For us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. ~ I Corinthians 8:6
"Thus far we have heard the first part of Christian teaching, and in it we have seen all that God wishes us to do and not to do. The Creed properly follows which sets forth all that we must expect and receive from God; in short, it teaches us to know (God) perfectly." - Martin Luther from his Large Catechism (The Book of Concord: The Confession of the Evangelical Lutheran Church; ed: Robert Kolb and Timothy Wengert., 2000)
The Creed teaches us to know God. It teaches us who God is and what goes does. And when we say the Creed aloud, we are claiming that. We are believing that.
Have you found that to be true? What goes through your mind when you say the Apostles' Creed?
Does it occur to you that you are saying it with millions of Christians around the world?
Do the words ring true for you? Do you struggle with any of them? Are they hard to comprehend? If so, you aren't alone, and really, God is also hard to comprehend, right?
Sometimes the words might make a lot of sense. Sometimes some of the words make more sense than others.
Sometimes you feel you can claim them strongly, and other times not. Sometimes one part of the Creed is more meaningful to than others, and another time another part is.
But the Creed has become woven into our lives. It connects us and draws us in to the One we boldly proclaim.
Whether we understand the words we are saying or not, it is with faith that we say them.
A Prayer by Martin Luther: Dearest God and Lord, strengthen and uphold us in your pure, precious Word through Jesus Christ our Lord, and help us to show and live our thanks with our fruits of faith to your praise and thanks forever. Amen.
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