Children of Heavenly Father, ELW 781
1 Children of the heav'nly Father safely in his bosom gather;
nestling bird nor star in heaven such a refuge e'er was given.
2 God his own doth tend and nourish, in his holy courts they flourish.
From all evil things he spares them, in his mighty arms he bears them.
3 Neither life nor death shall ever from the Lord his children sever;
unto them his grace he showeth, and their sorrows all he knoweth.
4 Though he giveth or he taketh, God his children ne'er forsaketh;
his the loving purpose solely to preserve them pure and holy.
Devotion
Another of my favorite hymns is "Children of the Heavenly Father." I relish the thought of being referred to as a child of God. Such a term is not a put-down, but rather like being lifted up to a place of honor. The word "children" reminds me that I am not alone, but am surrounded by others like me who have been adopted by God through holy baptism. Our youngest child was adopted when he was three weeks old. We often refer to the day we got him as his "chosen day." We could call the day of our baptism our "chosen day," the day that God chose to make us a child of God. The relationship God has established with us will not be severed. God will not forsake us. God will be with us to preserve us pure and holy.
Prayer
We thank you that you have claimed us as your children. Amen.