The Blessing of Fearing the Lord

Verse for the week: “The law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1.17

Prayer for the week: “Almighty God, loving Father, you govern all things in heaven and earth and make all things new through your almighty word.  Transform our sinful nature and all our doings by the power of your Holy Spirit, that we may please you and attain perfect joy, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. (Otto Schlisske, Christliche Unterweisung im Jahr der Kirche  Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1949, p.99 ) 

Bible reading for the day:  Psalm 128 (Deep in the Psalter, in book 5 there is a particular group of psalms – 120 to 134 – called “songs of ascent.” In Jerusalem, to attend service in God’s house, you go up, literally, uphill to the temple. These psalms are songs that God’s people sing when they are going to church, when they go to be served by Him in his house. Ascent refers to both the truth that the people are going up to God’s house and their prayers are going up to his ear.)

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
    who walks in his ways!
² You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
    you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

³ Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
    within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
    around your table.
⁴ Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
    who fears the Lord.

⁵ The Lord bless you from Zion!
    May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
    all the days of your life!
⁶ May you see your children's children!
    Peace be upon Israel!

Prayer (based on TRIP* method): Gracious and Almighty Father, unless you build our households we labor in vain and the whole neighborhood falls apart. So gather us to yourself, to the house where you speak to us, that we may learn to fear, love, and trust you above anything else.  Grant that each of our households may be built on the sure foundation who is Christ Jesus, crucified and raised for our forgiveness; in his name I pray. 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=CuYhHdmubBE

“I am the Lord your God.” Exodus 20.2

The First Commandment

“You shall have no other gods before me.” Ex 20.3

What does this mean?  We should fear, love, and trust God above anything else. (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther.)

Benediction: The God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing, that we may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  (Romans 15.13)

 

*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... it helps one learn how to faithfully reflect on God’s Word and talk to Him.