Verse for the week: I am the living one; I died, and behold I am alive for
evermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Revelation 1.18
Prayer for the Week: “Almighty God, by the death of your Son you have destroyed sin and
death, and by his resurrection you have restored innocence and everlasting
life, in order that, delivered from the power of the devil, we may live in your
kingdom. Grant that we may believe this
with our whole heart, and, steadfast in this faith, may praise and thank you
evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.” (Martin Luther, Klugsches Gesangbuch, 1553; text in
Allgemeines Evangelisches Gebetbuch, 1955, p.430)
Bible reading for the day: Revelation 1.4-8 (note: An apostle named John was exiled to
the Greek island of Patmos because he confessed Christ as Lord in the late
first century. Christians in Asia Minor
were persecuted under the government of Caesar Domitian. The Revelation to John
gives them courage for today and hope for tomorrow.)
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from him who is
and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are
before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the
faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings
on earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from
our sins by his blood 6 and made us a
kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion
forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming
with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him,
and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who
was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
prayer(based on
the TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty
Father, yours is a love like no other: you actually free us from our sins with
your own Son’s blood and give us direct access to yourself in prayer. Thank
you! Repent me and my congregation of wanting our own kingdoms, of returning to
an old hierarchical, religious, score-keeping system and abdicating our
responsibility as your priests. While we wait for Jesus’ return, bring it Lord…
bring your kingdom to us… and use me and my brothers & sisters as your
mouthpieces to speak the truth in love. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.
Hymn: follow
this link to a beloved, classic hymn that gives further voice to today’s
conversation with the Lord: https://vimeo.com/46203440
What is the Office of the Keys?
It is the unique authority
which Christ has given to his church on earth to forgive the sins of penitent
sinners, and to retain the sins of the impenitent so long as they do not
repent.
As Christ himself declares:
“If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven
them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld” (John 20:23 ESV).
“Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall
be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18 ESV). (from The Small Catechism, by Martin
Luther, © Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)
*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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