Opening Prayer
In Jesus’ name! Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion; And to You the vow shall be performed (Psa 65:1).
Text: Luke 2:21
And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
Devotion
Praise the Lord! The name Jesus is written in living characters on our entrance into the New Year. The name Jesus separates us from all our sin from the past, so that we can look back with joy and thanks. And the name Jesus makes us bold, so that we face the future with good hope. If we believe, we always have crosses and trials, and yet our lot is so beautiful that we could not be happier. We lived in the Lord in the year that now has ended. We enter in Jesus’ name, in His saving love, as we begin the New Year. Could anything better meet us in the morning of our life than Jesus with His saving name in Holy Baptism? Could anything better meet us the first morning of this year than Jesus’ name with fullness of life and peace? Or could we wish for any more beautiful sunset, when our evening comes, than to die in Jesus’ name?
The merciful God has given us His Son as Savior and has let Him take on Himself the curse of the Law and all our sin. From the moment I was baptized, I entered into Him and left Satan’s kingdom, into life and out of death. What Jesus became for the entire world by fulfilling all righteousness is mine. His name is the epitome of God’s saving grace. He is the Savior. His name is Jesus, that is: He has atoned for sin, destroyed death, and crushed the devil. This He did by His death and resurrection. He has taken me out of Satan’s kingdom into His fellowship of grace. This He did by Baptism. He keeps me in it every moment, renews His grace to me and in me, lives always at the Father’s right hand and intercedes for me, lifts up my soul by His Gospel and nourishes me with His body and blood. All this I have in the name Jesus. He Himself, He who was dead, but is the One who lives forever, my King and God, my Prince of life and Savior, my Brother and Bridegroom, He is the first to meet me today. And that means that from the beginning of the year again I am inwardly united with Him and will live in His redeeming, comforting, saving fellowship to the end of the year. Everything in Jesus, everything from Him, everything for Him, everything to Him. The whole year will rest on Him as my Savior, and everything has to serve for my salvation. Not one day, not one moment will I leave the name Jesus. This whole year by His power I will live in holiness and patience, honoring Him and serving the brethren. O my heart, you don’t want to believe! But isn’t it true, and isn’t it right that Jesus’ name is the entrance gate to the year? Is that a false signpost? Or do you think it is too wonderful for you that for that reason you can’t really believe it? So, look then at the name Jesus. Don’t you see there ever clearly: grace, grace for poor sinners?
Closing Prayer
Yes, great God, praise to You! I understand only a little of the deep grace of Your name. Give me Your Spirit, and let Him declare You in my heart. Amen.
Hymn
Jesus, Thou our footsteps guiding,
May we never stray from Thee;
Jesus, near us still abiding,
Thou our constant guardian be:
Jesus, Thou our thoughts inspire,
Jesus be our hearts’ desire.
Savior, when this year is closing,
Marked by mercies large and free,
May we, in Thy love reposing,
Leave the future all with Thee;
Gladly in Thy courts appear,
Gladly wait Thy summons here.
Rist: Help, Lord Jesus, let Thy blessing L 177:7-8 LHy 210:5-6; tr. C. Dunn;
tune: Komm, o komm (ELH 438); alternate hymn: In Jesus’ name ELH 4 or Jesus! Name of wondrous love ELH 156