A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, ELW 504, 505
1 A mighty fortress is our God,
a sword and shield victorious;
he breaks the cruel oppressor's rod
and wins salvation glorious.
The old satanic foe
has sworn to work us woe!
With craft and dreadful might
he arms himself to fight.
On earth he has no equal.
2 No strength of ours can match his might!
We would be lost, rejected.
But now a champion comes to fight,
whom God himself elected.
You ask who this may be?
The Lord of hosts is he!
Christ Jesus, mighty Lord,
God's only Son, adored.
He holds the field victorious.
3 Though hordes of devils fill the land
all threat'ning to devour us,
we tremble not, unmoved we stand;
they cannot over-pow'r us.
Let this world's tyrant rage;
in battle we'll engage!
His might is doomed to fail;
God's judgment must prevail!
One little word subdues him.
4 God's Word forever shall abide,
no thanks to foes, who fear it;
for God himself fight by our side
with weapons of the Spirit.
Were they to take our house,
goods, honor, child, or spouse,
though life be wrenched away,
they cannot win the day.
The kingdom's ours forever!
Devotion
Have we, as Lutherans, become domesticated? Luther looked around. He saw evil in himself, in the world, and in the fury of Satan against the people of Christ. Were he here today, would he be stepping over the tragedies in our society? There is the out-of-control epidemic of our people's use of pornography (forlorn-ography) that leads to our youth being exploited, the widespread devastation of our children by child molesters, money-centered strangers producing media and computer messages, and parents not fulfilling their ministries in the home. Has Satan hoodwinked and entrapped us in resignation one more time? This hymn arouses us from our fear-driven blindness and apathy. Remember God has not forgotten us. In Christ, we have his name to fell all our enemies. In God's Word we have the hope that is our surety against all that would assail us. Rejoice, sing, and take courage! Let Christ be your last word. Say, "Here I stand."
Prayer
Bring us back to you, our champion Christ, and give us courage to face the darkness of the world and our own hearts that no matter what we experience, we know you are there with your name to see us through. Amen.