I'm So Glad Jesus Lifted Me, ELW 860
Devotion
I'm so glad Jesus lifted me.
I'm so glad Jesus lifted me.
I'm so glad Jesus lifted me,
singing glory, hallelujah! Jesus lifted me.
Satan had me bound, Jesus lifted me.
Satan had me bound, Jesus lifted me.
Satan had me bound, Jesus lifted me,
singing glory, hallelujah! Jesus lifted me.
When I was in trouble, Jesus lifted me.
When I was in trouble, Jesus lifted me.
When I was in trouble, Jesus lifted me,
singing glory, hallelujah! Jesus lifted me.
God pursues us relentlessly. This week's Scripture readings launched us on a journey beginning with Amos' exposing us, the psalm's shocking us, the epistle's informing us of prayer's vital relational element, and the gospel culminating with the good news of God's bestowing upon us undeserving creatures that which we cannot do for ourselves.
This hymn retraces the steps of that journey, beginning, appropriately, at the joyous end of this week's journey, and proceeding to the beginning. We praise the Triune God's culminating action by which God that of lifts us from sin, bondage, and death, to new life, real discipleship, and everlasting life in God's presence. Oftentimes worship begins with the public confession of sins, in which we confess: "we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves." That bondage is the bondage of Satan. It is through the Holy Spirit that we come to realize the grip of that deadly bondage.
Praise be to God in Christ Jesus.
Prayer
Triune God, we praise you for your relentless pursuit of us, through your creating, redeeming, and sanctifying us, for your bringing us to your glorious end—eternal relationship with you. We sing your glory! Hallelujah! Amen.