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 14.1-14 (note: it is Maundy Thursday
evening; Jesus has washed his disciples feet and commanded them to love one
another as he has loved them. While Peter has promised to lay down his life for
the Lord, Jesus has just said to him that truly Peter will have denied him
three times by the time the morning rooster crows. And now Jesus says…)
“Let not your hearts be
troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my
Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you
that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if
I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to
myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And
you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas
said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know
the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the
way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through me. 7 If you had known me, you would
have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have
seen him.”
8 Philip said to him,
“Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”9 Jesus
said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me,
Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us
the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am
in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do
not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his
works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father
and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works
themselves.
12 “Truly, truly, I say to
you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater
works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever
you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the
Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I
will do it.
Prayer (based on
T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Father, your Son goes
to the cross to prepare for betrayers like us a place we don’t deserve, a room
in your house forever. Thank you! Repent me and my congregation of our deafness
and blindness to what you have already said, done, and promised. Grant to me
and to my brothers & sisters the trust in that frees us for the greater
works you have already prepared for us to do… in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Hymn: follow this
link to a hymn that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvLxZEU02uI
“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
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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