Verse for the week: “I will pour out on the house
of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for
mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall
mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as
one weeps over a firstborn.” Zechariah
12.10
Prayer for the week: God, our heavenly Father,
through your Son you have promised us the Holy Spirit. Send down upon us that Spirit, that he may
teach us to show forth your praise, not only here on earth in weakness, since
we know your power and glory only from afar, but also in power and glory on
that day when, united with the choir of angels, we shall see you face to face;
through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.
Amen. (K.B. Ritter, Gebete fur das jahr der Kirche,2nd ed. Kassel: Johannes
Stauda-Verlag, 1948, p.150)
Bible reading for the day: John 14.15-20 (note: Preaching
to his disciples on the very night he will be arrested by the religious
authorities and betrayed by all his disciples, Jesus promises to not forsake
them; promises that his Father will send the Holy Spirit even to Jesus’
betrayers.)
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And
I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be
with you forever,17 even the Spirit of
truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor
knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
18 “I will not leave you as
orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little
while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because
I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will
know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
Prayer (based on
T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for not
leaving us as orphans; thank you for sending us the best advocate of all: your
Holy Spirit. Repent me, my congregation, and our leaders of the worldly ways
that reject your commandments and refuse your Spirit. Keep your word and your
Holy Spirit coming for us… that because of Jesus we may live. In his 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=X2bhHosLHmI
“I believe in the Holy Spirit…”
What does this
mean for us?
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 ©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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