Verse for the week: “Blessed is he whose help is
the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.” Psalm
146.5
Prayer for the week: “Almighty, everlasting God, you
have promised us a new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness
dwells. Direct us by your Spirit, that
we may wait watchfully for the coming of your Son, and with holy lives go forth
to meet him, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen” (K.B.
Ritter, Gebete für das jahr der Kirche, 2nd ed. Kassel: Barenreiter
Verlag, 1948, p.235).
Bible reading for the day: Luke 23.27-43
And there followed him a
great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting
for him. 28 But turning to them Jesus
said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves
and for your children. 29 For behold, the days
are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that
never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then
they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover
us.’ 31 For if they do these things
when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two others, who were
criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And
when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him,
and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they
do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the
people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him,
saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he
is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The
soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and
saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There
was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals who
were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save
yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him,
saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of
condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are
receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing
wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember
me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he
said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me
in paradise.”
Prayer (based on
T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for
sending us such a strange king in Jesus: a king whose throne is a cross and who
intercedes for and forgives his scoffers… sinners like us. Thank you. Kill off
the old sinner in me that would dispute your sovereignty and trust my own words
more than yours. By your Holy Spirit grant me the humble fear, love and trust
that confesses my guilt and clings to your righteousness rather than my own. In
Jesus’ name I ask this, amen.
Hymn: follow this
link to a beloved classic that gives further voice to today’s conversation with
the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YJnVN6wdvI
“Thy kingdom come…”
What does this
mean?
The kingdom of God comes indeed by itself, without our
prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may also come to us.
How is this done?
God's kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us his
Holy Spirit, so that by his grace we believe his holy Word and live a godly
life now and in eternity.
(from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther ©Reclaim
Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)
Benediction: Now
may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through
grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen
them in every good work and word. Amen. II
Thess 2.16-17
*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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