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: Galatians 1.1-10
Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but
through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and
all the brothers who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to
deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and
Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly
deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a
different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are
some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But
even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to
the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said
before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to
the one you received, let him be accursed.
10 For am I now seeking the approval of man,
or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man,
I would not be a servant of Christ.
Prayer (based on
T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for sending
Paul’s confession of Christ alone not
only to the churches of Galatia but to our ears and hearts as well. Repent me
and your whole church of the slippery, false preaching that pleases men by
adding our works to Jesus’ work; such preaching only distorts the gospel and
leaves us accursed. Each moment, sustain
us in the true freedom that is serving Christ, handing over him rather than
pleasing man. 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: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ew3yXqdMF1o
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
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the
Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen. II
Cor 13.14
*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
T:
thanksgiving
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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