The Pastor’s Corner

Prayer: Grant almighty God and merciful Lord that your redeemed and chosen people would labor each day to glorify you in whatever they are called to do by your divine providence. We thank you that you have ordered our days and that our lives are in your hands. We witness your loving-kindness throughout the pages of your Word. We notice your care and guidance for your covenant people leading them from the land of sin and misery to their promised rest. We, too, are like them. We have been delivered from the bondage of the evil one and placed into your marvelous kingdom of light and righteousness. As citizens of this Kingdom, we gladly serve the King of kings and Lord of lords. Indeed, as recipients of your infinite love and grace, it is our reasonable service to offer our lives as living sacrifices seeking to be conformed more and more to the image of our Lord. Father, we confess to you that we are often consumed with the things of this world. We often place our affections and hopes on the fleeting things of this life. We often set aside those things that are eternal and lasting for that which will pass away. Forgive us for trading that which is good and lasting for that which will never satisfy our wandering souls. Please grant to us more of your Spirit who will move us and cause us to grow to full manhood in the knowledge of Christ through whom we pray. Amen.

Prayer: Grant almighty God that you would rise and bless your church, the very bride of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are a new creation through him, and we are thankful that he came to seek and save her through his suffering, death, and resurrection. We thank you that the church will never perish and that our Lord and Savior protects and defends her from his and our enemies. We thank you that you will never abandon your church though she is often assailed by great difficulties, false sons, heresies, and other matters that seek to destroy her. Through all of our years, you have cared for and watched over the very bride of Christ. We pray that you would make her holy, blameless, and ready for her husband. We plead with you to make your church faithful to your Word, laboring daily while it is still day, to do all that you have commanded. We confess that we, as your church, are often faithless, but you are faithful and good, gently and patiently leading your people to their heavenly rest. Grant us more affection for the King and Head of the church and grant that he would speedily return to usher in the consummation when there will be peace forevermore. All of these things we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer: Grant almighty God that we your people, chosen before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in your sight, we lean upon you through the storms that we must endure in this fallen world. Your word plainly tells us that you are our refuge and strength. We know that you have been our help in ages past and a shelter from the stormy blast, and for that, we are thankful. You have proven your faithfulness day unto day, and, therefore, we have no reason to fear what man will do. We confess the miserable state of our nation and world. We look around, and we see so much rebellion and so much evil. We mourn and grieve these things and confess to you that we sometimes grow weary and anxious -- we fret! Forgive us, Father. We know that you have ordered these things according to your sovereign decree. Since your Word tells us that you are good and just, doing all things for the well-being of your church, we know that we can rely on you even in those times when things are hard to understand. Therefore, our God, help us, we plead. Humble us and cause us to see that while it may seem that you are doing nothing, what you are doing would not likely be believed by us even if you told us. You are God, and we bow before your divine right to rule and reign as you see fit. Give us more of your grace we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer: Grant, Almighty God, that as thou hast not only of late adopted us as thy children, but before we were born, and as thou hast been pleased to sign us, as soon as we came forth from our mother's womb, with the symbol of that holy redemption, which has been obtained for us by the blood of thy only begotten Son, though we have by our ingratitude renounced so great a benefit, - O grant, that being mindful of our defection and unfaithfulness, of which eve are all guilty, and for which thou hast justly rejected us, we may now with true humility and obedience of faith embrace the grace of thy gospel now again offered to us, by which thou reconciles thyself to us; and grant that we may steadfastly persevere in pure faith, so as never to turn aside from the true obedience of faith, but to advance more and more in the knowledge of thy mercy, that having strong and deep roots, and being firmly grounded in the confidence of sure faith, we may never fall away from the true worship of thee, until thou at length receives us in to that eternal kingdom, which has been procured for us by the blood of thy only Son. Amen.

Meditation for the day taken from Everyday Prayer with John Calvin written by Donald McKim:

Scripture: Ephesians 3:7-13

In our passage for today, we read of Paul's mission of preaching the gospel, especially to the Gentiles. There are a few items to note in a summary of this passage. First, Paul was "made a minister" (3:7). That was done through the call of the Savior on the Damascus Road. Second, the frame of his ministry was "to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ" (3:9). That calling, to preach, is a calling of heralding the news of the king. In this case, the news and word of Christ, the true King. Third, the church is the place where preaching occurs (3:10). Fourth, and to the point of our devotional today, Paul says that through Christ, we have "boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him" (3:12). Calvin wrote that "God's children have peace with God, and approach him cheerfully and freely. We infer, likewise, from this passage that confidence is necessary in true invocation, and thus becomes the key that opens to us the gate of heaven." (98). It is only through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, the great High Priest, that we can have peace and, therefore, boldness and access to our Father in heaven. Without him, we would not have access, and we would be barred from his presence due to our sin. In Christ, as we are covered by his righteousness, we, though sinners, are considered righteous. Thus, our Father hears us as we pray.

Prayer: Grant almighty God that you, through your Spirit, would grant us joy in our hearts as we gather to worship you on the day you have ordered for us. Grant that we would enjoy your presence and demonstrate it as we sing your praises. We thank you that you have given us music in which we can express our love to you. Throughout your Word, we see how your people sang songs of praise for your marvelous works. Grant us that same zeal. Forgive us for being overly conscious of how we sound. Forgive us for holding back and not opening our mouths wide to proclaim your greatness. Forgive us for being selfish, forgetting that we may be sitting near a weary soul who needs the soothing ointment of song in praise to you. We know that you have gifted us with this tremendous privilege -- to sing and praise you. Please give us what you command and help us today to lift the roofs of our churches as we gather in praise to you, we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.