"I love Thy Zion, Lord,
The house of Thine abode,
The Church our blest Redeemer saved
With His own precious blood."

And who would not love the Lord's Zion, His holy church, with its blessed Gospel of free and saving grace, which is our only hope in life and death?

But have we not cause to fear that the Lord's Zion, God's holy temple, in which every believer is a living stone, is facing destruction at the hands of its open and secret enemies in these dangerous and evil days? It is true, God's believing children in this wicked world resemble a little, helpless flock of sheep surrounded by snarling, ravenous wolves. But they have no reason to fear. Their fate lies not in their hands, but in the hands of their reconciled and omnipotent Father in heaven. Nothing can pluck them out of those loving hands. No power on earth or in hell can thwart His holy purpose to give them His Kingdom of Grace here and His Kingdom of Glory hereafter in heaven. Their salvation is assured for time and eternity.

Let us but see to it that we are members of Christ's true, believing little flock, then we shall have no cause to fear for our persons or for the church we love so much. Like soldiers sure of their final victory in the battle we will wage our Savior's battles with unflinching courage and carry on His saving Gospel work with renewed zeal and energy in spite of all opposition. With God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, on our side, we are in overwhelming majority as compared with our numerous foes. "The kingdom ours remaineth!

[devotion text by Rev. F. W. Herzberger (1920) -
from the Family Altar - CPH (1957 edition)]
read preface from book (opens in a new window)