The Creed
Q24. What does this mean?
I believe that God made me and everything in the world. He gave me my body and mind, my eyes, ears, and everything I have. He still takes care of me every day. He gives me food, clothes, a home, family, and everything I need for life. He protects me from danger and keeps me safe from harm. He does all this because he is a good and loving Father, not because of any merit or worthiness in me, but only out of his fatherly, divine goodness and mercy. For all this I should thank him, praise him, serve him, and obey him. This is most certainly true.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Psalm 145:15–16
“The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.”
Psalm 139:13–16
“For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”
Acts 17:25, 28
“Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things. … For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.”
James 1:17
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
Matthew 6:25–34
“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”
Psalm 91
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”
Parent Guide
Discuss this question together
Discussion Questions
- 1
What are some of the specific gifts Luther says God gives you every day?
- 2
Why does Luther say God gives you all these things, and what does "not because of any merit" mean?
- 3
What is one gift from God you normally take for granted?
Illustration
You wake up and your lungs are breathing. You did not earn that. You open the fridge and there is food. You did not grow it or pay for it. Someone drives you to school on roads you did not build. Luther wants you to see that every ordinary moment is packed with gifts from your Father. You did nothing to deserve any of it. He gives because he is good, not because you are.
Application
At dinner this week, go around the table and have each person name one thing from Luther's list that they are thankful for. Because God gives out of pure fatherly goodness, gratitude is the right response.
Read Luther’s expanded teaching
From the Large Catechism (1529)