Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. (Rom 12:1 NIV)

 Is there anything more beautiful than being a godly priest and a sacrifice pleasing to God as Jesus was – to separate oneself from the world like Paul and to incorporate oneself with ones talents and virtues into the body of the Lord as Peter did? However often we do not want this. The apostles request and admonish us to do this, but we do not listen to them. We do not know anything better or greater, yet we do not want to. However if we comply for a change, try and practice then these deeds make us rejoice and the eternal powers awaken in us. Yet we sink back into the accustomed misery, do not want to continue trying and close our eyes for the break of dawn and the coming eternal life as we are too tired and sleepy.

 Oh,  we are lost forever if you don’t help us poor people. You are the helper in all need, You remove the tombstones from our spiritual death and revive us and strengthen us for your heavenly kingdom. Do this and lift us with your hands and form and shape us according to your will and purpose, so that we be priests and sacrifices before you opposed to all worldly being and masters of your good gifts in your holy Church. Allow us to live humbly, but persistently empowered by your calling and gracious gifts. Amen.

 We need soldiers full of strength and courage who have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus, who are founded on the protective Word, who do not flee or falter in the onslaught, who do not rest or retire until they have banned the power of realized sin, who attack in the power of the Lord, who serve him daily in joy and willingness. Soldiers, who lay their lives on God’s altar, that continue to love godly and true, who consecrate themselves totally to their king, who are ready to die for him at any time. Soldiers, who pull others from the burning flames, reach out their hands to brothers in need, who know Jesus only and walk in his loves light. They remain victorious in battle and strive, carry his load quietly in trouble and sorrow, who do not complain or protest. We need soldiers to fight for God’s glory.

Translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for the 1^st Sunday after Epiphany on Pg. 54 in “Eternal praise to you Jesus!” (Neuendettelsau 1948)