Abide With Me, ELW 629, v. 2 & 3
2 Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see.
O Thou, who changest not, abide with me!
3 Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word,
But as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.
Devotion
This is the week of my 50th Class Reunion, along with classmates from Luther, Northwestern and Augsburg Seminaries, now united at Luther Seminary.
As we look at each other and recognize that half a century has gone by, we easily ask, "Where has the time gone?!" But, as we look to the future, we still can pray, as we have prayed in the past, "I need thy presence every passing hour; what but thy grace can foil the tempter's power? Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me."
Yes, the Lord has been with us, and promises ever to stay with us. THANK YOU GOD!
"...for I am with you always, to the close of the age." (Matt. 28:20b)
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for abiding with us throughout the years of our lives. It has been our privilege and honor to make disciples, baptizing, teaching and serving in multitudes of ways to the glory of your name. We could often say, with the men of Emmaus, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked to us along the way...?” Now, again we ask, “Abide with us, Lord Jesus.” Amen.