Verse for the week:
As you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my
family, you did it to me. Matt 25.40
Prayer of the week:
“Merciful God, kindle in our hearts the fire of your love, that we
may serve you and our neighbor, according to your will; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen” (K.B. Ritter, Gebete fur das jahr der Kirched, 2nd
ed. Kassel: Barenreiter Verlag, 1948, p.
199).
Bible reading for the day: Luke 13.10-17
10 Now he was teaching in one of the
synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had
had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not
fully straighten herself. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over
and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” 13 And
he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she
glorified God. 14 But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because
Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in
which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the
Sabbath day.” 15 Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does
not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and
lead it away to water it? 16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of
Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the
Sabbath day?” 17 As he said these things, all his adversaries were
put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were
done by him.
Prayer (based on T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious
and almighty Father, thank you for freeing us from our infirmities when you
choose, humiliating us when we deserve it, and delighting us with your
wonderful work in Jesus Christ. Repent
me and your church of compartmentalizing faith and getting so stuck on rules
and religious boxes that we miss the new, freeing work you are doing. Have your way with us Lord, deliver us from
all crippling hypocrisy…put your hands and your Word all over us…that we may
stand straight up and praise you… every day and especially on Sunday. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.
The Third
Commandment:
Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God so that we do not despise his
Word and the preaching of it, but acknowledge it as holy, and gladly hear and
learn it. (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther ©Reclaim
Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)
Hymn: follow this
link to a beloved, classic hymn which gives further voice to today’s
conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26rq0spuLao
Benediction: Now
to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far
more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in
Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph 3:20-21)
*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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