Devotion on Luther's Small Catechism

The Apostles' Creed

Article I Article II Article III
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth. 		I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son our Lord,
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the
right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 		I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
What does this mean?
[Robert E. Smith translation, 1994] I believe that God created me, along with all creatures. God gave to me: body and soul, eyes, ears and all the other parts of my body, my mind and all my senses and preserves them as well. God gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and land, spouse and children, fields, animals, and all I own. Every day God abundantly provides everything I need to nourish this body and life. God protects me against all danger, shields and defends me from all evil. God does all this because of pure, fatherly, and divine goodness and mercy, not because I've earned it or deserved it. For all of this, I must thank, praise, serve, and obey God. Yes, this is true!

It’s all a gift. “You deserve a rest.” “You deserve to be happy.” “You deserve to have good things happen after all you’ve been through.” Common expressions, well-meaning, but misguided. The deepest truth is never about what we deserve. And be glad for that. If, honestly judged by the standards of God, church, or even society,we each received exactly what we deserved, it would be hell. (I’m talking about honesty, now, not our usual denial about the truth of what we’ve really done, left undone, thought and said. This deserving bit is the hypocrisy of our age: as though some deserve blessing and others cursing. Watch out! Our spiritual life is warped when and if we think that God owes us something, that somehow we deserve to be treated well—and that certain others don’t.

The deepest truth is never about what we deserve, but is rather about what we are freely given: everything. Unearned. Undeserved. Away with whining! Let’s hear it for gratitude!

Prayer

Loving Father, thank you, thank you, thank you for everything, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Commentary by Pastor David G. Mullen
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