Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. (Phi 3:19 NIV)

The enemies of Christ’s cross have minds set on earthly things. By side-lining the cross with a legalistic mind-set, the so-called Judaizers maintain their life outside the exclusive realm of grace and forgiveness. They were not exclusively founded on God’s gracious forgiveness, but also held onto their Jewish way’s and traditional legalisms as further pillars of salvation and of their unique status before God. They propagated the traditional Jewish way of life as the real thing even for those gentile Christians, who were have been converted to faith in Christ from paganism. St. Paul argues that they are thus promoting their own tradition, this worldly thing of contextual identity as something universally valid and imperative and necessary requirement for salvation. One could imagine that this faithful commitment to the law of ones people could have some higher and even sublime motivation, which would demand respect and acknowledgement from outsiders. However the apostle does not share this view. On the contrary, he finds strong words to disqualify this legalistic approach: “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame.” Why therefore should this old legalistic way of life be conserved and even be promoted? St. Paul assumes that it is to keep ones office, occupation and livelihood to ultimately take care of ones stomach. You don’t want to lose your status amongst those, who have always shared this perspective on life with you. However that ultimately is destructive and the end is shameful.

We bow before you almighty God, merciful Father of our Lord Jesus Christ – You have empowered your children to live faithfully, to escape vanity and to be sanctified in your truth. Dwell in our hearts o Lord. Let us realize the ultimate good that we have in you. Grant that holy deeds will come to fruition, sanctify, bless and complete your holy Word in us through the indwelling of your most precious Holy Spirit. Amen. (Hermann Bezzel)

Come, Holy Spirit, God and Lord, Be all Thy graces now outpour’d On the believer’s mind and soul, And touch our hearts with living coal. Thy Light this day shone forth so clear, All tongues and nations gather’d near To learn that faith, for which we bring Glad praise to Thee, and loudly, loudly sing, ||:Hallelujah, Hallelujah!:||

Thou Strong Defence, Thou Holy Light, Teach us to know our God aright, And call Him Father from the heart: The Word of life and truth impart, That we may love not doctrines strange, Nor e’er to other teachers range, But Jesus for our Master own, And put our trust in Him, in Him alone. Hallelujah, Hallelujah!

Thou Sacred Ardour, Comfort Sweet, Help us to wait with ready feet And willing heart at Thy command, Nor trial fright us from Thy band. Lord, make us ready with Thy powers, Strengthen the flesh in weaker hours, That as good warriors we may force Through life and death to Thee, to Thee our course. Hallelujah, Hallelujah!  (Martin Luther 1483-1546)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Thursday after the twenty third Sunday after the high holiday of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 380 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.