Devotional – Page 6 – Paradoxical Musings

The Faith of Ruth

Posted by

Nathanael Szobody on May 9, 2005

Ruth’s faith in the God of Naomi caused her to leave her people for the enemies of her people. She served Naomi with diligence and obedience. She left all that she knew and cast herself into the arms of God’s providence, and grabbed every opportunity handed to her with a tenacity of one who holds on to what they are sure of receiving. She did not receive a direct promise of God, but the voice of her mother-in-law was effectively the voice of God, mediated through the authority that God had ordained for her.

In Ruth we see the aspect of faith which is a new identity. Noah and Abraham and Joseph and many other great people of faith all received a new identity when they rested in God by faith, and this is seen most dramatically in Ruth. For her faith was not in a God who had spoken directly to her, but in a God that she knew was compassionate and faithful to those who sought him with all of their heart. And on that basis she gave up all and received all that God had promised for humanity.

John 14:21

Posted by

Nathanael Szobody on May 3, 2005

How can we know God? Where can we see his face and understand his being? According to this verse it’s very simple: obey his commandments.

“Hallowed Be Your Name”

Posted by

Nathanael Szobody on April 28, 2005

God’s name is used in scripture in reference to his relationship with his people. When we ask that God’s name be made holy, we ask that the relationship that he has established with his people might be set apart and recognized as great in the world.

God’s Rest

Posted by

Nathanael Szobody on April 23, 2005

God’s rest is not an idle relaxing but an active enjoyment of communion with his creation.

When God Hides His Face

Posted by

Nathanael Szobody on April 18, 2005

When God ‘hides his face’ he is in fact involved so intimately in our life that we do not recognize him; he is hidden behind his own intimacy. Read More

Ephesians 2

Posted by

Nathanael Szobody on April 14, 2005

Our effectual calling to be the people of God, as individuals into a body, was not to complete our self-improvement project, nor to make us happy, nor to get us into heaven, nor to make us successful here on earth. We were chosen, called, and made holy through pain, suffering, sacrifice and death in Christ to make a dwelling place for God; to enjoy a ‘communion’ or loving presence with him in which all other blessings and pursuits find their fulfilling role. Read More

Our Father Who Art in Heaven

Posted by

Nathanael Szobody on April 11, 2005

How many times a week do you recite the Lord’s prayer? Got it? Ok, now how many times do you pray the Lord’s prayer? And is it really the Lord’s prayer or is it more accurately the disciples’ prayer?

It is important to understand the simple purpose of each of the petitions, as Luther’s Small Catechism teaches for example. But these petitions were not given so that we could get something from God as much as they were given as the gift of God in themselves. Christ taught his disciples to pray in this manner because each of the statements in the prayer pertain to a crucial element of our relationship to him.

John 15:1-7, emphasis v. 7

Posted by

Nathanael Szobody on April 7, 2005

To abide in Christ should be our constant desire and aim. Yes, we are in Christ, yes we are a new creation, but do we abide in him? What does that mean anyway? Read More

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