Verse for the week: He will not break a bruised reed or quench a
smoldering wick. Matthew 12.20
Prayer for the week: “Lord God, heavenly Father, you desire not the death
of sinners, but rather that they should turn from sin and live. Mercifully turn away the punishment of our
iniquities and, that we may be edified, grant us your Spirit and your power;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (K.B.
Ritter, Gebete fur das jahr der Kirched, 2nd
ed. Kassel: Barenreiter Verlag, 1948, p.
197).
Bible reading for the day: Luke 12.49-56
49 “I came to
cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50 I
have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is
accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on
earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 For from now on in
one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. 53
They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against
daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
54 He also said
to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A
shower is coming.’ And so it happens. 55 And when you see the south
wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. 56
You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but
why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
prayer(based on
the TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty
Father, thank you for not playing it safe just to keep the peace. Thank you for
going to the great distress of the cross for the salvation of sinners like us. When I and your church would prefer polite
niceties instead of loving the truth, repent us. Grant that we may understand
the present time and what is coming… so that by your grace we may be your
witnesses…who calmly speak the truth in love for the salvation of those we
love. I ask this in Jesus’ name, 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)
benediction The Lord will keep you from all evil; he
will keep your life.
The
Lord will keep your going out and your coming in
From
this time on and forevermore. Ps 121.7-8
*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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