Prayer for the week: “Eternal God, you commit to us the swift and solemn
trust of life; since we know not what the day may bring forth, but only that
the hour for serving you is always present, may we wake to the constant claim
of your holy will, not waiting for tomorrow, but yielding today. Consecrate with your presence the way our
feet may go and the humblest work will shine, and the roughest place be made
plain. Lift us above unrighteous anger
and mistrust, into faith, and hope, and charity, by a simple and steadfast
reliance on your sure will. In all
things draw us to the mind of Christ, that your lost image may be traced again,
and you may own us as at one with him and you, to the glory of your great name. Amen.” (James Martineau, Home Prayers,
London: Longmans, Green, 1891)
Bible reading for the day: Acts 1.6-11 (note: 40 days
after his resurrection, the disciples are together in Jerusalem – no longer
huddled behind locked doors – and Jesus is with them.)
4 So
when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this
time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said
to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father
has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will
receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you
will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he
had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up,
and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And
while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood
by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men
of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up
from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go
into heaven.”
Prayer (based on TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for raising Jesus
from the dead and for promising to send him back one day. Repent me and your
whole church of poking our noses in where they don’t belong… and of our preoccupation
with kingdoms of this world. Even as we look forward to Jesus’ return, redirect
our gaze down from heaven and toward our neighbor… that we may be occupied with
the business of Your kingdom, the business of being your witnesses in our own neighborhood and
to the end of the earth. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.
Hymn: follow this
link to a classic hymn that gives further voice to today’s conversation with
the Lord: https://vimeo.com/46203440
What is baptism?
Baptism is not merely water;
it is water used according to God's command and connected with God's Word.
What is this Word? In Matthew 28
our Lord Jesus Christ says:
“Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (from
The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther, © Reclaim Resources, Sola
Publishing, 2011)
Benediction: (1 Peter 5:10)
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all
grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore,
support, strengthen, and establish you this day. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.
*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.
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