“God of Grace and God of Glory,” ELW 705 and LBW 415
1 God of grace and God of glory,
on your people pour your pow’r;
crown your ancient church’s story;
bring its bud to glorious flow’r.
Grant us wisdom, grand us courage
for the facing of this hour,
for the facing of this hour.
2 Lo! The hosts of evil round us
scorn the Christ, assail his ways!
From the fears that long have bound us
free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grand us courage
for the living of these days,
for the living of these days.
3 Cure your children’s warring madness;
Bend our pride to your control;
Shame our wanton, selfish gladness,
Rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grand us courage,
lest we miss your kingdom’s goal,
lest we miss your kingdom’s goal.
4 Save us from weak resignation
to the evils we deplore;
let the gift of your salvation
be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
serving you whom we adore,
serving you whom we adore.
Devotion
Some things seem to change, but really they don’t. The hymn asks God:
Cure your children’s warring madness;
Bend our pride to your control;
Shame our wanton, selfish gladness,
Rich in things and poor in soul. (v. 3)
Warring madness? We seem to simply exchange one war for another. Pride? Wanton, selfish gladness? These are in surfeit in our society and our lives. And honest self-examination would concur that we are “rich in things and poor in soul.”
But we are not without hope. The glorious God who is gracious has acted to deliver us from our selfish sins. Jesus is our salvation. The One to whom John the Baptist pointed saves us from “the evils we deplore.” Our Lord bestows wisdom to discern the kingdom’s goal and the courage to serve him and those whom he loves. And he loves all.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, by your Spirit’s grace in your Son, forgive us and turn us from our selfishness to serve those whom you love. Amen.