Verse for the week: “The creation waits with eager longing for the
revealing of the children of God.” Romans 8.19
Prayer for this week: “O God, our heavenly Father, since we cannot stand
before you with our own works, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts that we
may be comforted by your mercy and by your help overcome all that torments us
because of our sins; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (K.B. Ritter, Gebete für das jahr der Kirche, 2nd
ed. Kassel: Barenreiter Verlag, 1948,
p.94 )
Bible reading for the day: Matthew 5.21-37
“You have heard that it was said to those of
old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to
judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone
who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever
insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You
fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So
if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your
brother has something against you, 24 leave your
gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and
then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms
quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your
accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put
in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will
never get out until you have paid the last penny.
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not
commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you
that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already
committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If
your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is
better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown
into hell. 30 And if your right
hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better
that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife,
let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But
I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of
sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a
divorced woman commits adultery.
33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those
of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord
what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do
not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of
God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool,
or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And
do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or
black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or
‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
Prayer (based on TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for sending
the only one who gets us out of our bondage to ourselves and into new life in
your hands: Jesus Christ. Thank you!
Repent me and my congregation of all our attempts to talk over Jesus to
justify ourselves. Speak now and free us
to be honest about our guilt under the law, honest about our sin… that we may
cling to the only one who accomplishes the whole law and makes wrong sinners
like us right before you: Jesus
Christ our Lord. 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=ZyavAoOlsIo
“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: The God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in
believing, that we may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Romans 15.13)
*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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