Lutheran Seminary ~ Moved By The Promise ~ God Pause ~ Sunday, 27 October 2013 ~ “A Mighty Fortress of Our God”
"A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" ELW 504
A stirring hymn! But I always stumble and am taken back a bit when we get to the words of the fourth verse. "Were they to take our house, goods, honor, child, or spouse, though life be wrenched away, they cannot win the day." Those words suddenly seem to hit a little too close to home.
Devastating calamities were common in Martin Luther's time. Of course, tragedy still does happen to people, even today. Foreclosures, unemployment, depression, addiction, catastrophic illness, divorce, death. In my life, as for many of you, there have been those times when I have felt lost in the face of modern calamities such as these.
Still God's promise remains. It comes to reassure us that no matter how bad things get, even beyond the worst imaginable, nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:31-38). Absolutely nothing! No matter how bad things look at the moment, God is for you. And nothing can change that. Whether you like it or not!
The Word abides, forever. God's kingdom is yours, forever.
Devastating calamities were common in Martin Luther's time. Of course, tragedy still does happen to people, even today. Foreclosures, unemployment, depression, addiction, catastrophic illness, divorce, death. In my life, as for many of you, there have been those times when I have felt lost in the face of modern calamities such as these.
Still God's promise remains. It comes to reassure us that no matter how bad things get, even beyond the worst imaginable, nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:31-38). Absolutely nothing! No matter how bad things look at the moment, God is for you. And nothing can change that. Whether you like it or not!
The Word abides, forever. God's kingdom is yours, forever.
Lord God, Heavenly Father, thank you for being our mighty fortress in the midst of all that terrifies us. Help me to cling to your forever word of promise. Amen.
Brian Mundt
Interim Pastor, Cross of Hope Lutheran Church, Ramsey, Minn.
Interim Pastor, Cross of Hope Lutheran Church, Ramsey, Minn.
“A Mighty Fortress of Our God” (Martin Luther; Translated by Frederick H. Hedge)
1. A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
2. Did we in our strength confide, our striving would be losing
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
3. And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.
4. That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also
The body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.
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