Verse for the week: God has made him both Lord and
Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. Acts 2.36
Bible reading for the day: Romans 6.1-11
1 What shall we say then? Are we to
continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no
means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do
you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into his death? 4 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.
5 For if we have been
united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him
in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our
old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might
be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one
who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if
we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We
know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die
again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For
the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he
lives to God. 11 So you also must consider
yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Prayer (based on
T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for putting
me and my brothers and sisters to death in Christ and for raising us to new
life in him. Repent us of the self-trust that constantly seeks to resurrect and
cling to our old selfie and our agendas. Have your way with me afresh today…
that I may indeed be dead to sin and certainly alive to you, in Christ. Amen.
Hymn: follow this
link to a beloved, classic hymn that gives further voice to today’s
conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0Byp7aK2DA
“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
God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing, that we may abound in
hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen. (Romans 15.13)
*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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