February 29

Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it.

The Church has been charged by her Lord to preach the Gospel to every creature, and all mankind should hear the Word of the Lord. David sings: "So will I compass Thine altar, O Lord, that I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all Thy wondrous works. Lord, I have loved the habitation of Thy house and the place where Thine honor dwelleth." Our spiritual life must always be nourished and strengthened. But this can be done only through the God-given means of grace, Word and Sacrament. Therefore it is necessary to come to the house of God, where we should turn our hearts to God and hear the Word of God and keep it. "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom." "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is." Already in the early Christian Church there were some who were slow in attending public worship. They were admonished on account of it and told: "He that is of God heareth God's words; ye therefore hear them not because ye are not of God."

When the congregation of the Lord assembles in public wor-

ship, no Christian should be absent. Lutheran Christians should be the best churchgoers, the most faithful attendants at the services in the sanctuary. "He that is of God heareth God's words." A true Christian needs no commandments and threats to make him go to church. He will gladly and willingly obey God's Word. Of all true Christians we may say what Paul says of the Thessalonians: "When ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the Word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." "He that heareth you, heareth Me," says Christ. And Christ has the Word of God to speak to us. We should always be glad to come to Him and hear Him speak.

Prayer.

O Lord, almighty God and heavenly Father, I thank Thee from my inmost heart for all the mercy and kindness which, like as a father, Thou hast shown me, and that Thou hast kept me safe from all ills. And as Thy dear child I also beseech Thee graciously to preserve Thy saving Word to me unto my last breath and to enlighten my heart with Thy Holy Spirit that I may know what is good or evil. Let me never use Thy Word triflingly and thus prevent its striking root in my heart; let me never grow indifferent to the worship of Thy holy name. Hear me for the sake of Jesus, my dear Lord and Savior. Amen.

Blessed Jesus, at Thy Word We are gathered all to hear Thee; Let our hearts and souls be stirred Now to seek and love and fear Thee; By Thy teachings sweet and holy Drawn from earth to love Thee solely.