Tuesday, October 17, 2023 - THE CHURCH

"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)

Tuesday, October 17, 2023 - Day 290  - (Today’s Bible readings: Ezekiel 45; Psalm 105:1-22; Hebrews 11:29-40)

THE CHURCH

“When you allot the land as an inheritance, you shall set apart for the Lord a portion of the land as a holy district... It shall be holy throughout its whole extent” (Ezekiel 45:1 ESV)

“God pronounces regulations designed to prevent future temple defilement. He zealously guards His house of worship but also allows means by which the people may approach Him and serve Him. Today, the Lord continues to consecrate a place for Himself–souls and bodies of believers, which He will raise to dwell in His eternal sanctuary of heaven.”  (Lutheran Study Bible, Concordia Publishing House, 2009, page 1387)

The picture shows just such a gathering of believers from the 1977 pictorial directory of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, the church family I grew up in. It is good to remind ourselves that all such gatherings of His people around His Means of Grace (God’s Word and the Means of Grace - Baptism and Holy Communion) are in preparation for our dwelling in the Lord’s eternal sanctuary of heaven.

The hymn writer captured the essence of the Church and worship with these words:

Elect from ev’ry nation, 

Yet one o’er all the earth, 

Her charter of salvation: 

One Lord, one faith, one birth.  

One holy name she blesses, 

Partakes one holy food, 

And to one hope she presses 

With every grace endued.

(Lutheran Service Book, CPH 2006, #644)

Thank You, heavenly Father, for Your coming to us in worship. May we be as serious about worshiping You as You are about showering Your Church with Your grace. In the name of Jesus, my risen Savior. Amen.

Pastor David Paape