Verse for the week:
“You are not your own; you were bought with a price.” I Cor
6.19-20
Prayer for the week:
O Lord, teach us how to pray. Direct the lives of your servants toward
the goal of everlasting salvation, that, surrounded by all the changes and
uncertainties of life, we may be defended by your gracious and ready help in
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (adapted from Lutheran
Book of Worship, Minister’s Desk edition, p.113.)
Bible reading for the day: I Kings 9.8-18 (note: fearful
and on the run, Elijah “quarantines” himself in a cave… and learns that there
is no hiding from God.)
8 And he arose and ate and drank,
and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights
to Horeb, the mount of God.
9 There he came to a cave
and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him,
and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He
said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For
the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars,
and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left,
and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11 And he
said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold,
the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the
mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but
the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake,
but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And
after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And
after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 13 And
when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and
stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him
and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He
said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For
the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars,
and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they
seek my life, to take it away.” 15 And
the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of
Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over
Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall
anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of
Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And
the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death,
and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to
death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in
Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has
not kissed him.”
Prayer (based on TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you:
your call, your speech – even when it is but a thin whisper – is life for me and
for your whole church. Thank you! Work out the salvation you have already given
me in Christ: keep calling me out of my self, my pity parties… that my knees
may bow to you alone and life be helpful to my neighbor. In Jesus’ name I pray,
amen.
Hymn: George Herbert’s poem “The Call” set to music
by Ralph Vaughn Williams gives further voice to today’s conversation with the
Lord. Here the text of the poem, followed by a recording of the hymn:
'The Call'
Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life;
Such a Way as gives us breath,
Such a Truth as ends all strife,
Such a Life as killeth death.
Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength;
Such a Light as shows a Feast,
Such a Feast as mends in length,
Such a Strength as makes his guest.
Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart;
Such a Joy as none can move,
Such a Love as none can part,
Such a Heart as joys in love.
Such a Way as gives us breath,
Such a Truth as ends all strife,
Such a Life as killeth death.
Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength;
Such a Light as shows a Feast,
Such a Feast as mends in length,
Such a Strength as makes his guest.
Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart;
Such a Joy as none can move,
Such a Love as none can part,
Such a Heart as joys in love.
“I believe in the Holy Spirit...”
What does this mean?
I believe that I
cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to
him; but the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with
his gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in the true faith. In the same way,
he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on
earth, and preserves it in unity with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In
this Christian church, he daily forgives abundantly all my sins and the sins of
all believers. At the last day, he will raise me and all the dead and will
grant everlasting life to me and to all who believe in Christ. This is most
certainly true! (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther)
Benediction: Now
to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far
more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in
Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph 3:20-21)
*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 www.dailytext.com). The method is founded on scripture and easy
to remember: 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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