Opening Thought
“The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace; Her clothing is woven with gold.” (Psa 45:13)
Text: Isaiah 61:10-11
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its bud, as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Devotion
If you have seen a poor, needy child get a beautiful new dress, then you have also seen the joy of that child. We too were naked, and God gave us the most glorious dress: shouldn’t we rejoice? – If God’s Spirit has enlightened you, then you confess from the heart that in yourself you are “lowly, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” Now the same Spirit of truth says: “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal 3:27). All baptized people who are fleshly-minded have thrown away their glorious dress, but this must not keep you from holding on to what God has given you. And isn’t it true, what the Holy Spirit says by the Apostle? Haven’t we who have been baptized into Christ put on Christ? Do you treasure and ponder these words of the Lord in your heart? Isn’t that God’s will? Everything depends on faith, but we poor, naked, miserable creatures ought to listen to God’s Spirit and believe what God’s Son has given us. Don’t you want your soul to rejoice in God? What are you looking for? Already in your Baptism the Lord has clothed you with the garments of salvation, Christ’s perfect righteousness. God says it. Would you then deny it? The world doesn’t worry about being naked, but you are disturbed about being naked. Truly God Himself has taken care of that, before you asked Him, and wonderfully satisfied your need. When He says: “See, I have taken away your misdeeds and have clothed you with beautiful garments,” then should you say: “No – no, it isn’t so”? Rather say: I will give Him the right, for He has the right. I will believe without seeing, because He says it, and I will sing in truth: “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness.” Brothers and sisters, in Christ we sinners are pure and beautiful in God’s eyes. Let us believe in Him with childlike faith and praise Him with joyful hearts!
Closing Prayer
Give us Your grace for this, merciful God. Amen.
Hymn
He cries to me: See, I am yours
And you are Mine forever!
No evil shall harm you and yours,
The serpent strikes you never;
I fill you with true joy and peace
And crown you with My glory,
I give you My own righteousness,
It shall become your glory!
Who dares then try me to release
From Jesus’ safest keeping?
My enemy must grant me peace
For Jesus’ precious bleeding;
He grants me true security,
My conscience safely resting;
My way most peaceful e’er shall be,
In God’s own time I’m trusting.
German: Nu er jeg glad L 74:2-3 tr. DeGarmeaux;
tune: Frisk op (LHy 282) or Was mein Gott will (ELH 477); alternate hymn: Lord Jesus Christ, my Savior blest ELH 258:3-4