Set apart... yes, you are

Prayer for the week:  Lord Jesus Christ, you walked the way of the cross as the obedient servant of God.  Open our ears and teach us by your Spirit, that we may not rebel but walk in the obedience of disciples who have learned from you, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, now and forever.  Amen. [John W. Doberstein, Minister’s Prayer Book, Fortress Press, Philadelphia, 1986  p.82]

Bible reading for the day: Leviticus 20.7

“Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God.”

Prayer (based on TRIP** method):  Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for not leaving us to be our own gods; thank you for redeeming us from sin, death, and the power of the Devil through your crucified and risen Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. You have set us apart, Lord. Repent me and my congregation, therefore, of going back to our old bondage, of being just like the world: undisciplined and unfaithful in worship. In Christ alone I am holy… wholly yours. Amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a beloved, new hymn which gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njjoKWmS0NI  and if you’re thirsty for a beloved classic hymn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJBxK0IQ6XE

“I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord…”

 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:  Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.  Amen.  II Thess 2.16-17

*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.