Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world … live such good lives among the pagans  (1Pe 2:11-12 NIV)

We really should dare to live a pure Christian life and to be true aliens and pilgrims in this world. This obedience should be holy to us! As slaves of Christ, but as such the only truly free people in this world, we should value this obedience more than any civil liberty offered in worldly spheres. Never should we use this Christian freedom as a cover-up for evil or wrongdoing, which would oppose God’s holy will and strive for libertarian self-realization. We aught to be content and burden nobody. Patiently enduring hardships and even suffering unjustly through the powers that be.

We want to take the liberty to dedicate ourselves totally to our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ, being his only in our sojourning and pilgrimage. Not taking into serious consideration and account the worldly hatred enflamed against us and not afraid of shame and discrimination. We commit all of this to him, who is gracious and who has promised that the meek shall inherit the earth.

We bow our knees before you Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Grant strength to your children to lead faithful lives away from false pretence and dedicated to and sanctified in your truth. Dwell in our hearts. Let us realize, what we have in you. Grant that holy works will praise you; sanctify, bless and complete your most holy word in us through the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.  (Hermann Bezzel)

Blessed are those faithful hearts, who practice patience and peace, who carry shame and hurt, gladly making way to others and not pursuing their own legitimate cause, but rather commit it to the living God and eternal judge. The good Lord will take care of them here and there.

Lord, you reign at all times and control my life and destiny so that I too will be saved eternally by your grace and goodness. Dear father help me that I trust your Son confidently and go about my calling with passion as encouraged and motivated by your most Holy Spirit. (David Denicke, 1603-1680)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Friday after the third Sunday after Easter: Jubilate. It is found on Pg. 185 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.