by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Living with Purpose

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

We chose not to rent a car while in Europe, instead, we purchased Eurail passes and travel by train. As with any form of transportation, things do not always go as smoothly as planned. We left Verona, Italy for Venice on time but arrived later than planned as our original train did not complete its route. Slightly frustrated, we got off one train and waited for another to take us into the city.

It was a muggy day for September when we arrived in Venice. We were not sure how to catch a Vaporetto, or Water Bus. Surrounded by other anxious travelers, this couple emerged calmly and walked past us. They were not in a hurry but walked with purpose. They seemed out of place, but were they?

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out
“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
    the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult
    and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
    and his Bride has made herself ready;
it was granted her to clothe herself
    with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
Revelation 19:6-9 English Standard Version

We are the bride of Christ in an anxious and chaotic world. Our righteous deeds cry out to the world of what the Lamb has done for us and for them. This couple seemed out of place, but were they? We might seem out of place in the world, but are we? In viewing this picture, I’m reminded that the day in Venice was a special day, a wedding day of sorts. The world needs us to remind it that God is indeed the lover of their souls, that there is life and there is forgiveness in the presence of the Lamb.

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado