Jesus' faithfulness > (greater than) Mine

Verse for the week: “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
    for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!”  Psalm 115.1

Prayer for the week: Almighty God, draw our hearts to you, guide our minds, fill our imaginations, control our wills, so that we may be wholly yours. Use us as you will, always to your glory and the welfare of our neighbor; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Bible reading for the day: Romans 3.26-31 (Against his will, Paul is called by God and set apart for the Gospel. In 56 AD he picks up the promise declared by Habakkuk 650 earlier and hands over to the Romans and to us sinners today the power of God for our salvation in Christ alone.)

 ²⁶ It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith from Jesus.

²⁷ Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. ²⁸ For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. ²⁹ Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, ³⁰ since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. ³¹ Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

Prayer of the Day: Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for the faith that comes from Jesus. The faith comes from myself is puffed up and hot-blooded… the faith of Jesus cools my boastfulness, let’s God’s law stand, and trusts Christ alone to justify whom he wills, insider and outlaw. In Jesus’ name, work out his faith in me, 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=kMf69QqS5r0&ab_channel=MartijndeGroot

“I believe in the Holy Spirit…”

What does this mean? 

I believe that I cannot by my own understanding or effort believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to him. But the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and kept me in true faith.

In the same way he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it united with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.

In this Christian church day after day he fully forgives my sins and the sins of all believers. On the last day he will raise me and all the dead and give me and all believers in Christ eternal life.

This is most certainly true. (from The Small Catechism, by 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.