Verse for the week: “I will pour out a spirit of
compassion and supplication, so that, when they look on me, on him whom
they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child,
and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.” Zechariah 12.10
Prayer for the week:
God, our heavenly Father, through your Son you have promised us the
Holy Spirit. Send down upon us that
Spirit, that he may teach us to show forth your praise, not only here on earth
in weakness, since we know your power and glory only from afar, but also in
power and glory on that day when, united with the choir of angels, we shall see
you face to face; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen. (K.B.
Ritter, Gebete fur das jahr der Kirche,2nd
ed. Kassel: Johannes Stauda-Verlag, 1948, p.150)
Bible reading for the day: John 14.15-24 (note: Today’s reading picks up
where yesterday’s left off. It is Maundy Thursday evening; Jesus has washed his
disciples feet. They will all betray, and yet Jesus has promised that afterward
they will do greater works. And now Jesus says…)
“If you love me,
you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the
Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,17 even the
Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees
him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will
be in you.
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will
come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see
me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will
live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my
Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever
has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who
loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest
myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him,
“Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the
world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me,
he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him
and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love
me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the
Father's who sent me.
Prayer (based on
T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for
loving sinners like me and my congregation and for making your home with us.
Repent us of not loving you and your word… that only leaves us homeless in our
houses or apartments. Open our ears to
the true Helper you already send, your Holy Spirit, that we may love you, read
and believe your word, and living according to it now and forever. I ask this
in Jesus’ name, amen.
Hymn: follow this
link to a beloved classic hymn that gives further voice to today’s conversation
with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6k8DFb8fWs
“Thy kingdom come…”
What does this
mean?
The kingdom of God comes indeed by itself, without our
prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may also come to us.
How is this done?
God's kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us his
Holy Spirit, so that by his grace we believe his holy Word and live a godly
life now and in eternity. (from The
Small Catechism, by Martin Luther, ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)
Benediction: The
peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. Phil 4.7
*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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