Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Psalm 20:7
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From the Word: Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. (Psalm 20:7)
From the Confessions: The Small Catechism
The Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven.
What does this mean?
God encourages us to believe that he is truly our Father, and that we are truly his children, so that we may boldly and confidently pray to him, just as beloved children speak to their dear father.
Pulling It Together: The future is unknown, so I better put more money in my retirement fund. I would have less anxiety if I could just get a better paying job. Can the government do more for me? These are the daily worries of so many. But we must look to a surer source of help in life (Psa 121:1). Should our appeal be to a financial planner or employer, Congress or President? Is there actual hope in these resources—something that may sustain our confidence throughout life? We confess that our help comes from the Lord, that “our help is in the name of the Lord” (Psa 124:8). Therefore, Jesus teaches us to address our prayer to that great name, to pray to the one who is able to grant us our requests, and who, in fact, wishes to do so. Thus, we pray, “Our Father.”
Prayer: Father, thank you for listening. Amen.
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Fulfilled In Him is a five-part Lenten drama series, focusing on five pairs of characters — one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament — who demonstrate in their witness the fulfillment of God's promise. Presented with a kind of before-and-after perspective, the pairing of characters examines how Christ is the key to Scripture — "the founder and perfecter of our faith."
Author
Rev. Mark E. Ryman serves as Pastor for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC. Previously, Pastor Ryman has served other congregations in North Carolina and Ohio, as well as a call to specialized ministry with Sola Publishing.
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