Verse for the week:
Behold, the kingdom
of God
Prayer for the week: “Lord, you have promised to
grant what we pray in the name of your Son. Teach us to pray aright and to laud
and praise you with all your saints in the fullness of life everlasting;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (K.B. Ritter, Gebete
fur das jahr der Kirched, 2nd ed. Kassel: Barenreiter Verlag, 1948, p. 152).
Bible reading for the day: John 6.24-35 (note:
24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not
there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to
Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
25 When they found him on the other side of
the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus
answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you
saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not
work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life,
which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his
seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the
works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God,
that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him,
“Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you
perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is
written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then
said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the
bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For
the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of
life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall
never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have
seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All
that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I
will never cast out.
Prayer (based on
T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for
our daily bread, but thanks even more the true food that endures: Jesus
Christ. Repent me and your church of
just seeking our fill of the loaves… seeking a Jesus who pleases us, who
performs for us. Give us wise ears that
tune out all the temporary calories so deliciously proffered by the Devil, the
world, and our sinful selves…and then fill those ears with the only one who
truly satisfies: the bread of life, Jesus Christ our Lord; in his name I pray. Amen.
“Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven…
What does this
mean?
The good and gracious will of God is surely done without our
prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done also among us.
How is this done?
God's will is done when he hinders and destroys every evil
design and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature that would
keep us from hallowing his name and prevent the coming of his kingdom. And
God’s will is done when he strengthens us and keeps us steadfast in his Word
and in faith to the end of our earthly lives. This is his good and gracious
will. (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources,
Sola Publishing, 2011).
Benediction: The
peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. Phil 4.7
*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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