Lord, Speak to Us, That We May Speak (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 676)
1 Lord, speak to us, that we may speak
in living echoes of your tone;
as you have sought, so let us seek
your straying children, lost and lone.
2 Oh, lead us, Lord, that we may lead
the wand’ring and the wav’ring feet;
oh, feed us, Lord, that we may feed
your hung’ring ones with manna sweet.
3 Oh, teach us, Lord, that we may teach
the precious truths which you impart;
and wing our words, that thy may reach
the hidden depths of many a heart.
4 Oh, fill us with your fullness, Lord,
until my very hearts o’erflow
in kindling thought and glowing word,
your love to tell, your praise to show.
Text: Frances R. Havergal; Music: Robert Schumann; Public Domain
Devotion
God’s word comes to Peter, James, and John, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” The text of this hymn is a prayer that we might do exactly that, listen to our Lord Jesus. However, like the experience of Peter, James, and John, we do not ask to hear just for ourselves, but in order that we may hear and then tell others about God’s word:
Lord, speak to us, that we may speak
in living echoes of your tone;
as you have sought, so let us seek
your straying children, lost and lone.
In Luther’s explanation of the third article of the creed he says:
I believe that by my own understanding or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him, but instead the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, made me holy and kept me in the true faith.
God finds us and calls us through the spirit in order that we might seek out God’s straying children, feed them, teach them, and love them.
Prayer
Dear Lord, find us, come to us, speak to us, that we might carry out your work. Amen.