The Good Shepherd
Invitatory: 11“I
am the good shepherd… 27My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and
they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never
perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10.11, 27-28
Morning Prayer: O
Savior Christ, you lead to immortal happiness those who entrust themselves to
you. Grant that we, being weak, presume
not to trust in ourselves, but may always have you before our eyes, to follow
you, our Shepherd; that you, who alone knows the way, may lead us to our
heavenly desires. To you with the Father
and the Holy Spirit be glory forever.
Amen. (Primer, 1545, adapted)
Bible reading for the day: John 10.10-18
10 The thief comes only to steal
and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it
abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good
shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He
who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees
the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them
and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a
hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I
am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,15 just
as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for
the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are
not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my
voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For
this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I
may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me,
but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down,
and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received
from my Father.”
Prayer (based on
T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for
not leaving us with just a hired hand, thank you for sending Jesus to be our
good shepherd! When I and my follow
sheep wander, repent us… turn us back to you… because our wandering only leaves
us quick and easy prey for that thief Satan who is out to snatch us up and
devour us and our families. Call me and the rest of your flock by name Lord,
give us ears that listen to your voice… so that we may know and love you… and
may welcome the other sheep you will bring into your fold through our
congregation. I ask this in the name
Jesus, our Good Shepherd. Amen.
Hymn: follow this
link to a beloved, classic that gives further voice to today’s conversation
with our Good Shepherd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cHWMltF9_8
“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
God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing, that we may abound in
hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen. (Romans 15.13)
*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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