Verse for the week: “God chose what is foolish in
the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the
strong.” I Corinthians 1.27
Prayer for the week: “Almighty and merciful God, for
your mercy’s sake, keep far from us all that opposes you, that, unhindered in
body and soul, we may serve you with hearts set free; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen” (K.B. Ritter, Gebete fur das jahr der Kirche, 2nd ed. Kassel: Barenreiter Verlag, 1948, p.216).
Bible reading for the day: Hebrews 4.1-13 (note: This
letter was written around 95 AD, when Christians were experiencing persecution
for their faith and had little hope that the crisis would become anything but
worse.)
Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still
stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach
it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but
the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united
by faith with those who listened. 3 For we who have
believed enter that rest, as he has said,
“As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest,’”
although his works were finished from the foundation of
the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the
seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his
works.” 5 And again in this passage he said,
“They shall not enter my rest.”
6 Since therefore it
remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good
news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again
he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in
the words already quoted,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”
8 For if Joshua had given
them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 So
then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for
whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did
from his.
11 Let us therefore strive
to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of
disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living
and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the
division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning
the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no
creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the
eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Prayer (based on T.R.I.P. method*): Gracious
and almighty Father, thank you for the promised rest that is ours in Christ. While
we toil in this transitory life, guard me and your whole church from the pride
of self that fills our ears with our own voice, hardens our hearts, and leads
us to disobey you. Keep wielding the scalpel of your word on us that we may be preserved
from disobedience and finally enter our promised rest; through Jesus Christ,
your Son, our Lord. 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=hbg5SjT0fTs
The First Commandment, with a Promise:
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the
land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus
20.1-3
What does this mean?
We are to fear, love, and trust God above anything else. (from
The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther)
Benediction: The Lord will keep you from all evil; he
will keep your life.
The
Lord will keep your going out and your coming in
From
this time on and forevermore. Ps
121.7-8
*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). 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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