Verse for the week:
“The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” (Luke 19.10)
Prayer for the week:
“Almighty and merciful God, you are not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Grant that by your word we may again and again be convicted of our sin,
but also fervently grasp anew the comfort of your Spirit and of faith, in order
that we may be justified in your Son and be saved through him, Jesus Christ our
Lord. (Kirchenbuch für die Gemeinde (Isenhagen),
quoted in Orate Fratres, Gebetsordnung für evangelische-lutherische Pfarrer,
Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht 1952, p. 76)
Bible reading for the day: II Samuel 11.26-12.15 (note: you can read the
first part of the story – David’s adultery and scheming – in the 11th
chapter of II Samuel)
26 When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her
husband was dead, she lamented over her husband. 27 And when the
mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his
wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.
12.1 And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him
and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the
other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 3 but
the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he
brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of
his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a
daughter to him. 4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he
was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who
had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man
who had come to him.” 5 Then David's anger was greatly kindled
against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has
done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold,
because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”
7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus
says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I
delivered you out of the hand of Saul. 8 And I gave you your
master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of
Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much
more. 9 Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is
evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and
have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the
Ammonites. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your
house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the
Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will
raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives
before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your
wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I
will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’” 13 David
said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David,
“The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 Nevertheless,
because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born
to you shall die.” 15 Then Nathan went to his house.
Prayer (based on
T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Father, we try to keep
our sin a secret, but you atone for us in public: before all people and before
the sun Jesus was crucified and raised for our forgiveness. Thank you! Repent me and my brothers and sisters of
trying to conceal our guilt. Send us your Word of truth through preachers like
Nathan… that we may daily be brought to repentance and new life in you. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.
Hymn: after
Nathan’s sermon to him, David wrote his confession (Psalm 51). Here it is set
to music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD2PJ0xbAdY
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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