Verse for the week: “The reason the Son of God
appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” I John 3.8
Prayer for the week:
O God, by whose Spirit we are led into the wilderness of trial, grant
that, standing in your strength against the powers of darkness, we may so win
the victory over all evil suggestions that with singleness of heart we may ever
serve you and you alone; through him who was in all points tempted as we are,
your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (John Wallace Suter, Prayers of the Spirit New York: Harper & Bros. 1943, p.22.)
Bible reading for the day: Exodus 36.1-7 (note: After
the Exodus from slavery, the Lord calls his people to contribute freely to
building of the tabernacle; a very ornate tent to serve as a sanctuary in which
the Lord will dwell with his people. The people respond very generously.)
“Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom
the Lord has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in
the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that
the Lord has commanded.”
2 And Moses called Bezalel
and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the Lord had put skill,
everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work. 3 And
they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel
had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing
him freewill offerings every morning,4 so that all
the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each
from the task that he was doing, 5 and said to
Moses, “The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that
the Lord has commanded us to do.” 6 So
Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or
woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.” So the
people were restrained from bringing, 7 for the
material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more.
Prayer (based on TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you
for liberating me and all your sheep from slavery to our own sin, death and the
Devil. Thank you! Lord, you have provided PLENTY for the work of your kingdom;
repent me and my congregation of keeping it in our pockets. By your mercy, bring
us to that day when we need to be restrained from giving because we will have
given more than sufficient money for your work through us. I ask this in Jesus’
name, amen.
Hymn: follow this link to a beloved, classic hymn
which gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHR1PQ5YwLo
“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: May
the God of peace himself grow you in his will entirely; and may your spirit and
soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ. The one who calls you is faithful,
and he will do this. Amen. I Thess 5.23
*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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