Verse for the week: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the
humble. I Peter 5.5
Prayer for the week: “Almighty, everlasting God, mercifully regard us who
have been made your children through baptism and, according to your grace,
grant that your promises may be fulfilled in us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.” (K.B. Ritter, Gebete fur
das jahr der Kirche, 2nd ed. Kassel: Barenreiter Verlag, 1948, p. 183).
Bible reading for the day: I Kings 19.1-8 (note:
Ahab reigned in the northern kingdom of Israel from 869-851 BC, his wife was
Jezebel. As leaders, they were unjust and selfish; they worshipped Baal and
rejected God and his prophets.)
1 Ahab
told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets (of Baal) with the
sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may
the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one
of them by this time tomorrow.” 3 Then he was afraid, and he arose
and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left
his servant there.
4 But
he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under
a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O
Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And
he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and
said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was
at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank
and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second
time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for
you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of
that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
prayer(based on
the TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty
Father, thank you that you not only hear my laments, you have taken them into
yourself in Jesus Christ. Each day repent me and your church of our proud
self-pity and of running away from the good fight of faith. After each night’s sleep, lift me and my
brothers & sisters up out of our beds and in the strength of the food that
is Christ himself for us, grant us to run with perseverance the race that is
set before us… the race that gives Jesus to our neighbor in our words and
deeds. I ask this in His name, amen.
Hymn: follow
this link to a beloved classic that gives further voice to today’s conversation
with the Lord: https://vimeo.com/46203440
What is the significance
of baptizing with water?
It signifies that the old
Adam in us, together with all sins and evil desires, should be drowned by daily
sorrow for sin and repentance and be put to death, and that the new person
should come forth every day and rise to live before God in righteousness and
purity forever.
Where is this written?
Saint Paul says in Romans,
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just
as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might
walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4 ESV). (from The Small Catechism, by
Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)
benediction: Now to him who by the power at work within
us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to
him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and
ever. Amen. (Eph 3:20-21)
*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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