Mon., 11/25/19 Devotion (Lk. 9:56a)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 9:56a, where we read these words from the lips of our Savior:

"For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them."

Our Lord Jesus would have His gospel preached, and His kingdom (church) established no matter how much opposition and rejection there is to this hap-pening. But the redeemed church’s answer to resistance is not to call upon God's harsh judgment on sinners (as James and John had sought to do, in v. 54). Instead, we are simply to go on to the next person, and/or town, and bring the message of glad tidings in Christ to them, as well.

This is extremely helpful for us, since we may be tempted to get discouraged by the general state of affairs. Rather than getting down, let us get excited about telling people of The One who came, not to destroy them, but to save them.

[Puritan quote of the day: "As the sun rises by degrees till it comes to shine in glory, so it was with the Sun of Righteousness [Christ]. He revealed Himself in the church little by little.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]