Daily Reflections From Higher Things®

Daily Lectionary: Judges 3:7-31; Acts 13:42-52 What does this mean? We pray in this petition, in summary, that our Father in heaven would rescue us from every evil of body and soul, possessions and reputation, and finally, when our last hour comes, gives us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven. (The Small Catechism: The Lord's Prayer, Seventh Petition) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Whenever I pray the Lord's Prayer and I come to this final petition, I always make the sign of the cross upon myself. I cross myself to remind myself and to confess to others how I can pray these words with such confidence. The Cross was the place where evil was depleted of its power. Sin lost its power over us. Yes, we sin and deserve punishment, but Jesus has already been punished in our place. Death has lost its power. Jesus died, but then He reversed it. The devil is bound and imprisoned. He can bark, but he has no teeth. He cannot accuse the forgiven and he cannot frighten th