Verse for the week:
Behold, the kingdom
of God
Prayer for the week: “Lord, you have promised to
grant what we pray in the name of your Son.
Teach us to pray aright and to laud and praise you with all your saints
in the fullness of life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (K.B.
Ritter, Gebete fur das jahr der Kirched, 2nd
ed. Kassel: Barenreiter Verlag, 1948, p.
152).
Bible reading for the day: Ephesians 3.14-21
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the
Father, 15 from whom every family[1] in
heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according
to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with
power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted
and grounded in love, 18 may have strength
to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length
and height and depth, 19 and to know the love
of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with
all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is
able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to
the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in
the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.
Amen.
Prayer (based on
T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for
naming my family yours. Repent me and every father and mother of rooting our
families anywhere other than in Christ. Work your power in my household and
congregation, that in your church we may know the breadth and length and height
and depth of Christ’s love… and may help more families know the same; through
Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Hymn: follow this
link to a beloved classic which gives further voice to today’s conversation
with the Lord; sing along: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MimsQtU-ccQ
The Fourth Commandment
Honor your father
and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God
is giving you.
What does this
mean?
We should fear and
love God so that we do not show contempt for our parents and others in
authority, nor provoke them to anger, but respect, obey, serve, love, and honor
them.
“Our Father, who art in heaven…”
What does this mean?
God encourages us to believe that he is truly our Father,
and that we are truly his children, so we may boldly and confidently pray to
him, just as beloved children speak to their dear father.
(from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther ©Reclaim
Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)
[1]
Or fatherhood; the Greek word patria is closely
related to the word for Father (patera)in verse 14
*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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