Genesis 32:10a I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown to Your servant. --NKJV In the name of our gracious and merciful Lord, dear friends:
Martin Luther points out in his explanation to the First Article that the reason God preserves us in this life both in body and soul is not because of anything we have done to deserve it. But He does all of this "out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy." One of the characteristics of earthly parents oftentimes is that they are forgiving of their children's bad conduct. Oftentimes there is no limit to how wayward a child can become, or to how much trouble he or she can get into. Because of the parent's love for their child they are always ready and willing to forgive the child and accept him or her back into the family, even though the child doesn't really deserve it.
God cares for us in much the same way. We are wayward children, who daily sin much and deserve nothing but His wrath and punishment. Yet, God continues to provide for us just as an earthly father provides for his children. Because He is gracious and merciful, and because He loves us, He continues to take care of all our needs. He provides us with daily bread to sustain us physically. He also provides us with His Holy Spirit, who, working through Word and Sacrament, brings us back to our Heavenly Father through repentance and faith, whenever we get off track. May God the Father continue to show such mercy now and always to His dear children. Amen
Prayer: Gracious Heavenly Father, we confess that we are undeserving of your grace. We confess that we daily sin much in thought, word, and deed. But we thank you that you have had, and continue to have mercy upon us. We ask that according to your divine favor you would graciously provide for all of our needs. We especially ask that you would send your Holy Spirit into our hearts with the forgiveness we need so much. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
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