Sunday, June 7, 2026
“Today Your mercy calls us To wash away our sin. However great our trespass, Whatever we have been, However long from mercy Our hearts have turned away, Your precious blood can wash us And make us clean today.
“Today Your gate is open, And all who enter in Shall find a Father’s welcome And pardon for their sin. The past shall be forgotten, A present joy be giv’n, A future grace be promised, A glorious crown in heav’n.”
“Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” Benjamin Franklin often receives the credit for that bit of wisdom, although the procrastinators among us might prefer the version attributed to Mark Twain: “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow just as well.” There is no procrastination allowed as our hymn calls out, “Today!” It is a summons taken from Holy Scripture: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Psalm 95:7b-8a, Hebrews 3:7b-8a). It is a call to repentance and faith, and it must not be put off until another day.
Our Heavenly Father calls us to repent. It is His command and invitation and He is eager to forgive, as our hymn declares, “Today Your mercy calls us to wash away our sin.” We enter God’s presence in repentant humility and find there “a Father’s welcome and pardon” for our sin. We may be afraid to come before God, even in repentance, expecting the condemnation that we justly deserve. Instead, we see that the “gate is open” and, as we enter, we do not find wrath and judgment, but God’s welcoming love and His full and free forgiveness. The Father welcomes us because the judgment that we deserve for our sins fell on Jesus, the Father’s beloved Son. Jesus endured the judgment, condemnation, and the penalty of death that should have been ours. Our sins are washed away in His blood. We come into God’s presence clothed in the righteousness of our risen Savior.
The Holy Spirit works through the Word of God, moving us to sorrow over our sins and turning our hearts to follow that insistent call: “Today!” No matter how long or how far we have wandered in sin and rebellion against God, “however long from mercy our hearts have turned away,” the Father welcomes us home for the sake of Jesus our Savior. Our sins are forgiven and as far as God is concerned, it is as if we had never turned away from Him. Our sins are removed from His sight and memory. Today “the past shall be forgotten.” Today we live in the “present joy” of God’s forgiveness and the daily guidance of His Word. Today we await the promise of the “future grace” that is the crown of eternal life!
WE PRAY: Lord, forgive my sins and lead me to walk in Your ways today. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “Today Your Mercy Calls Us,” which is number 915 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions: