May 28

Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven. Matthew 10:32.

It is our solemn duty to confess Christ as long as we live in this world. To confess Christ means to express plainly and unmistakably by word and deed what we believe concerning Christ. Jesus was true man. This is undisputed. But this is what the world will not believe, that this despised man Jesus, who was laid in the manger, who had not where to lay His head, who shamefully died on the cross, should be the Lord of Glory, the true and everlasting God. This is what the children of this world will not believe. And here we must confess and declare openly before all men that Jesus is more than mortal man, that He is the Lord, before whom all men must bow. This is the principal part of our Christian confession before the world, that we assert and defend Christ's divinity.

To confess Christ also means that we should let the world know where we stand with reference to every doctrine of Holy Writ; for there is not a single doctrine of God's Word that is not intimately connected with Christ Himself. Revealed religion in all its parts treats of Christ, of His person, His office, His work of redemption, His merit, and the application of His benefits to man. The whole Bible is the Book of Christ.

Hence, to confess Christ implies the confession of every doctrine in the Bible, and to deny Christ means to conceal or to reject any truth contained in the Book of our God. It is this conviction that determines the attitude of the Lutheran Church toward all other Christian denominations. We are firmly convinced that we are bound to show by deed as well as by word that we believe every doctrine of Scripture.

Let us finally confess our Christian faith by leading a Christian life; let us walk worthily of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must let people know by the manner of our living that the Spirit of Christ is in us. A life of sin and wickedness is, in effect, a denial of Christ. Confess Christ by faithfully hearing His Word.

Prayer.

O dear Lord Jesus, God over all, blessed forever, to Thee I render heartfelt thanks, not only for all Thy great and unspeakable blessings, but above all for this act of unspeakable and ever-

adorable love, that Thou didst descend to us poor mortals in this vale of tears from the throne of Thy divine majesty in order to save us lost and condemned sinners. Let me never become guilty of denying Thee. Let me not be indifferent toward that which Thou hast declared to be good or evil. Amen.

Lord God, Thou Holy Spirit, My Comforter and Guide, Grant that in Jesus' merit I always may confide, Him to the end confessing, Whom I have known by faith. Give me Thy constant blessing And grant a Christian death.