Sacred Meditations

“Baptism is a Holy Washing.” That’s how Johann Gerhard introduces his Meditation XVII as he proclaims the benefits of Baptism. Here’s what makes that washing so holy. Source: Sacred Meditations by Johann Gerhard, pages 93-94.

God protects all who trust in Him. Therefore, we pray that He would increase His mercy upon us so that we may pass through the things of this life and yet not lose the things of eternal life. Collect for Proper 12 (the Sunday closest to July 27), from The …

All Christians have a vocation given by God, whether butcher, baker, candle stick maker, or pastor. We pray that all members of Christ’s holy Church may truly and devoutly serve Him in their various vocations. “For All Christians in Their Vocation,” from The Book of Common Prayer.

Johann Gerhard has contrasted our love for God with our love for other things—created things and even ourselves. In this fifth and final part of his Meditation IX, “Loving God Alone,” Pastor Gerhard leads us to ponder God’s love for us, which then leads to our love for God. And …

Since God knows our needs as well as our weaknesses, we ask Him to have compassion on us and give us those things for which we are unworthy to ask. Collect for Proper 11 (the Sunday closest to July 20), from The Book of Common Prayer.

Since God shows His handiwork in heaven and on earth, we pray that He would deliver us in our vocations from the service of self alone so that we may serve Him and our neighbor to His glory. “For Vocation in Daily Work,” from The Book of Common Prayer.

Johann Gerhard has contrasted loving God over against loving created things (Part 1). He has reminded us that created things cannot love us back, but God does (Part 2). And last time Gerhard led us to meditate on God’s love leading us to know Him (Part 3). Today we hear …

We pray that our gracious Lord would grant us to know what things to do and, by His grace, have the ability to accomplish them. Collect for Proper 10 (the Sunday closest to July 13), from The Book of Common Prayer.

We live, move, and have our being only in the true God. So we pray that He would guide and govern us by His Holy Spirit. Source: A Collect for Guidance (Morning Prayer II), from The Book of Common Prayer

Today we continue with Johann Gerhard’s Meditation IX, “Loving God Alone.” In this installment, Gerhard leads us to ponder how God’s love leads us to a saving knowledge of Him and just when loving God alone will be perfected. (Also listen to Part 1 and Part 2.) Source: Sacred Meditations …