2 Timothy
1:12 -
Sunday’s Hymn of the Day is I know My Faith is Founded, (LSB #587).
Faith finds its focus in Jesus Christ. This is the message of our hymn for the
week. As we focus on Christ our faith will be sustained and grow as the Lord
directs us. The next three months will be extremely busy for most. Some may
feel overwhelmed. Can your faith take all that life has to offer? Our faith is
sufficient when it finds its focus in Christ.
The Hymn “I Know
My Faith Is Founded” (LSB 587). The German text was written by Erdmann
Neumeister, who was a pastor, organist, and schoolmaster in the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries. In 1941, the hymn was translated into English by The
Lutheran Hymnal.
The hymn uses the tune NUN LOB, MEIN SEEL, typically
associated with the historic Lutheran hymn “My Soul, Now Praise Your Maker.”
The tune first appeared as a chorale set to the text of Psalm 103 in Concentus
novi, a collection of devotional songs written by Johann Kugelmann soon after
the Reformation.
I know my faith is founded
And this my faith confessing,
Unmoved I stand on His sure Word.
Our reason cannot fathom
The truth of God profound;
Who trusts in human wisdom
Relies on shifting ground.
God’s Word is all-sufficient,
It makes divinely sure;
And trusting in its wisdom,
My faith shall rest secure.
In Luke 17, Jesus’ disciples say to Him, “Lord, increase our faith!” Stanza one of
the hymn illustrates how this increase of faith occurs for the Christian. Our
faith must be grounded not on the shifting sand of man-made sentiments but on
the rock-solid cornerstone that is the eternal, unchanging Word of God.
The truth of the Word of God isn’t something we can
grasp with our limited human ability. Martin Luther writes in his explanation
of the Third Article of the Creed, “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or
strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him.” Since our reason is
not sufficient, our faith in God’s Word becomes necessary. This faith is
secure.
Increase my faith, dear Savior,
To rob me of this treasure
And take my hope of bliss away.
But, Lord, with You beside me,
I shall be undismayed;
And led by Your good Spirit,
I shall be unafraid.
Abide with me, O Savior,
A firmer faith bestow;
Then I shall bid defiance
To ev’ry evil foe.
The faith we receive in our Baptism must be nurtured
and always on guard against the darts of Satan. By the power of the Holy
Spirit, God’s active Word works daily in our hearts to turn us away from our
sin and toward Christ. In the gifts we receive from Christ at His font, at His
altar, and in His Word, we are steeled against the temptations and tortures of
the devil.
We must not remain complacent in our faith. Should we
become satisfied with ourselves, we become even more susceptible to Satan’s
attacks. He never quits. But neither does our Lord—therefore, we must continue
to flee Satan in favor of the places Christ is always present for us. There, He
gives us the treasure of firmer faith so that we may grow as members of His
Body, the Church.
In faith, Lord, let me serve You;
Should seek to overwhelm me,
Let me a steadfast trust retain;
And then at my departure,
Lord, take me home to You,
Your riches to inherit
As all You said holds true.
In life and death, Lord, keep me
Until Your heav’n I gain,
Where I by Your great mercy
The end of faith attain.[2]
Prayer for a steadfast faith: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, because of
Your tender love toward us sinners You have given us Your Son that, believing
in Him, we might have everlasting life. Continue to grant us Your Holy Spirit
that we may remain steadfast in this faith to the end and finally come to life
everlasting; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
[1]The Crucifixion Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use
[3] Collect for Saturday of the week of Pentecost 16, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. II © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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