Moth-eaten rags

Verse for the week: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Mark 13.31

Prayer for the week:  O Lord, teach us how to pray. Steady our lives 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: Isaiah 50.4-9 (note: The Lord God has brought his people back from the Exile to Babylon (587-539BC). His beloved children of Israel sinned and rebelled, but he is at work to open their ears and send them a preacher to sustain them with his Word.)

⁴ The Lord God has given me
    the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
    him who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens;
    he awakens my ear
    to hear as those who are taught.
⁵ The Lord God has opened my ear,
    and I was not rebellious;
    I turned not backward.
⁶ I gave my back to those who strike,
    and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;
I hid not my face
    from disgrace and spitting.

⁷ But the Lord God helps me;
    therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like a flint,
    and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
⁸     He who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
    Let us stand up together.
Who is my adversary?
    Let him come near to me.
⁹ Behold, the Lord God helps me;
    who will declare me guilty?
Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment;
    the moth will eat them up.

Prayer (based on TRIP** method):  Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for Christ Jesus – your living Word – who gave all for me… and thank you for all the faith-filled tongues, all the preachers you have sent to sustain me with him, your living Word. My ears can be so pre-occupied and dull. Each day waken them that I may be taught by you… for then those old adversaries – the devil, the world, and my sinful self – are reduced to nothing but moth-eaten rags. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a beloved hymn that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waWQUOgwNGs

“Lead us not into temptation…”

What does this mean?  

God indeed tempts no one to sin, but we pray in this petition that our heavenly Father would guard and protect us from this, that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or lead us into false belief, despair, and other great and shameful sins, but pray that when we are tempted in these ways, we may finally prevail and gain the victory. (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)

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: 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.