Daily Devotion – December 18, 2020 – Professor Arland J. Hultgren
https://www.luthersem.edu/godpause/2020/12/16/
Romans 16:25–27 (NRSV)
25Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith 27to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.
Devotion
These three verses make up one long sentence (79 words in the English version and 53 in the Greek text) packed full of theological words and phrases. The subject of the sentence (“glory”) doesn’t come until the end. Essentially, the sentence says “Now to God … be the glory.”
In keeping with the season of Advent, what stands out in the passage is the conviction that God has now revealed the content of a mystery hidden in ages past. That hidden mystery is the “proclamation,” or preaching, about Jesus Christ— the gospel—which is being proclaimed now to people of all nationalities.
That gospel has come to us through generations of global witnesses, and it is now being extended to others—in congregations; through ministries of word, sacrament, and service; by companion synods; in works of mercy; in care for the poor. And so we add our own doxology: “to God be the glory forever.”
Prayer
Let the light of the gospel burn brightly in our world, O God. Bless all who proclaim it in word and deed. Amen.
