Today’s Bible Verse:
Ephesians 6:13 ESV

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Tomorrow night, as we celebrate our nations 248th birthday, our skies will be filled with exploding fireworks and our ears filled with patriotic music. It will be a joyous day as we remember what a relatively small band of colonists did to become independent from Great Britain. What nearly all of these patriots did that blessed July 4th as they declared their independence was to thank God for all the blessings they received to launch a new nation grounded in liberty. That is what makes the United States of America special.

On this Wednesday before Independence Day, let us look inward for a moment and reflect upon the freedom we have given us through faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord. It is only in Christ that we can declare our freedom from the punishment of our sin. Jesus took all of our punishment on Himself as He’s crucified on the cross. He gives us His last breath for us to pay our final cost for our sin. Jesus brings us freedom. So as Saint Paul tells us in Ephesians 6, in our freedom in Christ we are put on the whole armor of God that we can withstand the evil around us and stand firm the faith given us in our Baptism.

PRAYERS

Keep in Your Prayers:

1. Those struggling to make ends meet.

2. All people dealing with cancer

3. Those who reject Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

A Prayer for Today:

Gracious God, thank You for Jesus Christ, Your Son, and all that He did for us on the cross to grant us freedom from the punishment of our sins. Open our hearts to remember this blessing everyday and give us courage to proclaim this Gospel message in all our words and actions. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Luther’s Morning Prayer:

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Apostles’ Creed:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

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A Song for Today