The Good Shepherd
Invitatory: 11“I
am the good shepherd… 27My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and
they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never
perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10.11, 27-28
Morning Prayer: O
Savior Christ, you lead to immortal happiness those who entrust themselves to
you. Grant that we, being weak, presume
not to trust in ourselves, but may always have you before our eyes, to follow
you, our Shepherd; that you, who alone knows the way, may lead us to our
heavenly desires. To you with the Father
and the Holy Spirit be glory forever.
Amen. (Primer, 1545, adapted)
Bible reading for the day: I John 3.16-24
By this we know love,
that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives
for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the
world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against
him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little
children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and
reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our
heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows
everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not
condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever
we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what
pleases him. 23 And this is his
commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love
one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever
keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by
this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
Prayer (based on T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for loving us
indeed… the ultimate deed of the cross. Thank you! Repent me and my
congregation of closing our hearts, of just talking the talk and not walking
the walk of Christ. Lord you are greater
than our hearts, transform us daily that we may love not just in word or talk
but in deed and in truth… that we may believe you and love one another. I
ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.
Hymn: follow this
link to a beloved, classic that gives further voice to today’s conversation
with our Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMY3ivdNzwE
“I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord…”
What does this mean?
I believe that Jesus Christ — true God, begotten of the
Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary — is my Lord.
He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, and has freed me from sin,
death, and the power of the devil, not with silver and gold, but with his holy
and precious blood and his innocent suffering and death. He has done all this
in order that I might be his own, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him
in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as he is risen
from the dead and lives and reigns for all eternity. This is most certainly
true! (from The Small Catechism,
by Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)
Benediction: The
God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing, that we may abound in
hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen. (Romans 15.13)
*There are many patterns for devotions. This pattern has been followed by God’s
people for centuries.
**The T.R.I.P. approach to
prayer is based on the way Martin Luther prayed and taught others to pray. It was later developed by Walter and Ingrid
Trobisch and then adapted by Mount Carmel Ministries (Alexandria , MN
T:
thanksgiving
R: regret
(repentance)
I:
intercession (asking God to take a specific action)
P:
plan or purpose
Reading a biblical text and
then applying this method gives one a sound, simple way to form one’s
prayers...not to mention that it helps one learn how to faithfully reflect on
God’s Word and talk to God.
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