Verse for the week:
It was to prove at the present time that God himself is righteous and
that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3.26
Prayer: “Almighty
God, gracious Lord, pour out your Holy Spirit upon your faithful people. Keep us steadfast in your word, protect and
comfort us in all temptations, defend us against all our enemies, and bestow on
the church your saving peace; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen” (Lutheran Book
of Worship, p.36)
Bible reading for the day: John 8.31-47
31So Jesus said to the Jews who
had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They
answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to
anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say
to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave
does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So
if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that
you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no
place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you
do what you have heard from your father.”
39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.”
Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the
works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has
told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41
You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not
born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” 42 Jesus
said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God
and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why
do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my
word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do
your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand
in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of
his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But
because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you
convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever
is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that
you are not of God.”
Prayer (based on
T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for our
liberator and Lord: Jesus Christ…without him we are enthralled and homeless in
the worst way. Repent me and your church
of listening to the Devil, even when we don’t know we’re doing so… his smooth
lies only mean slow death for us. Please
grant that we may listen to YOU, hold to your teaching…and set other prisoners
free with your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
“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)
Hymn: follow this
link to a beloved, classic hymn that gives full voice to today’s conversation
with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6k8DFb8fWs
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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