Verse for the week: Come to me all you who labor
and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Mt
11.28
Bible reading for the day: Jeremiah 28.1-9 (note: this is but an excerpt of the
conversation between the false prophet Hananiah, who wrongly proclaims an early
end to the Exile in Babylon, and the true prophet, Jeremiah. You can read the rest
of the story in Jeremiah 28)
In that same year, at
the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fifth month
of the fourth year, Hananiah the son of Azzur, the prophet
from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the Lord, in the presence of the
priests and all the people, saying, 2 “Thus says
the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: I have broken the yoke of
the king of Babylon. 3 Within two years I will
bring back to this place all the vessels of the Lord's house, which
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to
Babylon. 4 I will also bring back to this
place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the exiles
from Judah who went to Babylon, declares the Lord, for I will break
the yoke of the king of Babylon.”
Then the prophet Jeremiah
spoke to Hananiah the prophet in the presence of the priests and all the people
who were standing in the house of the Lord, 6 and
the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! May the Lord do so; may
the Lord make the words that you have prophesied come true, and bring
back to this place from Babylon the vessels of the house of the Lord, and
all the exiles. 7 Yet hear now this word that I
speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people. 8 The
prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and
pestilence against many countries and great kingdoms. 9 As
for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to
pass, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the
prophet.”
Prayer (based on
T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for the
peace that you make come true by the blood of Jesus Christ. Thank you! Deliver me and your church from false peace
and the prophets who preach it. Teach us always to depend not on your house,
the stuff in it, nor on our practices…but on your living word alone in Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn: follow this
link to a classic hymn that connects with today’s conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6k8DFb8fWs
“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: 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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