Verse for the week:
I am the Lord your God; you shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20.2-3
Prayer: “Almighty,
everlasting God, graciously look upon your church, for you alone are our
strength and our salvation. Uphold us
with your hand, that we may not stumble and fall; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen. (K.B. Ritter, Gebete fur das jahr der Kirched, 2nd ed. Kassel: Barenreiter Verlag, 1948, p.220).
Bible reading for the day: Matthew 25.14-30 (note: the word “talents” in
this parable does not mean the talents we usually think of (talented at
throwing a football or making music). A talent was a monetary unit
worth about twenty years' wages for a laborer)
14 “For it will be like a man going
on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his
property. 15 To one he gave
five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according
to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who
had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made
five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two
talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had
received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's
money. 19 Now after a long time the master of
those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And
he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more,
saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five
talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well
done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a
little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your
master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents
came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have
made two talents more.’23 His master said to him, ‘Well
done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will
set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He
also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you
to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where
you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I
went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is
yours.’ 26 But his master answered him,
‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have
not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then
you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should
have received what was my own with interest. 28 So
take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.29 For
to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from
the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the
worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Prayer (based on
T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for
claiming us as your servants…this is the best job ever because you are the best
& true Master. Thank you! Repent me and my brothers & sisters of
wanting to be our own masters and of being lazy and afraid with your property…such
behavior will only end us weeping and gnashing our teeth. While we wait for your return, daily teach
our congregation the faithful, obedient use of all that you have entrusted to
us, all that is yours. I ask this in
Jesus’ name, amen.
The Lord has entrusted to us both physical property and the property
or benefits of his kingdom; the first two articles of the Apostles’ Creed name
these:
“I believe in the God, the Father almighty…
What does this mean?
I believe that God has created me and all that exists, that
he has given me and still preserves my body and soul, my eyes and ears, my
reason and all my senses, together with food and clothing, home and family, and
all my property. Every day he provides abundantly for all the needs of my life.
He protects me from all danger and
guards and keeps me from every evil. He does this purely out of fatherly and
divine goodness and mercy, though I do not deserve it. Therefore I ought to
thank, praise, serve, and obey him. This is most certainly true!
“I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord…”
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: 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
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.
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