Heavenly Father, you are the holy and perfect One in all your ways. Your kindness and care toward us are undeserved, yet you have lavished your love upon us. You faithfully pursue us with your eternal promise to work all things for our good and your glory. Yet, we acknowledge our frequent struggles with malice, hypocrisy, envy, deceit, and slander. Our minds often dwell on the sins and weaknesses of others, as we attempt to justify ourselves in self-righteousness. Forgive us, we pray. We thank you for the cleansing power of Christ’s blood, which washes away our sins, and for the righteousness of Christ, which covers our rebellious record with the splendor of his perfect holiness. Help us, Lord, to see the excellence and beauty of Christ in our worship, our work, and our daily lives. In name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

The words of the gospel for those who repent and believe:

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)