LBW 518, “Beautiful Savior”
Devotion
When I was a member of First Lutheran Church in Fargo, North Dakota, during my college days, we closed every Sunday service with “Beautiful Savior.” Likewise, when I sang with the Concordia College Choir in Moorhead, Minnesota, we ended every concert with this anthem, which is also called the “Crusader’s Hymn.” Some years ago when I led a tour to the Holy Land, our group sang this hymn in a church built by the Crusaders.
It’s an appropriate Transfiguration Sunday hymn, because Jesus is the crowning glory of God’s revelation. Our Savior is the “King of creation, Son of God and Son of Man.” He is the “Lord of the nations.”
So we join the host who sing, “Truly I’d love thee, truly I’d serve thee. Light of my soul, my joy, my crown.” We worship the Lord who “shines purer than all the angels in the sky.” What a beautiful hymn to praise the Savior.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, we bow before you not only in awe of your splendor but for the love that brought you to the cross to redeem us from our sins so that we might be the dear children of our Heavenly Father. Amen.