Verse for the week: He will not break a bruised reed or quench a
smoldering wick. Matthew 12.20
Prayer for the week: “Lord God, heavenly Father, you desire not the death
of sinners, but rather that they should turn from sin and live. Mercifully turn away the punishment of our
iniquities and, that we may be edified, grant us your Spirit and your power;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (K.B.
Ritter, Gebete fur das jahr der Kirched, 2nd
ed. Kassel: Barenreiter Verlag, 1948, p.
197).
Bible reading for the day: Matthew
18.21-35 (note: 1 talent = 20 years’ worth of wages for a laborer, while 1
denarius = 1day’s wage)
21 Then Peter
came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me,
and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus
said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven!
23 “Therefore
the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle
accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to
settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten
thousand talents. 25 And since he could not
pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all
that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the
servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I
will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for
him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But
when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed
him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying,
‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell
down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He
refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When
his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and
they went and reported to their master all that had taken place.32 Then
his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all
that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And
should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on
you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to
the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So
also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your
brother from your heart.”
prayer(based on
the TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty
Father, thank you for settling our account with the most precious currency of
all: the priceless blood of Jesus Christ, shed even for us. Thank you.
Repent me and your church of holding scores, of the wickedness by which
we begrudge others far less mercy. Each
day, break into our hard hearts with your kingdom…that we may be delivered from
torture and be generous in forgiving from the heart. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.
hymn: Follow
this link to a beloved hymn that gives further voice to today’s conversation
with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAARmSI8IxQ
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who
trespass against us…
What
does this mean?
We
pray in this petition that our heavenly Father would not hold our sins against
us and deny our prayers because of them. We know we have not earned, nor do we
deserve, those things for which we pray. But we ask that he would grant us all
things through grace, even though we sin every day and deserve nothing but
punishment. And so we, too, will heartily forgive, and gladly do good to those
who sin against us. (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther ©Reclaim
Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)
benediction The Lord will keep you from all evil; he
will keep your life.
The
Lord will keep your going out and your coming in
From
this time on and forevermore. Ps 121.7-8
*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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