Verse for the week:
God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.
Acts 2.36
Prayer for the week: “Almighty, everlasting God, you
have given us the promise of your divine life.
Bestow upon us your Holy Spirit, that, quickened by your word, we may
lay hold on eternal life by strong faith in your Son, and in him be saved;
through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen. (K.B.
Ritter, Gebete fur das Jahr der Kirche, 2nd ed. (Kassel:
Johannes Stauda-Verllag, 1948), p.170)
Bible reading for the day: Luke 8.26-39
Then they sailed to the country of the
Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 When
Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had
demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a
house but among the tombs. 28 When he saw
Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud
voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?
I beg you, do not torment me.” 29 For he had
commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had
seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he
would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) 30 Jesus
then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for
many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged him
not to command them to depart into the abyss. 32 Now
a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to
let them enter these. So he gave them permission. 33 Then
the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down
the steep bank into the lake and drowned.
34 When the herdsmen saw
what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then
people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the
man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of
Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 36 And
those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been
healed. 37 Then all the people of the surrounding
country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were
seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. 38 The
man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus
sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your home,
and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away,
proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
Prayer (based on
T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Father, demons
recognize Christ often before we do… and He knows exactly what to do with them.
Thank you for your authority afoot in Christ. Repent me and my congregation of
fearing Jesus rather than trusting him. Again today, have your say over me and
instead of letting me get comfortable in the Physician’s office… send me back
to my neighbors to declare all that you have done for me. In Jesus’ name I ask
this, amen.
Hymn: follow this link to a beloved classic which
gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3n8GAYg3Tg
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: 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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