Today’s Bible Verses:
Luke 23:23-25 ESV

But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that (Jesus) should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

One of the blessings of our confession in the Apostles’ Creed is that it includes the names of two people - Mary and Pontius Pilate - who prove that our Savior lived as we confess, Jesus Christ. It is not typical for a religious creed to include people who factually lived and did the things that are confessed. But especially in our creed, Pilate was a central part of our confession and what happened to Jesus. Our Lord willingly goes to suffering and death to pay for our sins. Today, as we confess the creed silently to God, remember the factual basis on which it is built - Jesus' incarnation through Mary and His suffering and death at the hands of Pilate, all done for you and me.

PRAYERS

Keep in Your Prayers:

1. Everyone dealing with the clean up following Hurricane Beryl.

2. For all across our country dealing with excessive heat.

3. All people dealing with cancer

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

A Prayer for Today:

I thank you for sending Jesus to be my Savior. He suffered under Pontius Pilate for me. Through Your Son I have the forgiveness of my sins and eternal life. In His 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