Psalm 30:4-5
Make music to the Lord, you his favored ones, and give thanks when you remember his holiness, for we spend a moment under his anger, but we enjoy a lifetime in his favor. In the evening, weeping comes to stay through the night, but in the morning, there is rejoicing!
Dear Father in heaven,
When we realize what you have done for our salvation, we should want to praise you for your love and mercy. Because of our sinful nature and actions, we should receive nothing but your punishment. What we deserve is to be thrown away like a piece of trash, but we aren’t. Instead, you sent your Son to us, by his holy life and innocent death; Jesus transformed us from garbage into being your favored ones. Jesus’ perfect life has been credited to us for all the times we sin, failing to love you and others the way we should. Then he gave up his life for us on the cross, only to take it back up again, so he would defeat death. He paid the punishment for our sins. Until the Holy Spirit worked faith in us, we lived under your anger. Because of what Jesus has done for us, our sins are forgiven, and we now live in your love. At some point, this temporal life will come to an end; we will spend the rest of our eternity in heaven with you, in your favor. While we are on this earth, weeping and suffering will come our way, and we will have plenty of heartaches. Still, in our morning, when we wake up in heaven, there will be plenty of bliss with no more suffering or pain. Even now, we can make music and sing for joy because the promise is already ours. Amen.
Vicar Roger Emmons
When you realize how short this life is, this life’s gauntlet we struggle with today on earth; will not matter tomorrow; when we begin eternity’s stroll in heaven.