Verse for the week: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the
humble. I Peter 5.5
Bible reading for the day: Matthew
16.21-28
21 From
that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem
and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be
killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you,
Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But
he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a
hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of
God, but on the things of man.”
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would
come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow
me. 25 For whoever would save his
life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find
it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he
gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in
return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going
to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will
repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly,
I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste
death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
prayer(based
on the TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for sending
not the Jesus we have in mind, but the one you do. Repent me and your church of
hanging on to our will for ourselves and our plans for you. Teach us each day the sweet joy of losing
ourselves for your sake…that we may find our brand new selves in you, Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn: follow this link to a beloved classic which gives further voice to
today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waWQUOgwNGs
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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