Verse for the week: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Mark 13.31
Prayer for the week:
O Lord, teach us how to pray.
Direct the lives of you servants toward the goal of everlasting
salvation, that, surrounded by all the changes and uncertainties of life, we
may be defended by your gracious and ready help in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (adapted from Lutheran Book of Worship,
Minister’s Desk edition, p.113.)
Bible reading for the day: Mark 11.27-33 (note: picking up where
yesterday’s reading left off)
27 And they came again to
Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the
scribes and the elders came to him,28 and they said to
him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this
authority to do them?” 29 Jesus said to
them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what
authority I do these things. 30 Was the baptism of
John from heaven or from man? Answer me.” 31 And
they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will
say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’32 But
shall we say, ‘From man’?”—they were afraid of the people, for they all held
that John really was a prophet. 33 So they
answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I
tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Prayer (based on TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you
for authorizing your Son to bring your kingdom to us and us into your kingdom
through his cross and resurrection. Repent me and my congregation of the
arrogance by which we put ourselves above you and question your authority. Under
you is the only way to life Lord; so daily, hourly, have your say over me. In
Jesus’ name I ask this, amen.
Hymn: follow this
link to a hymn which gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yo_Qj9oV5E
“I believe in Jesus Christ...”
What does this mean?
I believe that Jesus Christ — true God, begotten of the
Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary — is my Lord.
He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, and has freed me from sin,
death, and the power of the devil, not with silver and gold, but with his holy
and precious blood and his innocent suffering and death. He has done all this
in order that I might be his own, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him
in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as he is risen
from the dead and lives and reigns for all eternity. This is most certainly
true! (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources,
Sola Publishing, 2011)
Benediction: Now
to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far
more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in
Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph 3:20-21)
*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:
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment