THE INVOCATION:
P: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
WE CONFESS OUR SIN AND RECEIVE GOD’S FORGIVENESS:
P: Each day, we face choices. Do we follow what God says or what our desire and self-interest says? From small to big decisions, what will we choose? Selfishness deceives us. In our pride, we even try to “choose” God, believing we have the power within ourselves to live a good life. But we know “there is no one who does good” (Psalm 14:1). When we search our hearts, what we choose is corrupt, evil, selfish, and motivated by sin. Today we make a different choice. Today we confess together:
C: Lord God, our hearts are twisted in on ourselves. We choose the things that benefit our desires and wants, not the things that honor You or help our neighbor. Even when we try to be the light of the world, we frequently turn the glory to ourselves. We have elected our own desires to rule, rather than You, our King. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
P: Jesus has made it clear. “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to bear fruit that will last” (John 15:16). You have been chosen by God, and the fruit we bear is the confession that we need Jesus to save us, that Jesus is the Leader of our lives, that Jesus is risen from the dead and Lord of all. Upon the confession of your sins, be assured that you are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen!
PSALM OF THE DAY……Psalm 2:1-6, 10-12
P: Why do the nations rage
C: and the peoples plot in vain?
P: The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
C: “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”
P: He who sits in the heavens laughs;
C: the Lord holds them in derision.
P: Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,
C: “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”
P: Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.
C: Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
P: Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled.
C: Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
P: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
C: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
THE HYMN OF PRAISE:
“Jesus Lives! The Victory’s Won!”………………………..LSB 490
Jesus lives! I know full well
Nothing me from Him shall sever.
Neither death nor pow’rs of hell
Part me now from Christ forever.
God will be my sure defense;
This shall be my confidence.
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY:
P: We thank You, heavenly Father, that You established Your Church on earth that we may grow in faith and, as a light to the world, shine Your love on those who live in darkness. We pray this in the name of Jesus, our Savior.
C: Amen.