95. Tuesday after Fifth Sunday after Epiphany.
Lord, have mercy on us,
and let thy word of reproof
be for our salvation.
Revelation 3, 1-6. And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name, that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard; and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
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This is spoken to us; it fits the condition in our churches. How may not the solemnity of this declaration cause the heart to quake: “Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” Nothing could be more sad. Of all things life is the best, and death the worst. What could, then, be more terrible than to be called living, and yet to be dead? How impressive a statement this is from the mouth of Jesus: “I have not found thy works perfect before God.” And, again: “If thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief.” But such is the state of affairs with the greater number among us. They are called Christians, that is, anointed; but the living Spirit of God does not dwell in them. On the contrary, the prince of death rules in their hearts. O, ye few, who have not defiled your garments; watch, and keep yourselves pure. Fight for your lives. The enemy of your souls wants to rob you of life; fight, therefore, as a man struggles against a mortal foe. Truly, every day is in these times a struggle for life itself, — the life everlasting. Strengthen one another; for many are weak, and on the point of dropping off to sleep in death. Keep close together around our Lord Jesus. Love one another, and bear with one another; but reprove one another, also, and understand that this is love. Admonish one another, and stand together confessing the same faith. For God’s sake do not let the devil divide the army of the Lord. Brethren, the white garments of victory and our names written in the book of life, these are a prize well worth fighting for.
O God, my heart burns within me from fear of losing the life which thou didst give me. And the brethren, Lord God; let none of them fall back into the sleep of death. Almighty, merciful God, help us. Quicken us, and make us zealous to testify concerning thee, and to praise thy name. Knit us together; unite our hearts in thy love. Amen.*
May the grace of Christ our Savior,
And the Father’s boundless love,
With the Holy Spirit’s favor,
Rest upon us from above.
Thus may we abide in union
With each other and the Lord,
And possess, in sweet communion,
Joys which earth cannot afford.
[Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal 14; listen below]
* 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.