Verse for the week: “This is my comfort in my trouble, that your
promise gives me life.” Psalm 119.50
Prayer for this week: “O God, you have called and gathered a people from
the ends of the earth to serve you. Grant the increase of your government among
us and give us your Holy Spirit, that your name may be glorified to all who sit
in darkness and the shadow of death; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (K.B.
Ritter, Gebete für das jahr der Kirche, 2nd
ed. Kassel: Barenreiter Verlag, 1948,
p.87 )
Bible for the day: Luke 5.1-11
1On
one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God,
he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and
he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and
were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of
the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land.
And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And
when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep
and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon
answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word
I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done
this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were
breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the
other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats,
so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter
saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I
am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were
with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and
so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And
Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching
men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to
land, they left everything and followed him.
Prayer (based on TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty Lord, thank you for getting
into the boat with sinners like me... and thank you for not leaving me there,
fearful and sinking. Now and every hour fish me out of my pride, out of my own
sin and doubt... and give me my old, familiar but ever new vocation as a fisher
of men… a witness to you... so that more sinners may find themselves in right
your hands. In Jesus' I pray, amen.
Hymn: follow
this link to a beloved classic that gives further voice to today’s conversation
with the Lord: https://vimeo.com/46203440
What does baptism mean for daily living?
It means that our sinful
self, with all its evil deeds and desires, should be drowned through daily
repentance; and that day after day a new self should arise to live with God in
righteousness and purity forever.
St. Paul writes in Romans 6:
“We were buried therefore
with him by Baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by
the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
(from The Small Catechism, by Martin
Luther)
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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