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 behold 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: Hebrews 12.4-24
4 In
your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding
your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the
exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of
the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you
as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If
you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you
are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides
this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them.
Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and
live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time
as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may
share his holiness. 11 For the moment all
discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the
peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen
your weak knees,13 and make straight paths for your
feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be
healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for
the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.15 See
to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of
bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that
no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright
for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward,
when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no
chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.
18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a
blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the
sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no
further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they
could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the
mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so
terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But
you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the
heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and
to the assembly[a] of
the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of
all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and
to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled
blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
prayer(based on
the TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty
Father, thank you for not taking our sin lightly and for sending our champion
in the fight against it: Jesus Christ. Abel’s blood speaks the word of our
guilt, but in Christ’s blood you speak forgiveness to us. Thank you! Repent me
and my congregation of self-pity and of resisting your discipline. Your
discipline means life for us, so train us Father… that late on the peaceful
fruit of righteousness may blossom even in us. I ask this in Christ’s 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=8XUYZoguhEQ (not the
best rendition, but the best one I could find today)
“I believe in Jesus
Christ…”
What does this mean?
I believe that Jesus Christ —
true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the
Virgin Mary — is my Lord. He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature,
and has freed me from sin, death, and the power of the devil, not with silver
and gold, but with his holy and precious blood and his innocent suffering and
death. He has done all this in order that I might be his own, live under him in
his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and
blessedness, even as he is risen from the dead and lives and reigns for all
eternity. This is most certainly true! (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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