Verse for the week: God has made him both Lord and
Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. Acts 2.36
Prayer for the week:
“Almighty, everlasting God, you have given us the promise of your
divine life. Bestow upon us your Holy
Spirit, that, quickened by your word, we may lay hold on eternal life by strong
faith in your Son, and in him be saved; through the same Jesus Christ, your
Son, our Lord. Amen. (K.B. Ritter, Gebete fur das Jahr der Kirche, 2nd
ed. (Kassel: Johannes Stauda-Verllag, 1948), p.170)
Bible reading for the day: Judges 6.28-32 (In the 12th-11th
century BC, the Lord raised up temporary leaders – judges – for his people. A
cycle repeated itself: “the people did what was evil in the sight of the Lord,”
the Lord gives them over to the consequences of their evil, then raises up a
judge to restore his people and bring them to repentance, to turn his beloved,
rebellious children back to him. Gideon was one such judge. Baal worship was a
fertility cult, the Asherah was the phallic pole associated with this cult.)
When the men of the town rose early in the morning,
behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah beside it was cut
down, and the second bull was offered on the altar that had been built. 29 And
they said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” And after they had
searched and inquired, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this
thing.” 30 Then the men of the town said to Joash,
“Bring out your son, that he may die, for he has broken down the altar of Baal
and cut down the Asherah beside it.” 31 But Joash
said to all who stood against him, “Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save
him? Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god,
let him contend for himself, because his altar has been broken down.” 32 Therefore
on that day Gideon was called Jerubbaal, that is to say, “Let Baal
contend against him,” because he broke down his altar.
Prayer (based on
T.R.I.P. method**): Almighty Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank
you: you are not a fertility cult or a religion, you are the Lord. Alleluia. In
Christ, you redeem, save, and call sinners like me to follow you. Repent me and
my congregation of the “altars” we would build for ourselves. Give us the
confidence in you to contend against false gods and to trust in Christ’s
sacrifice once and for all. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Hymn: follow this
link to a new hymn that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the
Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LvoE1vCeT8
“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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