Verse for the week:
I am the Lord your God; you shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20.2-3
Prayer for the week: “Almighty, everlasting God,
graciously look upon your church, for you alone are our strength and our
salvation. Uphold us with your hand,
that we may not stumble and fall; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (K.B.
Ritter, Gebete fur das jahr der Kirched, 2nd
ed. Kassel: Barenreiter Verlag, 1948, p.220).
Bible reading for the day: II Timothy 4.1-5 (note: today’s reading picks
up right where Paul left off yesterday. People who desire to live a godly life
in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. When this occurs, when evil people go from
bad to worse, here’s what you and I are to do)
1 I charge you in the presence of God and of
Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his
appearing and his kingdom:2 preach the word; be ready in
season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete
patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming
when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears
they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will
turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As
for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work
of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Prayer (based on
T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Father, you made my
ears and you know exactly what they need: your living Word, Jesus, in them… He
is forgiveness, true life, and salvation for me. Thank you! Repent me and my
congregation of ears that itch for our own passions… and repent us of being
poorly prepared, impatient preachers. With open Bibles in our homes six days
and your Word in our ears on the seventh, we have the promise of your Holy
Spirit and all we need to do the work of evangelists, to preach the word with
complete patience… trusting in Jesus, your Son, our Lord. Amen.
Hymn: here’s a
beloved classic hymn for you to sing, I could not find a suitable recording of
it, so here are the lyrics:
“Rise Up, O Saints of God” by Norman O. Fornes, b. 1936
- Rise up, O saints of God!
From vain ambitions turn; Christ rose triumphant that your hearts with
nobler zeal might burn.
- Speak out, O saints of
God! Despair engulfs earth’s frame; As heirs of God’s baptismal grace, His
word of hope proclaim!
- Rise up, O saints of God!
His kingdom's task embrace; Redress sin's cruel consequence; give justice
larger place.
- Give heed, O saints of
God! Creation cries in pain; Stretch forth your hand of healing now, with
love the weak sustain.
- Commit your hearts to seek
the paths which Christ has trod, And, quickened by the Spirit's power,
rise up, O saints of God!
“Hallowed be thy name…”
What does this mean?
God's name is indeed holy in itself, but we pray in this
petition that it may be kept holy also among us.
How is this done?
God's name is hallowed when his Word is taught in its truth
and purity and we, as God's children, lead holy lives in harmony with it. Grant
this to us, dear Father in heaven! But whoever teaches and lives in ways other
than what God's Word teaches dishonors the name of God among us. Prevent us
from doing this, heavenly Father! (from The
Small Catechism, by Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing,
2011)
Benediction: The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the
Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen. II Cor 13.14
*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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