Deliverance from our own words

Verse for the week:  “…the King of kings and Lord of lords. ¹⁶It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.  I Timothy 6.15-16

Prayer for the week: “O Lord, our most gracious Redeemer and King, dwell and reign within us, take possession of us by your Spirit, and reign where you have a right to reign, and spread your kingdom throughout the world, now and forever. Amen” (Father John of the Russian Church, nineteenth century, in Fox, A Chain of Prayer, p.104). 

Bible reading for the day:  Malachi 3.13-18 (Malachi preached during the reign of Xerxes I (486-465 BC), after the restoration of the temple and just prior to the governorship of Nehemiah. The Lord has brought his people back home from the Exile. The Temple and the walls of Jerusalem have been rebuilt. However, many of the priests were false preachers who failed to rebuke the people for their sin. The people’s unfaithfulness to the Lord led to unfaithfulness in their marriages, their offering, and their words. There was a minority, a remnant, who feared the Lord and he called them his “treasured possession.”)

¹³“Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ ¹⁴ You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts? ¹⁵ And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.’”
 
¹⁶ Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. ¹⁷ “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. ¹⁸ Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

Prayer (based on T.R.I.P. method*): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for speaking your Word in the flesh in Jesus to rescue us from our own hard hearts and words. In him we are your treasured possession… so teach me and my congregation to fear, love and trust you above ourselves and all else, for then we do indeed serve you. In Jesus’ 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=39ZfrO0UW_s

“Our Father who art in heaven...”

What does this mean?  Here God encourages us to believe that Father and we are his beloved children. We therefore can pray to him with complete confidence, just as children speak to their dear loving father.

 “Thy kingdom come...”

What does this mean?  God’s kingdom comes indeed without our prayer, but we ask in this petition that it may come also to us.

When does this happen?  God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly father gives us his Holy Spirit, so that by his grace, we believe his holy word and live a godly life on earth now and in heaven forever. (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)

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...not to mention that it helps one learn how to faithfully reflect on God’s Word and talk to God.