"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Saturday, 29 October 2016 "God's Word Is Our Great Heritage" (ELW 509)

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"God's Word Is Our Great Heritage" (ELW 509)
God's Word is our great heritage
And shall be ours forever;
To spread its light from age to age
Shall be our chief endeavor.
Through life it guides our way,
In death it is our stay.
Lord, grant, while worlds endure,
We keep its teachings pure

Throughout all generations.
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Whether we read it in the Bible or hear it spoken by another, God's word is truly our great heritage, for all of our words when they are God's word point us to Jesus Christ, God's word made flesh, the true word who sets us free. We are stewards of this treasure, entrusted with it for proclamation, so that all people may know this liberating truth. More simply, we tell the gospel story so that all may know Christ Jesus.
God's word is our great heritage. True enough. We are entrusted with it. But truer still is this: God's word has us. We have words that point to Christ, but the word made flesh has you and me. For we are not our own; we have been bought with a price. Strange possessor, though, for this word, whose name is Jesus, promises to share all that he has with us: his resurrection and his life. 
Fill the world with preachers of the gospel, gracious God, so that all may hear the good news of forgiveness, peace and hope through your son, and hearing believe and believing live. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Bradley Edin, '84
Pastor, Kathryn-Nome-Fingal Lutheran Parish, Fingal, N.D.

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