The Lutheran Herald, Malone, TX (2026)

10/30/2026

Scripture and Devotion for the Friday after the Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity Sunday. Friday, October 30th, 2026.

Scripture: Isaiah 30:15-19 (NKJV)

30:15 For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:

“In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” But you would not,

16 and you said, “No, for we will flee on horses”—therefore you shall flee! And, “We will ride on swift horses”—therefore those who pursue you shall be swift!

17 One thousand shall flee at the threat of one, at the threat of five you shall flee, till you are left as a pole on top of a mountain and as a banner on a hill.

18 Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him.

19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; You shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears it, He will answer you.

Devotion

Various types of Christian triumphalism have plagued the Church throughout the centuries. The ushering in of the ‘millennial kingdom’ through human efforts has always been a temptation for men. We often think that if we are just a little more pious, or if we can rid the world of the impious, the kingdom of God is just around the corner. But this never works.

God says, “In returning and rest you shall be saved.” “Returning” is repentance, returning to the grace of our baptism, returning to the Lord’s Word of promise. “Rest” is grace. God does the work for us. We cannot attain the kingdom of God by our efforts. Zealousness is not the way to God. Repentant receiving of His gifts is the way to the kingdom.

Our sinful flesh doesn’t like being patient and quiet. We don’t like to admit it is hopeless and there is nothing we can do to fix the world. We always have a plan, a technique, a seven-step program. God tells us that we will accomplish nothing unless we rely on Him and wait on His time. What God ordains is always best. If it is ordained for us to act, God will have us act. If it is ordained for us to wait quietly, we pray and trust. God will bring about His victory in His time.

Collect: Lord, we beseech Thee to keep Thy household, the Church, in continual godliness; that through Thy protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve Thee in good works, to the glory of Thy Name; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

10/29/2026

Scripture and Devotion for the Thursday after the Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity Sunday. Thursday, October 29th, 2026.

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 29:1-11 (NKJV)

29:1 Hezekiah became king when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah. 2 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done.

3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them. 4 Then he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them in the East Square, 5 and said to them: “Hear me, Levites! Now sanctify yourselves, sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place. 6 For our fathers have trespassed and done evil in the eyes of the Lord our God; they have forsaken Him, have turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the Lord, and turned their backs on Him. 7 They have also shut up the doors of the vestibule, put out the lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel. 8 Therefore the wrath of the Lord fell upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He has given them up to trouble, to desolation, and to jeering, as you see with your eyes. 9 For indeed, because of this our fathers have fallen by the sword; and our sons, our daughters, and our wives are in captivity.

10 “Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us. 11 My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense.”

Devotion

Hezekiah was the godly son of the godless Ahaz. Ahaz had led Judah into sin and corruption. Hezekiah rooted out the idolatry that was allowed to flourish under his father, and he restored adherence and devotion to the Word of God.

The first thing Hezekiah did was to clean up and reform the worship of the temple. It was the house of the Lord, the place of His dwelling. This is like the altar and font in our churches, the place of God’s dwelling. Worship and doctrine are closely connected. The Lutheran reform of doctrine came with reform of worship. For example, the elimination of Eucharistic prayers corresponded to the Lutheran understanding of the mass as God’s service to us, rather than a re-sacrificing or re-presentation of Christ’s sacrifice to God. Liturgics should be in harmony with doctrine. One should worship the way one believes.

Lutherans believe in maintaining liturgical traditions that do not contradict God’s Word, but eliminating anti-scriptural accretions. For example, burning incense was part of the temple worship. It was also a long-standing tradition in the Church, so we continue to burn incense in worship. But when the Medieval church began to deviate from the Lord’s command to eat and drink during the Lord’s Supper, the Lutherans restored the chalice to the laity. Our Lord said “take, eat” and “take, drink.” We have no right to change His commands.

Collect: Lord, we beseech Thee to keep Thy household, the Church, in continual godliness; that through Thy protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve Thee in good works, to the glory of Thy Name; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

10/28/2026

Scripture and Devotion for the Festival of St. Simon and St. Jude, Apostles. Wednesday, October 28th, 2026.

Scripture: St. John 15:17-21 (NKJV)

15:17 “These things I command you, that you love one another.

18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.”

Devotion

The world is divided into believers and unbelievers. This is the most significant category distinction. There are many category distinctions, but this is the most important, because being in Jesus separates us out from the world. We are snatched out of the world by Jesus. It’s as if we were living among spiritual zombies and Jesus came and changed us fundamentally, so that even though we looked like everyone else, we are completely different.

We should expect to be hated, ostracized, and excluded because we are different; we are an indictment to others. Our existence points a finger at the unbeliever’s sin. We don’t have to actively address his sin. Our existence, by definition, points to the unbeliever’s alienation from God. The more of Jesus they see in us, the more they will hate us. And this also applies to doctrine. Jesus’ “word” is His doctrine, His teaching. They hate His doctrine because they hate Him. Our “word,” the Church’s “word,” is His doctrine.

The world will hate our/His doctrine, and not keep it, because it is one with Him. They cannot love the doctrine of the One they do not know and, in fact, hate. We, however, show that we love Him and belong to Him when we keep His doctrine.

Collect: O Almighty God, Who has built Thy Church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Head Cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their doctrine, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable unto Thee; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

Collect for the Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Lord, we beseech Thee to keep Thy household, the Church, in continual godliness; that through Thy protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve Thee in good works, to the glory of Thy Name; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

10/27/2026

Scripture and Devotion for the Tuesday after the Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity Sunday. Tuesday, October 27th, 2026.

Scripture: Judges 2:16-23 (NKJV)

2:16 Nevertheless, the Lord raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them. 17 Yet they would not listen to their judges, but they played the harlot with other gods, and bowed down to them. They turned quickly from the way in which their fathers walked, in obeying the commandments of the Lord; they did not do so. 18 And when the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed them and harassed them. 19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they reverted and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, by following other gods, to serve them and bow down to them. They did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way.

20 Then the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel; and He said, “Because this nation has transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers, and has not heeded My voice, 21 I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died, 22 so that through them I may test Israel, whether they will keep the ways of the Lord, to walk in them as their fathers kept them, or not.” 23 Therefore the Lord left those nations, without driving them out immediately; nor did He deliver them into the hand of Joshua.

Devotion

“…so that through them I may test Israel…” God was going to allow various Canaanite tribes to remain in the land in order to chastise Israel for her faithlessness. While there is an aspect of reward and punishment in these actions, God’s ultimate purpose was not punishment, but correction.

Peace and safety seem to be breeding grounds for faithlessness. It seems to be a general truth that men who are comfortable don’t feel a need for God. Rich men going through needle eyes, and men under pressure are more likely to seek God. At least, this seems to be true among God’s children. We are always falling back into sin and corruption. God uses adversity to test us, and bring us to repentance. This has always been the case. Luther knew that men naturally sink back into the mire of their sinful nature without the constant correction of God. Even today, we see Christians falling away while we live in the wealthiest and most comfortable society in the history of the world. We should not be surprised when God sends adversity so that we may be brought back to faithfulness.

God is ultimately merciful. He uses all things to lead us back to Him. Our God isn’t a God of legalism. He is a God of mercy.

Collect: Lord, we beseech Thee to keep Thy household, the Church, in continual godliness; that through Thy protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve Thee in good works, to the glory of Thy Name; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

10/26/2026

Scripture and Devotion for the Monday after the Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity Sunday. Monday, October 26th, 2026.

Scripture: St. Luke 22:31-38 (NKJV)

22:31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”

34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”

35 And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?”

So they said, “Nothing.”

36 Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 37 For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.”

38 So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.”

And He said to them, “It is enough.”

Devotion

Peter will sin and return to the Lord. It should always be a comfort to us that even Peter fell into grave sin, but also repented and was restored. One can always repent. No matter how far one has fallen, if one listens to the prompting of the Holy Ghost and repents, our heavenly Father is eager to forgive and restore. We are not alone as sinners. Even someone as important as St. Peter fell into sin. But God used him to strengthen the other disciples when he was restored.

Peter is a leader. Jesus said that “Satan has asked for you.” “You” here is plural, meaning all the disciples. Then Jesus says that “I have prayed for you.” “You” here is singular, meaning Peter. Even though Peter commits a grave sin by denying Jesus three times, he is still restored to leadership, as well as peace with God. Men and churches can fall into grave sin. But they can still be restored through repentance and faith. This happens repeatedly through the history of the Church. It happened especially during the Reformation, when the visible Church had fallen into deep corruption, but was returned to the purity of the Gospel.

Leaders like Martin Luther were also sinners. He admitted that freely. Men are not leaders because they are sinless. The best leaders know their sinfulness and rely on God’s grace and forgiveness.

Collect: Lord, we beseech Thee to keep Thy household, the Church, in continual godliness; that through Thy protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve Thee in good works, to the glory of Thy Name; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

10/25/2026

Lesson from the Book of Concord for the Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity Sunday.

Article XX.

Our teachers are falsely accused of forbidding Good Works. For their published writings on the Ten Commandments, and others of like import, bear witness that they have taught to good purpose concerning all estates and duties of life, as to what estates of life and what works in every calling be pleasing to God. Concerning these things preachers heretofore taught but little, and urged only childish and needless works, as particular holy days, particular fasts, brotherhoods, pilgrimages, services in honor of saints, the use of rosaries, monasticism, and such like. Since our adversaries have been admonished of these things they are now unlearning them, and do not preach these unprofitable works as heretofore. Besides they begin to mention faith, of which there was heretofore marvelous silence. They teach that we are justified not by works only, but they conjoin faith and works, and say that we are justified by faith and works. This doctrine is more tolerable than the former one, and can afford more consolation than their old doctrine.

Forasmuch, therefore, as the doctrine concerning faith, which ought to be the chief one in the Church, has lain so long unknown, as all must needs grant that there was the deepest silence in their sermons concerning the righteousness of faith, while only the doctrine of works was treated in the churches, our teachers have instructed the churches concerning faith as follows:

First, that our works cannot reconcile God or merit forgiveness of sins, grace and justification, but that we obtain this only by faith, when we believe that we are received into favor for Christ’s sake, who alone has been set forth the Mediator and Propitiation [1 Tim. 2:5], in order that the Father may be reconciled through Him. Whoever, therefore, trusts that by works he merits grace, despises the merit and grace of Christ, and seeks a way to God without Christ, by human strength, although Christ said of Himself: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” [ John 14:6].

This doctrine concerning faith is everywhere treated by Paul [Eph. 2:8]: “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works,” etc.

And lest anyone should craftily say that a new interpretation of Paul has been devised by us, this entire matter is supported by the testimonies of the Fathers. For Augustine, in many volumes, defends grace and the righteousness of faith, over against the merits of works. And Ambrose, in his De Vocatione Gentium, and elsewhere, teaches to like effect. For in his De Vocatione Gentium he says as follows: “Redemption by the Blood of Christ would become of little value, neither would the preeminence of man’s works be superseded by the mercy of God, if justification, which is wrought through grace, were due to the merits going before, so as to be, not the free gift of a donor, but the reward due to a laborer.”

But, although this doctrine is despised by the inexperienced, nevertheless, God-fearing and anxious consciences find by experience that it brings the greatest consolation, because consciences cannot be pacified through any works, but only by faith, when they are sure that, for Christ’s sake, they have a gracious God. As Paul teaches [Rom. 5:11]: “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God.” This whole doctrine is to be referred to that conflict of the terrified conscience; neither can it be understood apart from that conflict. Therefore inexperienced and profane men judge ill concerning this matter, who dream that Christian righteousness is nothing but the civil righteousness of natural reason.

Heretofore consciences were plagued with the doctrine of works, nor did they hear any consolation from the Gospel. Some persons were driven by conscience into the desert, into monasteries, hoping there to merit grace by a monastic life. Some also devised other works whereby to merit grace and make satisfaction for sins. There was very great need to treat of and renew this doctrine of faith in Christ, to the end that anxious consciences should not be without consolation, but that they might know that grace and forgiveness of sins and justification are apprehended by faith in Christ.

Men are also admonished that here the term “faith” doth not signify merely the knowledge of the history, such as in the ungodly and in the devil, but signifieth a faith which believes, not merely the history, but also the effect of the history—namely, this article of the forgiveness of sins, to wit, that we have grace, righteousness, and forgiveness of sins, through Christ.

Now he that knoweth that he has a Father reconciled to him through Christ, since he truly knows God, knows also that God careth for him, and calls upon God; in a word, he is not without God, as the heathen. For devils and the ungodly are not able to believe this article of the forgiveness of sins. Hence, they hate God as an enemy; call not upon Him; and expect no good from Him. Augustine also admonishes his readers concerning the word “faith,” and teaches that the term “faith” is accepted in the Scriptures, not for knowledge such as in the ungodly, but for confidence which consoles and encourages the terrified mind.

Furthermore, it is taught on our part, that it is necessary to do good works, not that we should trust to merit grace by them, but because it is the will of God.

—The Augsburg Confession, §1–27

10/25/2026

Gospel and Collect for the Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity Sunday: October 25th, 2026.

The Gospel—St. John 4:46b-54 (NKJV)

4:46b And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.”

49 The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!”

50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!”

52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household.

54 This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.

Collect

Lord, we beseech Thee to keep Thy household, the Church, in continual godliness; that through Thy protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve Thee in good works, to the glory of Thy Name; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

10/24/2026

Scripture and Devotion for the Saturday after the Twentieth Sunday after Trinity Sunday. Saturday, October 24th, 2026.

Scripture: Acts 13:26-41 (NKJV)

13:26 “Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. 27 For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. 28 And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. 29 Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. 30 But God raised Him from the dead. 31 He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. 32 And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. 33 God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm:

‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.’

34 And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus:

‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’

35 Therefore He also says in another Psalm:

‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’

36 “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; 37 but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. 38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40 Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:

41 ‘Behold, you despisers, marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, a work which you will by no means believe, though one were to declare it to you.’”

Devotion

Paul’s sermon was addressed to the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles living in Pisidian Antioch (a city in modern day Turkey). He preached how God had fulfilled the Scriptures in sending His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus lived a perfectly righteous life—therefore the Jews in Jerusalem “found no cause for death in Him”—but they crucified Him on a tree, according to the Scriptures. Jesus died and was laid in a tomb; but “God raised Him from the dead.” The Father glorified His Son and exalted Him to the right hand. From this place of authority, Jesus distributes the merits of His death and resurrection. Within His Church, He forgives sins and justifies all those who believe in Him.

Everything in this sermon is applicable to us. To us also “the word of this salvation has been sent.” For us, God has fulfilled the Scriptures. It doesn’t matter where we live, where we grew up, or who our ancestors are. Jesus died and rose again so that “through Him is preached to us the forgiveness of sins and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which we could not be justified by the law of Moses.”

Just as the promise applies to us, so also does the warning. If we despise Christ like the Jews in Jerusalem did—or even like the Jews in Pisidian Antioch—we will perish. Only through Christ can we be justified from our sins. Therefore, Paul exhorts us to believe in Christ, so that we may receive the “sure mercies of David.”

Collect: Grant, we beseech Thee, Merciful Lord, to Thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve Thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

10/23/2026

Scripture and Devotion for the Friday after the Twentieth Sunday after Trinity Sunday. Friday, October 2223rdnd, 2026.

Scripture: 1 Kings 9:1-9 (NKJV)

9:1 And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord and the king’s house, and all Solomon’s desire which he wanted to do, 2 that the Lord appeared to Solomon the second time, as He had appeared to him at Gibeon. 3 And the Lord said to him: “I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built to put My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. 4 Now if you walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, 5 then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’ 6 But if you or your sons at all turn from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, 7 then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them; and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight. Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 8 And as for this house, which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and will hiss, and say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ 9 Then they will answer, ‘Because they forsook the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore the Lord has brought all this calamity on them.’”

Devotion

The twenty cities which King Hiram called “Cabul” (i.e. “good for nothing”) were located in the land of Galilee. We don’t know exactly which cities these were, but the historian Josephus indicates they were near the city of Tyre—that is, in northern Galilee. At the time of Christ, there was another city in Galilee which was also called “Cabul.” In John chapter 1, the disciple Nathanael said: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (v. 46).

Something good did come out of Nazareth: Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Son of Mary. He was born in Bethlehem, but He was raised in Galilee and spent most of His ministry there. Although Jerusalem was the place of God’s house and where He promised His presence, the Jews rejected God’s Son, and so He preached elsewhere. The Gospel came, first, to Galilee; then to northern cities like Tyre and Sidon; finally it spread to all the Gentile lands, because Israel “forsook the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt.”

King Hiram’s assessment wasn’t wrong. The cities of Galilee were “good for nothing;” they were inhabited by a “good for nothing” people. But that is true of every place on earth. The earth is inhabited by sinners who are unable to please God: “There is none righteous, no not one” (Rom. 3:10). But Jesus came to save sinners. When He saw that we were “Cabul,” He offered Himself on a cross as the punishment for our sins. Indeed, He makes us pleasing to God the Father through His righteousness, which He gives us by faith.

Collect: Grant, we beseech Thee, Merciful Lord, to Thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve Thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.