kneeling fisherman

kneeling fisherman

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Carnivores and vegans...

Verse for the week: He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick.  Matthew 12.20

Prayer for the week: “Lord God, heavenly Father, you desire not the death of sinners, but rather that we should turn from sin and live. Mercifully turn away the punishment of our iniquities and, that we may be edified, grant us your Spirit and your power; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (K.B. Ritter, Gebete fur das jahr der Kirche, 2nd ed. Kassel: Barenreiter Verlag, 1948, p. 197). 

Bible reading for the day:  Romans 14.1-12 (Forthrightly, Paul addresses the reality that some are weak in faith and some are strong… and each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.)

1As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
    and every tongue shall confess to God.”

12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Prayer (based on the TRIP* method): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for choosing me to be among the elect who belong to you in Christ. In light of the day when I will give account of myself to you, overrule now all my petty judgments and scorekeeping. Subject all things – my eating and observing, what I am free for and bound to – subject me to Christ… that I and my brothers and sisters may live under our rightful Master in true freedom and encouragement for one another. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Hymn: follow this link to hymn that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.google.com/search?q=forgive+our+sins+as+we+forgive&rlz=1C1GCEU_enUS909US909&oq=Forgiv&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j0i131i433i512j69i57j0i131i433i512l2j69i61l3.5936j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:19127e28,vid:HixCQUirJxg,st:0  

“Hallowed be thy name…”

What does this mean?

God's name is indeed holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy also among us.

How is this done?

God's name is hallowed when his Word is taught in its truth and purity and we, as God's children live in harmony with it. Grant this to us, dear Father in heaven! But whoever teaches and lives in ways other than what God's Word teaches dishonors the name of God among us. Prevent us from doing this, heavenly Father!  (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)

Benediction: And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you this day.  To him be the power forever and ever.  Amen.    (1 Pet 5:10) 


*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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