2 CORINTHIANS 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Those words are probably familiar to you. It is a benediction sometimes used at the conclusion of worship service. As we continue reflecting on our Triune God, I want to consider this verse and a hymn by Martin Luther. If you grew up in a traditional Lutheran Church, you may be familiar with it: “We All Believe in One True God.” It is #954 in the Lutheran Service Book. The melody might seem a bit strange – like an old Gregorian chant – but don’t let that distract you from the words. Many of Luther’s hymns were written to be teaching tools, and that is why I want use this hymn in these devotions.

We all believe in one true God, Who created earth and heaven,
The Father, who to us in love Has the right of children given.
He in soul and body feeds us; All we need His hand provides us;
Through all snares and perils leads us, Watching that no harm betide us.
He cares for us by day and night, All things are governed by His might.

The Love Of God The Father. This love of God has led Him to make us His children through faith. And we know that He is a loving Father. He is the one who has created all things and still preserves all things. Luther’s explanation of the First Article of the Apostle’s Creed echoes this hymn verse, speaking of how God provides for all our needs, guards, defends and protects us.

We often associate God the Father with the Old Testament, speaking to the chosen people through the prophets; the one who preserved the remnant of Israel by watching over them; led them out of Egypt; gave them the promised land, and made them prosper. When the majority of them fell away from Him, He allowed them to be carried off into captivity, but was still with them, and restored them as His people.

Throughout it all, God the Father had promised to send a Savior, a Messiah, one who would bridge the gap that separated sinful mankind from His love. He kept that promise when Jesus came to this earth. Jesus always referred to His Father, as did the writers of the New Testament, and He is the one we address when speaking the prayer our Lord Jesus taught us.

What a joy to know we have a loving, kind, gracious and protecting heavenly Father who is still in control of all things.