Woe to pew-potatoes

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 für die Gemeinde [Isenhagen], quoted in Ernst Glur and Kurt Jagdmann, Orate Fratres, Gebetsordnung für evangelische-lutherische Pfarrer  Gottingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1952 p.82)

Bible reading for the day: Amos 6.1a,4-7 (note: Amos was a herdsman & nurseryman called by God to prophesy during the reign of Jeroboam, 786-746 BC.  During the long reign of Jeroboam, Israel enjoyed the height of its luxury, military security, and economic affluence.  Several hundred years earlier, God’s people had been slaves to Pharaoh…now they have become slaves to themselves.)

¹ “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion,
and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria,
the notable men of the first of the nations,
to whom the house of Israel comes!

“Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory
and stretch themselves out on their couches,
and eat lambs from the flock
and calves from the midst of the stall,
⁵ who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp
and like David invent for themselves instruments of music,
⁶ who drink wine in bowls
and anoint themselves with the finest oils,
but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!
⁷ Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile,
and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away.”

Prayer (based on TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for warning us against our ruin. Repent me and your whole church of the luxurious complacency that sits back and ignores signs of our bondage and decay. Stir us from our couches, from a pew-potato faith… and have your way with us Lord…that we may follow Jesus and give him to our neighbor; in his name I ask this. Amen.

“Thy will be done…

What does this mean?

The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it will also be done among us.

How is this done?

God's will is done when he hinders and destroys every evil design and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature that would keep us from hallowing his name and prevent the coming of his kingdom. And God’s will is done when he strengthens us and keeps us steadfast in his Word and in faith to the end of our earthly lives. This is his good and gracious will.  (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)

benediction:  Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph 3:20-21) 

*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.