Tuesday, November 26, 2024 - YOU ARE A CHILD OF 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)

Tuesday, November 26, 2024 - Day 330 (Through the Bible in a year reading for today: Ezekiel 36,37; 1 Peter 3)

YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD

“You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people and I will be your God.” (Ezekiel 36:28 ESV)

In promising to graciously return His people to their homeland, God assured them of this most important fact, “you shall be my people and I will be your God.” 

Those words are also God’s baptismal promise to you. Just think of it. On the day the Lord came into your life, He made you His precious child, a child of almighty God!

For Israel, God’s promise meant restoration and the return to the promised land. For us, God’s promise means that we sinners have been reconciled to our holy God and that the eternal promised land of heaven is ours.

Here is another way to express God’s promise: Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are gathered around His cross and... You are a precious, blood-bought, baptized, forgiven, heaven-bound, gifted child of 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.

   (Lutheran Service Book #725)

Thank You, heavenly Father, for reconciling me to Yourself through the death of Your Son, Jesus. May my daily life reflect the fact that I am Your child and You are my God. Amen.

Pastor David Paape