Thursday, October 12, 2023 - HIS PEOPLE - OUR GOD

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Thursday, October 12, 2023 - Day 285  - (Today’s Bible readings: Ezekiel 40; Psalm 101; Hebrews 10:11-18)

HIS PEOPLE - OUR GOD

“And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. . . And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” (Ezekiel 11:19-20 ESV)

Ezekiel is given a vision of the just punishment God will render toward His unfaithful people. Yet God is planning to show mercy.  Do you remember David’s prayer?  

Hide your face from my sins, 

and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence, 

and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, 

and uphold me with a willing spirit.

(Psalm 51:9-12 ESV)

In Christ Jesus this prayer was answered for David and for us. His death on the cross has blotted out all of our sins and iniquities. The result is a clean heart and a right spirit. The second half of David’s prayer is for a renewed relationship with God. This we find answered directly by God’s declaration: “And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” 

1.Children of the heav’nly Father

   Safely in His bosom gather;

   Nestling bird nor star in Heaven

   Such a refuge e’er was given.

2.God His own doth tend and nourish;

   In His holy courts they flourish;

   From all evil things He spares them;

   In His mighty arms He bears them.

3.Neither life nor death shall ever

   From the Lord His children sever;

   Unto them His grace He showeth,

   And their sorrows all He knoweth.

4.Though He giveth or He taketh,

   God His children ne’er forsaketh;

   His the loving purpose solely

   To preserve them pure and holy.

   (Children of the Heavenly Father,  LSB #725)

Heavenly Father, thank You for answering my prayer for forgiveness and for a clean heart. I rejoice that, in spite of my sinful nature, I am still one of Your people and You are still my God. Amen.

Pastor David Paape