Verse for the week: God has made him both Lord and
Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. Acts 2.36
Prayer for the week:
Almighty, everlasting God, you have given us the promise of true life. Bestow upon us your Holy Spirit, that,
quickened by your word, we may lay hold on eternal life by strong faith in your
Son, and in him be saved; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen. (K.B.
Ritter, Gebete fur das Jahr der Kirche, 2nd ed. (Kassel:
Johannes Stauda-Verllag, 1948), p.170)
Bible reading for the day: Matthew 10.24-39
24“A disciple is not above his teacher,
nor a servant above his master. 25 It is
enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his
master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much
more will they malign those of his household.
26 “So have no fear of
them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that
will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark,
say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the
housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill
the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both
soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold
for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your
Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are
all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are
of more value than many sparrows. 32 So everyone
who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is
in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I
also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
34 “Do not think that I
have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but
a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man
against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law
against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person's
enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever
loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son
or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever
does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever
finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find
it.
Prayer (based on
T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for
putting Jesus above us, not the other way around. Repent me and my congregation
of fearing the cost of your name and of loving anyone more than we love
you. Free us to be great big losers:
beloved disciples who hourly lose our lives for your sake… and thereby find our
whole new life in you. In Jesus’ name I
ask this, amen.
Hymn: follow this
link to a beloved classic hymn that gives further voice to today’s conversation
with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCnQNwQG5GI
What does baptism mean for daily life?
It means that the old Adam in us, together with all sins and
evil desires, should be drowned by daily sorrow for sin and repentance and be
put to death, and that the new person should come forth every day and rise to
live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
Where is this written?
Saint Paul says in Romans, “We were buried therefore with
him by Baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the
dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans
6:4 ESV). (from The Small Catechism,
by Martin Luther)
Benediction: The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the
Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen. II
Cor 13.14
*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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