Verse for the week: But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this
inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.” II Timothy 2.19
Prayer for the week: “Almighty and merciful God, fulfill in us your
promises and grant that when that day shall come we may sit down with all the
redeemed at the heavenly feast and praise you in eternal light; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.” (K.B. Ritter, Gebete fur das jahr der Kirched, 2nd ed. Kassel: Barenreiter Verlag, 1948, p. 219).
Bible reading for the day: I Thessalonians 4.13-18 (note: to describe death, Paul
uses the present participle of the Greek verb koimaw, “to fall asleep.”)
But we do not want you to be uninformed,
brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others
do who have no hope.14 For since we believe
that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with
him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this
we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are
alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those
who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord
himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the
voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.
And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then
we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with
them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always
be with the Lord.18 Therefore encourage one another with
these words.
Prayer (based on TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you: death is
real among us… the termination of life in this world… but through Jesus you
have turned it into the believer’s nap. Thank you! What a GREAT morning it will
be when Christ descends again and your trumpet sounds to wake us! Until that
day, don’t let us be uninformed when it comes to the resurrection of the dead…
and use us to encourage one another with your words. I ask this in the name of
the crucified and risen one, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Hymn: follow
this link to G.F. Handel’s confession of these words from our Lord (turn it up
and close your eyesJ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVxOf6Zok1I
“I
believe in the Holy Spirit…”
What does this mean?
I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus
Christ my Lord or come to him; but the Holy Spirit has called me through the
Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in the
true faith. In the same way, he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the
whole Christian church on earth, and preserves it in unity with Jesus Christ in
the one true faith. In this Christian church, he daily forgives abundantly all
my sins and the sins of all believers. At the last day, he will raise me and
all the dead and will grant everlasting life to me and to all who believe in Christ.
This is most certainly true! (from The Small Catechism, by
Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)
benediction: And after you have suffered for a little while,
the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ,
will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you this day. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen. (1 Pet 5:10)
*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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