"Oh, blest communion, fellowship divine! We feebly struggle, they in glory shine; Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine. Alleluia! Alleluia!
"And when the fight is fierce, the warfare long, Steals on the ear the distant triumph song, And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong. Alleluia! Alleluia!"
We know what it is to "feebly struggle" against sorrow, trouble, and temptation. The saints who already live in Jesus' presence once knew these things too, but now they shine in glory. Yet saints below and saints above "all are one" in Jesus. All who trust in Jesus for salvation are one church. We are His body on earth and in heaven, what the Apostles' Creed calls "the communion of saints." We on earth are called the "church militant," believers who must still fight against sin and Satan. The saints in heaven are the "church triumphant." Already at home with the Lord, they celebrate His victory in His presence. Yet on earth or in heaven, we are one "blest communion."
"All are one in Thee." On the night before He died, Jesus prayed that those who would believe in Him through the apostles' witness would "all be one" (John 17:21b). Jesus' prayer was answered. Called to faith by the power of the Holy Spirit, we "are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28b). The saints in heaven know and experience the fullness of that unity, the blest communion with Jesus and one another. On earth, we still feebly struggle, and not just against sin or persecution. We should be "eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3), but we often struggle to live within that unity and fellowship. We are sinful people, and we are tempted to criticize or gossip instead of eagerly maintaining the unity we have in "one body and one Spirit" (Ephesians 4:4a).
When "the fight is fierce" and "the warfare long," we are encouraged as we hear a song of hope. It is the "distant triumph song" that echoes back to us from the future. The song comes to us from what this hymn calls "a yet more glorious day." It is the day when Jesus will return, when the saints triumphant will rise from their graves "in bright array." On that great day of resurrection, the saints still living on earth will also be transformed in glory. We, as one church, saints "from every nation, from all tribes and people and languages" will join in the triumph song that is no longer distant, but in our hearts and on our lips: "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" (Revelation 7:9-10)
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, help us to live as Your one body on earth until we rejoice in Your presence forever. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, "For All the Saints," which is number 677 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. Give some reasons why early Christians gathered together. Do these still apply today?
2. How does worshipping with other Christians bless the group and the individuals within it?
3. What obstacles keep us away from communing with other Christians? How does God helps us overcome these hurdles?
Today's Bible Readings: Jeremiah 33, 21 Hebrews 9
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