“To hope grown dim, to hearts turned cold speak tongues of fire and make us bold to shine Your Word of saving grace into each dark and loveless place.” LSB 585:3
Both Pastor Matheny and myself were ordained during the month of July in the year of our Lord two-thousand-sixteen. Each year I like to reflect and take stock of myself and the ministry into which Christ has placed me. Looking back on the past nine years it’s easy to see how dramatically things have changed, not just in my own life, but in the church at large. I can look back and see where I made mistakes or didn’t understand something properly at the time, I can see where things have gone well and may have improved. Upon reflection I can try to make adjustments going forward.
In the church on earth, however, it’s rare that I see the fruits of my labors. When I grow plants in my garden, I get to enjoy the fruits of my labor just weeks later when I eat broccoli or cherry tomatoes. But that’s not the case in the church. In fact, I’m usually seeing the opposite. I’ve buried far more people than I’ve baptized. The church on earth looks smaller than it did nine years ago. For that reason, it’s tempting for my hope to grow dim and my heart to turn cold and my tongue to be timid. I suspect this is true for many of us.
Yet this fantastic hymn written by the Lutheran reformer Nicolaus Selnecker in the 16th century is a prayer for faithfulness and boldness in an age when it’s easy to give up. The first stanza is a quotation from the disciples on the Emmaus Road on Easter Sunday, when before they knew the Lord had risen from the dead, they desired the Lord to abide with them at the close of the day. When all things seemed to be lost and they didn’t know how they were going to make it through the coming days and years, they sought to abide with Jesus.
Dear Christians: I know the world is dark and the future unknown. I know you are growing tired, your hope is waning, and perhaps your hearts are bitter. Maybe you think we should quit the whole unpopular Bible thing and just join the world. Let it not be so! The Holy Spirit has been poured out into your hearts! The Lord Jesus Christ has conquered sin, death, and the devil! The Word of God is your light on the eve of this world. May the Lord make us steadfast, bold, and strong in the word of the Lord. For the Lord Jesus Christ will abide with us and by His grace we shall endure.
1. Lord Jesus Christ, with us abide,
For round us falls the eventide.
O let Your Word, that saving light,
Shine forth undimmed into the night.
2. In those last days of great distress
Grant us, dear Lord, true steadfastness
That we keep pure till life is spent
Your holy Word and Sacrament.
3. To hope grown dim, to hearts turned cold
Speak tongues of fire and make us bold
To shine Your Word of saving grace
Into each dark and loveless place.
4. May glorious truths that we have heard,
The bright sword of Your mighty Word,
Spurn Satan that Your Church be strong,
Bold, unified in act and song.
5. Restrain, O Lord, the human pride
That seeks to thrust Your truth aside
Or with some man-made thoughts or things
Would dim the words Your Spirit sings.
6. Stay with us, Lord, and keep us true;
Preserve our faith our whole life through –
Your Word alone our heart’s defense,
The Church’s glorious confidence.