“O Spirit of the Living God,” LBW 388
1 O Spirit of the living God,
In all the fullness of your grace,
Wherever human feet have trod,
Descend on our apostate race.
2 Give tongues of fire and hearts of love
To preach the reconciling Word;
Give pow'r and unction from above,
Where'er this blessed sound is heard.
3 Be darkness, at your coming, light;
Confusion, order in your path;
Souls without strength inspire with might;
Let mercy triumph over wrath.
4 O Spirit of the Lord, prepare
A sinful world its God to meet;
And breathe abroad like morning air,
Till hearts of stone begin to beat.
5 Proclaim the Gospel far and wide;
The triumphs of the cross record;
The name of Christ be glorified;
Let ev'ry people call him Lord!
Devotion
When the disciples received the gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday, they didn’t keep it to themselves, and they didn’t stay all locked up in a room. They burst out into the world and shared the good news about “God’s deeds of power.” This hymn reminds us that God is at work through us today and every day, and we shouldn’t sit here and keep it to ourselves. Our gifts say that we mean to burst out into the world, full of the good news of God’s love and saving grace.
Prayer
God of all creation, your gospel announces your love to all nations in one heavenly tongue. Make us messengers of the good news that, through the power of your Spirit, the world will know of your saving grace. Amen.