Blest Be the Tie That Binds (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 656)
1 Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the unity of heart and mind
is like to that above.
2 Before our Father’s throne
we pour our ardent prayers;
our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
our comforts and our cares.
3 We share our mutual woes,
our mutual burdens bear,
and often for each other flows
the sympathizing tear.
4 From sorrow, toil, and pain,
and sin we shall be free;
and perfect love and friendship reign
through all eternity.
Devotion
This wonderful, loved hymn helps us to remember that we are never alone. The strong bonds of love, shared faith, and family secure us together in Christ. Even when we feel alone, unworthy, or even unloved, may we always experience God’s love embodied in us through Jesus Christ. This timeless hymn celebrates what we as members of a community share and enjoy together. But our relationships are not always constant. Change does come to all of us. And change is rarely easy. As I face my own retirement and upcoming move, I think about my two beloved congregations I am leaving behind. Change is never easy from one pastor to the next, yet our faith in Christ assures us; we are never sent into a driftless future. For our hearts are bound together in Christian love.
Prayer
Gracious, always present God, through whatever changes we encounter, may we trust in the steadfast, ever-accompanying love of our Lord and Savior to encourage us toward new adventures, and new friends in Christ. Amen.