Your place in the eternal choir is now

Verse for the week:  “Like newborn babes, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation; for you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.” I Peter 2.2-3

Prayer of the week:  Lord God almighty, every year you renew the face of the earth, and it is your will to renew the world fallen into sin and death.  Grant us faith so that we may know in your Son the dawning of the true life and daily be made into his new creation; for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Bible reading for the day: Revelation 5.11-14

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, ¹² saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”

¹³ And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

¹⁴ And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Prayer (based on T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for Jesus, he is indeed the worthy one, your Lamb who takes away our sin… thank you!  Repent me and your whole church of thinking we deserve power, wealth, wisdom, might… and repent us of standing mute when we have so much for which to praise him. Every creature in heaven and earth will be singing Jesus’ praise; open my ears and soul that I may join the choir today and in eternity. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a beloved, new hymn that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsiDukXIeVY

I believe in the Holy Spirit…

What does this mean?

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him; but the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in the true faith. In the same way, he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and preserves it in unity with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church, he daily forgives abundantly all my sins and the sins of all believers. At the last day, he will raise me and all the dead and will grant everlasting life to me and to all who believe in Christ. 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 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.