Verse for the week: Prepare the way of the
Lord...behold, the Lord comes with might.” Isaiah 40:3,10
Prayer for the 2nd week of Advent: “Lord,
accept our prayer and supplication, and grant that we may heed the call of John
to prepare the way for your Son, and receive him into our hearts, that we may
become your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (K. B.
Ritter, Gebete fur das Jahr der Kirche, 2nd ed. Kassel
Bible
reading for the day: II Peter 3.8-15 (The purpose of this letter is to warn
believers against false teachers who promoted a sinful way of life and
questioned whether Jesus would return in judgment.)
This
is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of
them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,2 that
you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the
commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing
this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with
scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They
will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers
fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of
creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this
fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of
water and through water by the word of God, 6 and
that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water
and perished. 7 But by the same word the
heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the
day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
8 But
do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a
thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The
Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness,
but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish,
but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the
day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass
away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and
dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
11 Since
all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you
to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting
for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens
will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as
they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are
waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness
dwells.
14 Therefore,
beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by
him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 15 And
count the patience of our Lord as salvation,
Prayer (based on T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and
almighty Lord, thank you for your reliable, living Word… proclaimed must
clearly in Jesus Christ crucified and raised for our forgiveness. And thank you
for your patience toward a sinner like me. While I and your whole church wait
for Christ’s return, teach us to count on your patience and righteousness
rather than our own. I ask this in the name of the only one who is without spot
or blemish: your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Music: Follow
this link to a scene from Handel’s “Messiah” which gives further voice to
today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWnB93S4VOg
… you are one of the great company of preachers!
“I believe in the Holy Spirit, the
holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.”
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:
“The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom
I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 147.10-11
*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
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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