The fear of the Lord is...

Verse for the week: “The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
    and he makes known to them his covenant.”  Psalm 25.14

Prayer for the week: Dear heavenly Father, hallow your name among us: see to it that your Word is taught and purity and that we as your children live in harmony with it; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Bible reading for the day: Proverbs 1.7 (Proverbs voices the Lord’s concern for both our habits and our hearts. This book is chock full of practical, pithy instruction, at the of which is this truth…

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
    fools despise wisdom and instruction.” 

Prayer of the Day: Gracious and almighty Father, it is equally true that wisdom begins to dawn on me when I fear you… and in Christ crucified I have nothing to fear except losing you. Thank you. Day after day, work this truth out in my life and in the life my congregation. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a beloved classic that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w3w1-_dyq8&ab_channel=AprylDawn (this rendition is a bit more syrupy than I prefer, but it’s a great hymn).

“What does baptism mean for daily living?”

It means that our sinful self, with all its evil deeds and desires, should be drown through daily repentance;

And that day after day a new self should arise to live with God in righteousness and purity forever.

St. Paul writes in Romans 6:  “We were buried therefore with Christ by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6.4  (from The Small Catechism, Martin Luther)

Benediction: For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
    he adorns the humble with salvation.   Psalm 149.4

 

*This is now our congregation’s 99^th year in the Word. In 2025, we are reading from Genesis to Revelation, with a few interludes along the way.