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: Romans 14.1-12
1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome
him, but not to quarrel over opinions.2 One person believes
he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.3 Let
not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who
abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who
are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own
master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is
able to make him stand.
5 One person esteems one day as better
than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be
fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who
observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in
honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains,
abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none
of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For
if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So
then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. 9 For
to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord
both of the dead and of the living.
10 Why do you pass judgment on your
brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand
before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is
written,
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess to God.”
and every tongue shall confess to God.”
12 So then each of us will give an
account of himself to God.
prayer(based on
the TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty
Father, thank you for delivering us from ourselves and our petty agendas and
setting us free to live and die for Christ. Thank you! When we are weak in faith we quarrel over
opinions; repent me and my congregation of such immaturity. Each day, bend our knees and wills to
you…that with one voice we may stand and confess the glories of your name…and
reach to others with the same. In Jesus’
name I pray, amen.
“thy kingdom come…”
What does this mean?
The kingdom of God comes
indeed by itself, without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may
also come to us.
How is this done?
God's kingdom comes when our
heavenly Father gives us his Holy Spirit, so that by his grace we believe his
holy Word and live a godly life now and in eternity. (from The Small Catechism, by Martin
Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)
Benediction: May the God of peace himself grow you in his will
entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The
one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this. Amen. I Thess 5.23
*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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