Tuesday’s Verses:
From Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
(Next Sunday in church, we will celebrate the Reformation. Throughout this week, we will take time to reflect on this important day. Yes, I know the Reformation is not until October 31st, but that is a Saturday. The next day is November 1st, All Saints’ Day. So this coming weekend, we celebrate Luther and the Reformation.)
A treasure that we can look to from the Lutheran Reformation is "Salvation Unto Us Has Come" (LSB 555). Written in 1523 by Paul Speratus, this hymn is not only beautiful but teaches us about the Gospel. Salvation is given to us because of what Jesus Christ did for us. Not because of what we did.
This is something Speratus explores throughout the hymn. Before Martin Luther came to understand the comfort of the Gospel, he knew that we cannot be righteous before God by anything that we do. No matter how much we follow the law, we will still be guilty. Our good deeds will not wipe away our sins.
What we cannot do by our own hands, Jesus has done for us!
By living a sinless life, suffering innocently, dying on the cross, and rising from the dead. He has won salvation for us. God gives us the righteousness of Christ by faith. We don't even have faith on our own; it is worked in us through the Gospel by the Holy Spirit.
That is why the Reformation is so great. It points us to our Savior. We all know there are times when our consciences are troubled. We may feel like we haven't done enough good deeds to gain God's love. But salvation is not earned by being a good person.
We look to our Savior who died for us.
We then can love our neighbors because we have been saved.
That is the message that "Salvation Unto Us Has Come" conveys. It's the message of the Reformation, and most of all, it's the message about Jesus Christ.
Today’s Prayers
Lord, we give thanks for Your Son, Jesus Christ, who died for us. Help us not to rely on our good deeds to save us but to trust in His righteousness. Grow our faith through Your word and help us to love our neighbor. In Jesus name. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
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.
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