Christ, my God and Lord, God and Lord,

In death Thy comfort still afford.

Lord, let at last Thine angels come,

To Abr’ham’s bosom bear me home,

That I die unfearing;

And in its narrow chamber keep

My body safe in peaceful sleep

Until Thy reappearing.

And then from death awake me,

That these mine eyes with joy may see,

O Son of God, Thy glorious faced,

My Savior and my fount of grace.

Lord Jesus Christ, my prayer attend, my prayer attend,

And I will praise Thee without end.

(LSB 708)