Verse for the week: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Mark 13.31
Prayer for the week:
O Lord, we are so quick to flee; teach us how to pray and stay. Direct the lives of you servants toward the
goal of everlasting salvation, that, surrounded by all the changes and
uncertainties of life, we may be defended by your gracious and ready help in
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (adapted from Lutheran
Book of Worship, Minister’s Desk edition, p.113.)
Bible reading for the day: Matthew 26.46-56 (note: today’s reading picks
up right where yesterday’s left off)
46 Rise, let us be going; see,
my betrayer is at hand.”
47 While he was still
speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with
swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now
the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man;
seize him.” 49 And he came up to Jesus at once and
said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 50 Jesus
said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up
and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 51 And
behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew
his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his
ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your
sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the
sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my
Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of
angels? 54 But how then should the Scriptures be
fulfilled, that it must be so?” 55 At that hour
Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with
swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the
temple teaching, and you did not seize me. 56 But all
this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be
fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
Prayer (based on TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you
for redeeming deserters like us. While
we flee and desert Jesus, he is your living Word all the way through arrest and
crucifixion…and precisely for us; thank you!
Turn us from our contrived kisses, our false bravado, and our desertion
of you. Grant me and my brothers & sisters in Christ wisdom and courage
precisely in the hour of temptation. 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: May
the God of peace himself grow you in his will entirely; and may your spirit and
soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ. The one who calls you is
faithful, and he will do this. Amen. I Thess 5.23
*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 www.dailytext.com). The method is founded on scripture and easy
to remember:
T: thanksgiving
R:
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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