Saturday

Psalm 91:1-2

            You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.’ For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence;

Just a Closer Walk with Thee ELW 697

Refrain: Just a closer walk with thee, grant it, Jesus, is my plea;
              daily walking close to thee, let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

1    I am weak but thou art strong: Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
      I'll be satisfied as long as I walk, let me walk close to thee.  Refrain

2    Through this world of toil and snares, if I falter, Lord, who cares?
      Who with me my burden shares, none but thee, dear Lord, none but thee.  Refrain

3    When my feeble life is o'er, time for me will be no more;
      guide me gently, safely o'er to thy kingdom shore, to thy shore.  Refrain

Text: North American traditional

            There is the story of a father who had to travel often for his job.  He had one son, whom he seldom saw. One day before leaving on a trip he wrote him a note on the calendar that said, “I will be away on your birthday, but will be back Saturday after. I will bring you a gift.  What would you like?  Then he left a list. “Just circle what you want most!” he wrote.” And at the bottom of that list, the little boy circled the word “Saturday”.

            The heart of this old American hymn is this: the thing we want most is just a closer walk with our heavenly father.  As St. Paul once wrote; “I consider everything as garbage when compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus Christ as Lord.” (Phil. 3:8)

            Thankfully, we do not have an absentee father, but one who comes to us in Word and Sacrament, when two or three are gathered, whenever we are in the deepest need – He comes to share our burden, to lead us home and to give us the gift of His presence..

Prayer:  Father, thank you for the nearness you show to us in Jesus.  May we walk with you in joy until that day when, at last, we meet you face to face!  Amen.