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 and merciful God, you are not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Grant that by your word we may again and again be convicted of our sin,
but also fervently grasp anew the comfort of your Spirit and of faith, in order
that we may be justified in your Son and be saved through him, Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen. (Kirchenbuch für die Gemeinde (Isenhagen),
quoted in Orate Fratres, Gebetsordnung für evangelische-lutherische Pfarrer,
Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht 1952, p. 76)
Bible reading for the day: Matthew 10.1, 5, 39-42 (note: these are excerpts
from Matthew 10, in which Jesus sends us out and tells us of the mixed
reception we will receive because of his name. I encourage you to read the
entire 10th chapter)
1 And he called to him his twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal
every disease and every affliction.
5These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing
them,…
39 Whoever
finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find
it. 40“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever
receives me receives him who sent me. 41 The one
who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward,
and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person
will receive a righteous person's reward. 42 And whoever
gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a
disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
Prayer (based on
T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for
calling me and my brothers and sisters to Christ and for sending us out in his
name. Repent me and my congregation of
worrying about how we will be received; and of hiding from you and from our
neighbor. With this word you have given me
afresh my apostleship, my sent-ness. Guide me now to deliver
your authority for my neighbors’ good.
In Jesus’ name I ask this, amen.
Hymn: follow this
link to a beloved, classic hymn which gives further voice to today’s
conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k1WhFtVp0o
“Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
What does this mean?
The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our
prayer, but we pray in this petition that it will also be done among us.
How is this done?
God's will is done when he hinders and destroys every evil
design and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature that would
keep us from hallowing his name and prevent the coming of his kingdom. And God’s
will is done when he strengthens us and keeps us steadfast in his Word and in
faith to the end of our earthly lives. This is his good and gracious will. (from The Small Catechism, by Martin
Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)
Benediction: The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the
Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen. II
Cor 13.14
*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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