Verse for the week: “For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of
darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of
the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (II Corinthians 4.6)
Prayer for this week: “Christ our God, you were transfigured on the
mountain and manifested your glory to your disciples… and your Father called
them and us to listen to you. Shed your everlasting light upon our darkness,
that we may behold your glory and enter into your sufferings, and proclaim you
to the world, for you give light in the darkness and are yourself the light,
now and forever. Amen.” (adapted from Eastern Orthodox, in Fredercik B.
Macnutt, The Prayer Manual, London:
Mowbray, 1951, pp.121-22)
Bible reading for the day: Deuteronomy 34.1-12
Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to
Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And
the Lord showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, 2 all
Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far
as the western sea, 3 the Negeb, and the
Plain, that is, the Valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, as far
as Zoar. 4 And the Lord said to
him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to
Jacob, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’ I have let you see it with your
eyes, but you shall not go over there.” 5 So
Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab,
according to the word of the Lord, 6 and he
buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no
one knows the place of his burial to this day. 7 Moses
was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor
unabated. 8 And the people of Israel wept for
Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning
for Moses were ended.
9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom,
for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed
him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses. 10 And
there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom
the Lord knew face to face, 11 none like
him for all the signs and the wonders that the Lord sent him to
do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his
land,12 and for all the mighty power and all the great
deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
prayer(based on
the TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty
Father thank you for your law and its servant Moses: he was great, but
according to your own word even all Moses’ vigor cannot get us to the promise.
Thank you best for sending Jesus to do for us what the law cannot: bring us
into the promise of forgiveness, life, and salvation… no matter where we live. Moses
is dead and buried who knows where. Christ is alive and on the loose; keep
sending him to us on the lips of your preachers. I ask this through the same,
Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Hymn: follow
this link to a classic hymn that gives further voice to today’s conversation
with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRQoeitN5nA
“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: And after you have suffered for a little while,
the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will
himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you this day. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.
(1 Pet 5:10)
*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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