Monday of Easter – April 22, 2019 – Psalm 23:6
Surely goodness
and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell
in the house of the Lord forever.
God does not give His blessings once. His goodness and mercy continue. These blessings we experience in this life but also in the life that is to come.
Remember, the Lord is the source of every good thing. But don’t think that this means God’s children are going to have it easy. He will provide what we need for our faith to live and grow, in spite of our straying, sinning, and doubting. Consider Joseph whose brother’s beat him, heaved him into a pit and sold him into slavery. When he was being mistreated he went through intolerable suffering. But the Lord kept him alive. The Lord saw him make it to Egypt. If those things had not happened, Joseph would not have been in a position to help his brothers later and it would have in all likelihood been the end of the Children of Israel. But God had promised that would not be. We might experience terrible situations that we feel we just can’t endure. Through all our earthly trials and affliction, our trust must remain in the Lord.
Just as the Lord directed the path of Joseph and David so He continues to order and direct your steps. In this Easter season we rejoice and affirm forgiveness life and salvation. Treasure these gifts despite any hardship you might currently have to endure.
We rejoice in Thee, O Lord everlasting, with gladness and exultation, beseeching Thee, that while the gates of our hearts are thrown open in Thy praise, they may also be flung wide to receive Thy mercy and truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with Thee and the Holy Ghost, One God, world without end. Amen.[1]
Lord Jesus, by Your Spirit, You give us faith to cast out all fear of confessing the true faith; for we are helpless to save ourselves, and we must trust in You and You along for our salvation. Keep us faithful to the end, that You will not be ashamed of us when You come in Your glory with Your Father and the holy angels; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.[2]
[1]© 2005
Lutheran Liturgical Prayer Brotherhood
[2] Collect
for Easter Monday, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St.
Louis
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