Verse for the week: “Like newborn babes, long for
the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation; for you have
tasted the kindness of the Lord.” I
Peter 2.2-3
Prayer for the week: Lord God almighty, every year
you renew the face of the earth, and it is your will to renew the world fallen
into sin and death. Grant us faith so
that we may know in your Son the dawning of the true life and daily be made
into his new creation; for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
Bible reading for the day: Isaiah 6.8-13
8And
I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go
for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” 9 And
he said, “Go, and say to this people:
“‘Keep on hearing,
but do not understand;
keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
10 Make the heart of this people dull,
and their ears heavy,
and blind their eyes;
lest they see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed.”
11 Then I said, “How long, O Lord?”
And he said:
“Until cities lie waste
without inhabitant,
and houses without people,
and the land is a desolate waste,
12 and the Lord removes people far away,
and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.
13 And though a tenth remain in it,
it will be burned again,
like a terebinth or an oak,
whose stump remains
when it is felled.”
The holy seed is its stump.
keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
10 Make the heart of this people dull,
and their ears heavy,
and blind their eyes;
lest they see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed.”
11 Then I said, “How long, O Lord?”
And he said:
“Until cities lie waste
without inhabitant,
and houses without people,
and the land is a desolate waste,
12 and the Lord removes people far away,
and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.
13 And though a tenth remain in it,
it will be burned again,
like a terebinth or an oak,
whose stump remains
when it is felled.”
The holy seed is its stump.
Prayer (based on
T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you that
the hearing and seeing of faith is your business, not ours. My congregation and
I are your planting, your garden, not our own. Each day prune our pride down to
a stump… and then bring Jesus forth like a shoot, so that – by your grace – we
might bear some decent fruit. In his name I ask this, amen.
What is the significance of baptizing with water?
It signifies that the old Adam in us, together with all sins
and evil desires, should be drowned by daily sorrow for sin and repentance and
be put to death, and that the new person should come forth every day and rise
to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
Where is this
written?
Saint Paul says in Romans, “We were buried therefore with
him by Baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the
dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans
6:4 ESV). (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
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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