458. Friday after Twenty-sixth Sunday after Trinity.
Let thy mercies come
also unto me, O Lord,
even thy salvation,
according to thy word. Amen.
John 6, 43-47. Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
❦
Our salvation is wholly of God from beginning to end. No man awakens himself out of the sleep of sin; no man is truly penitent; none comes to Christ for mercy; none believes the forgiveness of sins; none is born again; except that God work all this in him. In like manner the regenerated man’s faithfulness unto the end is the work of God. How comes it, then, that God does this for some men, and not for all? Is it not true that he will have all men to be saved? — We shall not here attempt to explain the mystery. The word of God explains it, certainly; and yet it remains a mystery which only when this life is done shall be fully revealed — to the glory of God’s wisdom, love, and justice. — Yet if any be troubled and ask concerning God’s purpose with him, let him obey the Lord’s call, and he shall experience that the Father is drawing him, even him to the Savior. Whenever serious thoughts of eternity stirred your heart, or you felt a longing after God, it was the Father drawing you. When you felt the emptiness of the world; when you were troubled, and yearned after peace; when the word of God laid hold on you in your secret heart; and the gospel commended itself to your conscience; when despite your aversion to Jesus, there yet was something in you prompting you to give yourself to him; then all these things were the work of the Father, who was drawing you to the Son. You might have come to him, had you wished it; and if you remained away, you have no excuse. On the other hand, dear reader, if you have learned from the word of God to know yourself as a sinner deserving of death; as one who knows nothing unto salvation save the blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God; then the Father has drawn you, and you are already come to the Son. It is God has taught you to know your sin, and to ask mercy of Jesus. You already believe in him; for you put your trust in him as your only Savior, and are persuaded that he is the true God and eternal life. Give God the honor; he has done great things with you. Soon you shall in the light of heaven see clearly those ways in which his wisdom led you from the cradle to the grave. He says: “I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” For this you shall thank him with awe and worship forevermore.
Of our whole heart we confess that our salvation is wholly and solely of thee, our God; and we pray thee to grant us this grace that we may have our all in thee, thou eternal love. Amen.*
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need, in thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
[TLH 388b, LSB 570, ELH 319; 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.