The difference between religion and faith in Jesus

Verse for the week: “Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy, for we have had more than enough of contempt.” Psalm 123.3

Prayer for the week: “Almighty, everlasting God, abundantly and daily you forgive all our sins. Grant us your Holy Spirit, that he may inscribe your mercy in our hearts, in order that we too may willingly forgive others; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (K.B. Ritter, Gebete fur das jahr der Kirched, 2nd  ed. Kassel: Barenreiter Verlag, 1948, p.220). 

Bible reading for the day: Luke 18.9-14

⁹He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: ¹⁰ “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.¹¹ The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ ¹³ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

prayer (based on TRIP** method):  Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for having mercy on the wrong kind of people, including on a sinner like me. Thank you! Every day, repent me and my congregation of religion: of thinking that we are better and deserve your favor on account of things we do. Daily pull our ladders out from under us Lord… that daily we may humbly cry to you for mercy… and find ourselves exalted by your right hand. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

Hymn: follow this link to beloved new hymn which gives further voice to today’s confession to the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS9e0nxHP-w

What is Confession of sin?

Confession consists of two parts. One is that we confess our sins and the other is that we receive absolution, or forgiveness, from the confessor as from God himself, in no way doubting, but firmly believing that our sins are thereby forgiven before God in heaven.

What sins should we confess?

Before God we should acknowledge ourselves guilty of all kinds of sins, even those of which we are not aware, as we do in the Lord's Prayer. To the confessor, however, we should confess only those sins which we know and which trouble us.  (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.