Body

- July 14 -

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
(Galatians 5:22)

Boisterous mirth does not in itself betray great joy. Many a man sings and laughs and dances on his way through life while his mind is tortured with guilt and fear. "The wicked rejoice; but their joy is simply like letting off fireworks - they blaze away and seem to put the modest little stars to shame. But it is all for a little while; they are over in a moment, while the quiet stars are shining still." The only people that possess true, abiding joy in this world of sin and sorrow are the Christians.

And why should we Christians not always rejoice in our blessed Lord and Savior? Does He not bless us with a good conscience by forgiving us all our sins? Is He not with us every day and hour of our life, helping, guiding, comforting, and saving us to the end? Where you find Christians who are always complaining about their hard lot in life, who never have a smile or a pleasant word for their neighbors, you can be sure that they are people who, though they have put their hands to the plow, look regretfully back to the fleeting things of this world and are therefore not fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62). For the kingdom of God consists not in eating and drinking, but in righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Healthy children are always joyful and happy. Even so healthy, childlike faith always rejoices in its Savior, no matter how dark the valley through which it is led by His gracious hand.

I will sing my Maker's praises
And in Him most joyful be,
For in all things I see traces
Of His tender love to me.
Nothing else than love could move Him,
With such sweet and tender care
Evermore to raise and bear
All who try to serve and love Him.
All things else have but their day,
God's great love abides for aye.

Since, then, neither change nor coldness
In my Father's love can be,
Lo! I lift my hands with boldness,
As Thy child I come to Thee.
Grant me grace, O God, I pray Thee,
That I may with all my might,
All my lifetime, day and night,
Love and trust Thee and obey Thee
And, when this brief life is o'er,
Praise and love Thee evermore.

The Lord's Prayer

Benediction
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all.
Amen.

[devotion text by Rev. F. W. Herzberger (1920) -
from the Family Altar - CPH (1957 edition)]
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