The Third Tuesday of Lent

February 26, 2008

BLESSED ASSURANCE

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

Refrain

This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior, all the day long:
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love. (Refrain)

Perfect submission, all is at rest;
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love. (Refrain)

Text: Fanny J. Crosby, 1820-1915

I have been a Lutheran all my life and have come to rely on assurances:

  • Just as I am sure Jell-O salad will be served at our next congregational dinner, I am assured of God’s love for all of us. Just as I am sure Jell-O salad will be served at our next congregational dinner, I am assured of God’s love for all of us.

  • Just as I am sure all verses of a Lutheran hymn will be sung, I am assured of God’s promise of forgiveness through Jesus’ death on the cross.

  • Just as I am sure doughnuts and coffee will be served at Sunday fellowship hour, I am assured of eternal life in heaven if I believe in God.

These assurances comfort me when my world is chaotic and confusing. These blessed assurances help me focus on what God has planned for me, so I can get back on track to deal with life. These assurances can be some of the examples we use to spread the good news of God’s love to those who haven’t heard his story yet. These blessed assurances can remind us of the paradise that awaits us in heaven when one day our life on earth is done.

Dear Lord, thank you for the blessed assurance that you are always with us whenever our world is turned upside down. I pray that you send us out this Lenten season to share the story of Jesus’ death on the cross and glorious resurrection!

Sheryl Johnson


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