21. Wednesday after Third Sunday in Advent.
Lord, establish our ways
in thy word. Amen.
2 Timothy 1, 6-12. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; who hath 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; but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
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Even as John the Baptist saw the near approach of death, when, from the prison, he sent his disciples to Jesus, so did Paul know that his dissolution was at hand when he wrote this epistle to Timothy; but he meets death with triumphant confidence. Christ has brought us great things, and how happy are we who live in his church! O, that the Spirit might, in this church year, stir up anew the gift of God which is given us! Let our faith become healthy and strong, let our love become ardent, and let us willingly and gladly endure hardship with God’s people. Boldly confess your Savior; himself will give you the necessary spirit and grace. Indeed, he has given you them already in your baptism; the spirit of power and love is yours, if you will but make use of it; and if you do this, the fire in your soul will be fanned into flame. The secret is this, that you are not a servant, but a child in God’s household. Do good without ceasing, the fountain of love and power will not run dry; your heavenly father has riches without limit. Or are not we also saved and called with an holy calling? Did not Christ die, and does he not live for us? Are we not baptized unto him, do we not hear his gospel and partake of his Holy Supper? Shall we save ourselves anew by our own works, though we are saved already by the grace of God in Christ? Let us not by unbelief abolish what God has done, deny what God has said, and despise our heavenly calling. The death in our flesh, which threatens to palsy us, has been vanquished by our baptism unto the death and resurrection of Christ; for we are united with him in his death and in his victory over death; we are members of the Savior who died and is alive for evermore. Therefore the devil has no power over us and must not be permitted to subdue our courage. Hear how Paul speaks: “Christ hath abolished death, abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” But what Paul has that we also have, in the measure which we need in order to conquer the flesh and defy the devil when he tries to make us fearful and faint-hearted. You, also, Christian brother, know whom you have believed, and know that it is safe to build on him. Have you not entrusted yourself to him with your heart, your life, your all? Have you not placed your soul and salvation in his hand? I know that my Redeemer liveth; I know that it was not I, but he, who chose me, saved me, and called me; and that it is not I, but he, who keeps me; and I know of a certainty that nor devil nor death owns me, but that he owns me and dwells in me. Verily, he shall hold me fast and keep me in faith and love, through whatever of suffering it may please him to lead me, and though it may cost me all that I hold dear in this world.
Teach us, Lord, to immerse our soul in thy everlasting grace. Give us grace to live the life of love, to confess thee with ardent heart, and to win disciples for thee round about. Above all else, dear Lord God, let our faith be true and living, that it may prove itself in charity and in victory over our natural faint-heartedness and over all the power of sin. Amen.*
O that the Lord would guide my ways,
To keep his statutes still!
O that my God would grant me grace
To know and do his will!
Order my footsteps by thy Word,
And make my heart sincere;
Let sin have no dominion, Lord,
But keep my conscience clear.
[TLH 416, LSB 707, ELH 441; 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.