Verse for the week: Whoever hears you hears me, and whoever rejects you
rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.” Luke 10.16
Prayer for the week: “Lord God, heavenly Father, you have bound us together in one body
through your Holy Spirit. Help us to
serve one another willingly and forgive one another from our hearts; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (K.B.
Ritter, Gebete fur das jahr der Kirched, 1st
ed. Kassel: Barenreiter Verlag, 1933, p. 74).
Bible reading for the day: Ephesians
1.3-14
3 Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in
Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even
as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we
should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he
predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus
Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to
the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the
Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through
his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches
of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all
wisdom and insight9 making known to us the mystery
of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in
Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of
time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
11 In him we have obtained an
inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him
who works all things according to the counsel of his will,12
so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the
praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you
heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in
him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,14 who
is the guarantee of our inheritance until we
acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
prayer(based on
the TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty
Father, thank you for revealing the mystery of your will to us in Jesus Christ.
Repent me and my congregation of not listening. Work out your purpose even
among us… Grant us ears to hear the Word of truth… so that we may believe him and
live for the praise of your glory… now and in eternity; through Jesus Christ,
your Son, our Lord. Amen.
Hymn: follow
this link to a beloved classic hymn that gives further voice to today’s
conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G72NucLEGM
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:
And after you have suffered for a
little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in
Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you this
day. To him be the power forever and
ever. Amen. (1 Pet 5:10)
*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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