Friday, September 8, 2023 - YOU ARE SPECIAL

 

"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)

Friday, September 8, 2023 - Day 251  - (Today’s Bible readings: Ezekiel 6; Psalm 68; 1 Timothy 2:1-15)

YOU ARE SPECIAL . . . IN CHRIST 

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”  (1 Peter 2:9-10 ESV)

In our worship services we state, “I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment.” That does not sounds like we are very special in God’s sight. Yet, right after we make our public confession of sin we get to hear these words: “Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

The words of Peter become true for us in confession and absolution. We are called out of the darkness of our sin into God’s marvelous light of forgiveness. We were lost and God found us. We have been made God’s people and are showered with His endless mercy. 

1. God loves me dearly, Grants me salvation, 

    God loves me dearly, Loves even me.

Refrain

    Therefore I’ll say again: God loves me dearly,  

    God loves me dearly, Loves even me.

2. I was in slavery, Sin, death and darkness; 

    God’s love was working To make me free.  Refrain

3. He sent forth Jesus, My dear Redeemer, 

    He sent forth Jesus And set me free.  Refrain

4. Jesus, my Savior, Himself did offer; 

    Jesus my Savior, Paid all I owed.  Refrain

5. Now I will praise You, O Love Eternal; 

    Now I will praise You All my life long.  Refrain

    (“God Loves Me Dearly,” Lutheran Service Book #392)

Heavenly Father, thank You for making me Yours. I rejoice in Your mercy and grace bestowed upon me through Jesus my Savior and my Lord. In His name. Amen. 

Pastor David Paape