Verse for the week:
“You are not your own; you were bought with a price.” I Cor
6.19-20
Prayer for the week:
Lord God, heavenly Father, in your Son you have given the world a
pioneer of salvation and made him the true and eternal priest and mediator of
his people. Grant that we may hold fast
to him in love, learn obedience in his discipleship, and so be brought into the
heavenly sanctuary through him, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen. [K.B. Ritter, Gebete fur das Jahr der Kirche, 2nd
edition (Kassel: Johannes Stauda-Verlag, 1948), p. 114.]
Bible reading for the day: Matthew 18.15-20
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his
fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your
brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along
with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three
witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the
church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a
Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you
bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall
be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on
earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among
them.”
Prayer (based on TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you
for stopping the gossip train even before it leaves the station… for sending us
directly to our brother or sister in Christ. Repent me and my congregation of
ever firing up that troublesome train. Guide us to speak the truth in love to
one another… that we may know true life together under your lordship. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.
Hymn: Follow this link to a beloved, classic hymn
that gives further voice today’s conversation with the Lord: https://vimeo.com/46203440
The Eighth Commandment
You shall not bear false witness against your
neighbor.
What does this
mean?
We should fear and love God so that we do not betray,
slander, lie, or gossip about our neighbors, but defend them, speak well of
them, and put the most charitable construction on all that they do. (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 www.dailytext.com). The method is founded on scripture and easy
to remember: 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment