A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, ELW 504
Devotion
A stirring hymn! But I always stumble and am taken back a bit when we get to the words of the fourth verse. "Were they to take our house, goods, honor, child, or spouse, though life be wrenched away, they cannot win the day." Those words suddenly seem to hit a little too close to home.
Devastating calamities were common in Martin Luther's time. Of course, tragedy still does happen to people, even today. Foreclosures, unemployment, depression, addiction, catastrophic illness, divorce, death. In my life, as for many of you, there have been those times when I have felt lost in the face of modern calamities such as these.
Still God's promise remains. It comes to reassure us that no matter how bad things get, even beyond the worst imaginable, nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:31-38). Absolutely nothing! No matter how bad things look at the moment, God is for you. And nothing can change that. Whether you like it or not!
The Word abides, forever. God's kingdom is yours, forever.
Prayer
Lord God, Heavenly Father, thank you for being our mighty fortress in the midst of all that terrifies us. Help me to cling to your forever word of promise. Amen.