"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)
Wednesday, November 1, 2023 - Day 305 - (Today’s Bible readings: Revelation 7:9-17; Psalm 149; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12) ALL SAINTS DAY
FOR ALL THE SAINTS
“The LORD your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)
Zephaniah, like his contemporary, Jeremiah, prophesies the destruction of all who reject God. Yet, in the third chapter he points to Christ who is in our midst making sinners into saints by His saving hand.
John’s vision in the book of Revelation gives us an even more clear vision of what God has in store for those who repent and believe in Jesus.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:16-17 ESV)
1. For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
2. Thou wast their rock, their fortress and their might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
3. O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win with them the victor’s crown of gold!
Alleluia, Alleluia
4. O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
5. And when the fight is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
6. The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors cometh rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blest.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
7. But, lo, there breaks a yet more glorious day:
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
8. From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
(“For All the Saints,” Lutheran Service Book #677)
Enjoy this precious hymn of the Church!
Heavenly Father, thank You for this All Saints’ Day as You remind me that the yet mire glorious day is mine too. Yes, I thank You and praise You for making this sinner into a saint through the death and resurrection of Jesus, my Lord and Savior. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
No comments:
Post a Comment