Verse for the week:
What does the Lord require of your but to do justice, and to love
kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6.8
Prayer for the week: “Lord God, grant unto us your
Holy Spirit that we may hear and accept your word, in order that, being
cleansed in mind and renewed in life, we may live to you, here and hereafter;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen” (K.B.
Ritter, Gebete fur das jahr der Kirched, 2nd
ed. Kassel: Barenreiter Verlag, 1948, p.207).
Bible reading for the day: Mark 9.42-50
42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones
who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were
hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your
hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled
than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And
if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life
lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye
causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of
God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where
their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 For
everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt
has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in
yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
Prayer(based on TRIP**
method): Gracious and
almighty Father thank you for the one who is THE salt of life: Jesus Christ our
Lord. Sin is serious business; so repent me and your whole church of losing his
saltiness in ourselves and thereby leading other believers to stumble in
sin. Season me and your church not with
the flavor of the world nor of our will, but with Christ’s forgiveness and your
salty word. I ask this in Jesus’ name,
amen.
Hymn: follow this
link to a beloved classic that gives further voice to today’s conversation with
the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjfToqk5w5g
What is the
significance of baptizing with water?
It means 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 (from The Small
Catechism by Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)
Benediction: Now
may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort
and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and
word. Amen. II Thess 2.16-17
*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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