Verse for the week: The commandment we have from him is this: those who
love God must love their brothers and sisters also. I John 4.21
Prayer for the week: “Dear Father in heaven, you have revealed your love to us in Jesus
Christ. Grant us your Holy Spirit, that
we may love you with our whole heart and our neighbors as ourselves; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (Kirchenbuch fur die Gemeinde [Isenhagen], quoted
in Ernst Glur and Kurt Jagdmann, Orate Fratres, Gebetsordnung fur
evangelische-lutherische Pfarrer
Gottingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1952 p.82)
Bible reading for the day: I Timothy 6.2b-19 (Paul writes to his apprentice…)
2b Teach
and urge these things. 3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and
does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching
that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and
understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for
quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions,
5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and
deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But
godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing
into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But
if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But
those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many
senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this
craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with
many pangs.
11 But
as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness,
faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of
the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about
which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I
charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ
Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14
to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the
appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the
proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and
Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in
unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and
eternal dominion. Amen.
17 As
for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set
their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us
with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good
works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up
treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may
take hold of that which is truly life.
prayer(based on
the TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty
Father, thank you for the healthy, sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ. Repent me and my brothers and sisters of
listening to and loving our own words more than his… because such conceit just
leads us away from you and into one unhealthy craving after another… piercing
ourselves with many pangs. Take hold of
me Lord and strengthen me for the good fight of faith so that my confession may
be steadfast… and I and all those with ears to hear may take hold of that which
is truly life. I ask this in Jesus’
name, amen.
Hymn: follow
this link to a beloved classic which gives further voice to today’s
conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHe_qmo3gX4
“Hallowed be thy name…”
What does this mean?
God's name is indeed holy in
itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy also among us.
How is this done?
God's name is hallowed when
his Word is taught in its truth and purity and we, as God's children, lead holy
lives in harmony with it. Grant this to us, dear Father in heaven! But whoever
teaches and lives in ways other than what God's Word teaches dishonors the name
of God among us. Prevent us from doing this, heavenly Father! (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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