Verse for the week: Our Savior Christ Jesus…abolished death and brought
life and immortality to light. II Timothy 1.10
Prayer for the week: “Almighty and everlasting God, comfort of the sad and strength to
those who suffer: Let the prayers of your children who are in any trouble rise
to you. To everyone in distress grant
mercy, grant relief, grant refreshment; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Those in Affliction,
LBW # 223, Minister’s Ed., p.114;
Gelasian Sacramentary in Frederick B. Macnutt, The Prayer Manual, p.221).
Bible reading for the day: Mark 9.30-37
30They went on from there and passed through Galilee.
And he did not want anyone to know, 31 for he was teaching his
disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the
hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days
he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand the saying, and were
afraid to ask him.
33 And
they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were
you discussing on the way?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the way
they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 35 And
he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be
first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 36 And he took a
child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to
them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
prayer(based on
the TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty
Father, thank you, it’s not fair, but you did it anyway: you sent your Son to
be killed and raised for the forgiveness of betrayers like us. Thank you. Deliver
me and your whole church from being afraid of this truth… and from the petty
arguments we would use to avoid it. Sit us down and put our pride right where
it belongs: in last place… make us servants rather than competitors…for the
sake of the one who gave all and served your will for us, Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
“I believe in Jesus Christ, his only
son, our Lord…”
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
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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