Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Gal 5:24 NIV)

Such apostolic admonitions are not just friendly reminders of holy obligations. They have the power of a vitalizing wind and warming fire. They wake up Christians and help them up and forward. There is a blessing inherent to them and I think you will be able to confirm these apostolic truths from your own experience. If the holy way, the godly obligation and duty to commit yourself entirely to Jesus Christ and his Holy Spirit seem rather demanding and difficult, then stick to the apostolic sermon and faithful preaching. Let the caregiver of your soul, your pastor and other brothers encourage you, to live out this godly way of life and to promote these valuable gifts from on high. The living Word will empower and encourage you even as your weakness threatens to weigh you down. The crucifixion of your flesh with its passions and desires which the apostle addresses here is the discipleship of Christ and occurs out of love for him. It keeps focused and centered on Christ’s suffering and dying in faith and love. Discipleship gives up worldly passions and desires of the sinful flesh. The Christian needs to practice this devotion and concentration on Christ crucified as a ongoing habit. The more you keep eyes, mind and heart fixed on Jesus and his suffering the easier it will be for you to fight victoriously in the battle of sanctification against sinful passions and desires.

Lord Jesus Christ, you were sacrificed for us on the cross. Have mercy on us. By your grace keep us from sinning. Strengthen our faith, grow our hope and unite us in love. Come to those restless hearts, to those embittered, the lonely, suffering, sinful and help them all, bring them home to the Father, grant them respite and rest in your peace. Hinder all evil, protect us from it as our firm shield and fortification, but also grant us the weapons of combat to fight victoriously against all devilry and cunning. Let your kingdom come to us. Build and strengthen your Church. Bless your people and confirm your inheritance. Magnify yourself amongst us and let us be yours here and eternally. Amen. (G.Mensching)

 I need Thy presence every passing hour. What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power? Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me. (Henry F. Lyte, 1847)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Saturday after the fourteenth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 319 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.