Today’s Bible Verse:
Luke 23:43 ESV

And (Jesus) said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

I was asked once if it mattered that Jesus descended into hell or not. My response was simple - just imagine Jesus walking around in hell, showing the devil and his minions that He beat them. Think about all the sinners condemned to hell seeing Jesus walking around proclaiming His victory over the devil. Imagine the smile on Jesus’ face that He won the war for us. Within Christendom, there has always been a theological debate over whether Jesus, after giving up His last breath on the cross, spiritually went to hell. Honestly, I’ve never given it a second thought. Jesus paid for our sins on the cross. He crushed the devil underfoot. I am confident that when our time comes, we will be with our Lord forever. He died for our sins and saved us from eternal damnation.

PRAYERS

Keep in Your Prayers:

1. Everyone dealing with the clean up following Hurricane Beryl especially those without power in Texas.

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:

Heavenly Father, You sent Your Son to defeat Your enemies of sin, death, and Satan. He did so at the cross. Thank you for saving me. 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.

Photo above is licensed through Unsplash+

A Song for Today