O God of Love, O King of Peace (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 749)
1 O God of love, O King of peace,
make wars throughout the world to cease;
our greed and sinful wrath restrain.
Give peace, O God, give peace again.
2 Remember, Lord, your works of old,
the wonders that our elders told;
remember not our sins’ deep stain.
Give peace, O God, give peace again.
3 Whom shall we trust but you, O Lord?
Where rest but on your faithful word?
None ever called on you in vain.
Give peace, O God, give peace again.
4 Where saints and angels dwell above
all hearts are knit in holy love;
oh, bind us in that heav’nly chain.
Give peace, O God, give peace again.
Text: Henry W. Baker; Music: J. Klug, Geistliche Lieder; Public Domain
Devotion
On pastoral internship in Tokyo, my daily commute meant a walk from my apartment to the Asagaya station, then a climb up to the train platform, on which I would watch to the west for the train to arrive and carry me downtown. There was never much to see through the ambient smog.
Then came the New Year. Factories closed and workers had a whole week off. The smog cleared, revealing the dazzling, radiant, iconic majesty of Mt. Fuji—exactly where I had stared idly for the previous seven months.
I never again saw Fuji from Asagaya, and probably never will again. But neither can I “unsee” such brilliant beauty. Though now obscured from my sight, I know it is there.
Prayer
O God of love, reveal your peace and make me a peacemaker for Jesus’ sake. Amen.