Verse for the week: “Make me understand the way of your commandments,
that I may meditate on your marvelous works.” Psalm 119.27
Bible reading for the day: Deuteronomy
18.15-22 (Note: “Deuteronomy” means “second law.” Dt is a second confession, a
renewed confession of the history of God’s living relationship with his people.
A generation long after the Exodus, confesses in its own voice and time what it
means to be the people of Yahweh. At the center of this relationship is God’s
word, “this great fire,”… his
speaking to his people.)
15 “The Lord your
God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your
brothers—it is to him you shall listen— 16 just as
you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly,
when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my
God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ 17 And
the Lord said to me, ‘They are right in what they have
spoken. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like
you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth,
and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 And
whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I
myself will require it of him. 20 But the prophet
who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak,
or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall
die.’ 21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we
know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’—22 when
a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to
pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not
spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid
of him.
Prayer (based on TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty Lord, thank you for the sweet
heat of your word…thank you for not taming it…and for speaking it best in Jesus
Christ for us. Repent me and your whole
church of playing with fire: liking our own words better than yours and of not
heeding your voice. See to it that what
you want said gets said…even through the likes of us. I ask this in the name of the one who is the
Living Word, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Hallowed be thy name…
What
does this mean?
God's name is indeed holy in
itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy also among us.
How is this done?
God's name is hallowed when
his Word is taught in its truth and purity and we, as God's children, lead holy
lives in harmony with it. Grant this to us, dear Father in heaven! But whoever
teaches and lives in ways other than what God's Word teaches dishonors the name
of God among us. Prevent us from doing this, heavenly Father! (from The
Small Catechism, by Martin Luther, © Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing,
2011)
Benediction: The peace of God which surpasses all understanding
keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. Phil 4.7
*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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