TODAY'S VERSES FROM PSALMS

"The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.' The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one." (Ps. 14:1-3)

PRIDE

"If God were proud He would hardly have us on such terms:  but He is not proud, He stoops to conquer, He will have us even though we have shown that we prefer everything else to Him, & come to Him because there is 'nothing better' now to be had." C.S. Lewis, Men's DevotionBible

GOD'S WISDOM & STRENGTH IN CONFLICT

"When He gives us His Word, His Spirit, & His gifts, He does not want us to be lazy, sleepy, & idle. Rather, if you have the true Word & a true understanding of it, then on one side the world will oppose you, & on the other side the devil will try to tear you from it, not only through worldly tyrants who persecute it with the sword but also through our own reason & the wisest people in the world. In this way God wants to train you with His Word & give His Spirit He has granted you something to do, so that you learn that God's wisdom is wiser than the world, & that God's strength is stronger than the strength & power of this world [1 Cor. 1:25], which you would not learn apart from this conflict." A Year in the Gospels with Martin Luther

THE LAST ENEMY

"Those who die trusting in Christ Jesus have 'fallen asleep' (1 Thess. 4:14). Immediately upon death we will be 'away from the body & at home with the Lord' (2 Cor. 5:8). Our bodies will sleep in the grave until the Last Day when Jesus returns. When He comes, we will be raised bodily from the grave & dressed in immortality. On that great day, our risen & reigning Savior will destroy death, the last enemy. We will live forever with the Lord & 'death will be no more,' (Rev. 21:4).

"While we may be uncertain of just what to say in the face of death, Scripture offers a suggestion. We should remember our Lord's return & the certain hope of resurrection & eternal life in His presence, & so 'encourage one another with these words' (1 Thess. 4:17-18)." The Lord's Mercy Endures Forever:  40 Daily Devotions of God's Comfort

TODAY'S PRAYER

"Heavenly Father, death is a frightening enemy, but through Jesus' death & resurrection, it is an enemy that has been robbed of its power. When the day comes for us, or for our loved ones, to fall asleep in Jesus, comfort & strengthen us by Your Word & Spirit in the certain hope of our resurrection to life on the Last Day. Amen." Ditto

TODAY'S HYMN

Awake, My Heart, with Gladness (LSB #467, sts 2, 4)

The foe in triumph shouted When Christ lay in the tomb; But lo, he now is routed, His boast is turned to gloom. For Christ again is free; In glorious victory He who is strong to save Has triumphed o'er the grave.

Now hell, its prince, the devil, Of all their pow'r are shorn; Now I am safe from evil, And sin I laugh to scorn. Grim death with all its might Cannot my soul affright; It is a pow'rless form, Howe'er it rave & storm.