Old Lutherans

388. Monday after Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity.

Enlighten us, our God,
that we may praise thy mercy. Amen.

Ephesians 1, 3-7. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved: in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.

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We also bless God for that he has made us partakers of “the glory of his grace.” We also, dear brethren in the Lord, are among those whom he has “blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ;” and he has chosen even us in him before the foundation of the world, “that we should be holy and without blame before him in love; having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” He has given us his only Son, and by his death redeemed us from death and devil; received us into his fellowship; forgiven us our sins; created in us a new heart; given us spiritual light; and keeps us by his power until we reach the appointed end, eternal salvation. All believers are embraced in this “good pleasure” of God “which he hath purposed in himself,” that Jews and gentiles, as many as accept the call, shall be gathered together in one house, and be glorified in heavenly glory. Nay, all believers already “sit together in heavenly places” (Eph. 2, 6); for we stand before the throne together with an “innumerable company of angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect” (Hebrews 12, 22. 23). Is it not in the house of God, in his service, before his face, together with the blessed angels, that we live and do all our work? And is it not the life of heaven which stirs in us with love and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost? But “we walk by faith, not by sight.” We see that we are on earth; but we believe that we are embraced by the love of God; sustained by his eternal purpose to save us, and by his divine power; surrounded by angels and beatified human spirits as being of the same household; — and is not that which God says more certain and true than that which we see? It is, a thousand times! Then blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has chosen us, and saved us; and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began! My God, I am deeply sensible of my own unworthiness; but it was the good pleasure of thy will to predestinate me unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to thyself. I will, then, by this grace serve thee with all my soul; do thou help me by thy Holy Spirit. Amen.*

No good in creatures can be found,
But may be found in thee;
I must have all things, and abound,
While God is God to me.

O that I had a stronger faith
To look within the veil,
To credit what my Savior saith,
Whose word can never fail!

[suggested tune: Belmont (TLH 436), listen here]

* Here the head of the family says a short morning or evening prayer in his own words, and closes with the Lord’s Prayer and the Benediction. This is to be done every day. If the stanzas are not sung, they may be read in their proper place before the impromptu petition and the Lord’s Prayer.