Verse for the week: If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us
from all sin. (I John 1.7)
Prayer for the week: Almighty and everlasting God, in the wonder of Christ’s death and
resurrection, you reconciled the world to yourself, erased your own score
against us, and entrusted your message to us.
Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s body
may be ambassadors for him, showing forth in their lives what they profess by
their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Amen. (adapted from The
Book of Common Prayer, based on II Corinthians 5)
Bible reading for the day: Psalm 22.25-31
(note: this Psalm is the one that begins “My God, my God, why have you forsaken
me?” It is this Psalm that Christ quotes
during his crucifixion. The whole Psalm
is worth your reading. This is how it ends:)
From you comes my praise in the great
congregation;
my vows I will pay before those who fear
him.
26 The afflicted
shall eat and be satisfied;
those who seek him shall praise the LORD.
May your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends
of the earth shall remember
and turn to the LORD;
and all the families of the nations
shall worship before you.
28 For kingship
belongs to the LORD,
and he rules over the nations.
29 All the
prosperous of the earth eat and worship;
before him shall bow all who go down to the
dust,
even
the one who could not keep himself alive.
30 Posterity
will serve him;
it shall be told of the Lord to the coming
generation;
31 they shall
come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn,
that he has done it.
prayer(based on
the TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty
Father, thank you for working death and resurrection for me again, thank you
for forming me to Christ, and bringing your praise from me in the midst of my
congregation. Keep doing it, Lord…until
the last day. Repent me and my
congregation of thinking we can keep ourselves alive. Bow our will to yours,
turn our families to worship you, and use our mouths to proclaims your
righteousness to this generation and the next… that you have done it! I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.
Hymn: follow
this link to a beloved classic hymn that gives further voice to today’s
conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVAfXslXLRA
Thy kingdom come…
What does this mean?
The kingdom of God comes
indeed by itself, without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may
also come to us.
How is this done?
God’s kingdom comes when our
heavenly Father gives us his Holy Spirit, so that by his grace we believe his
holy Word and live a godly life on earth now and in eternity. (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
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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