Law and Gospel

 O watchmen, these both we need.

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

Prayer for the week: Father of mercies, by the death and resurrection of Jesus you have both bound our sin and forgiven it. Pour out your Holy Spirit and teach us to do likewise for each other; we ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Bible reading for the day: Ezekiel 33.7-11 (note: Ezekiel was the Lord’s priest and preacher to our forebears from 593-571 BC; just before and during their Exile to Babylon. He proclaims a warning and mercy from the Lord.)

⁷ “So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. ⁸ If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. ⁹ But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.

¹⁰ “And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, Thus have you said: ‘Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we rot away because of them. How then can we live?’ ¹¹ Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?

Prayer (based on T.R.I.P. method*): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for taking our transgressions and sin upon yourself in Jesus Christ… and for sending his preachers as our watchmen.  Such is the depth of your love that you have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; so see to it that your watchmen preach the law without diminishment and the gospel without limit… that we me be turned from the rot of evil and live.  I ask this in Jesus’ name, 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=qEmH9zGkmOI&ab_channel=MartijndeGroot

“I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord…

What does this mean? 

I believe that Jesus Christ — true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary — is my Lord. He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, and has freed me from sin, death, and the power of the devil, not with silver and gold, but with his holy and precious blood and his innocent suffering and death. He has done all this in order that I might be his own, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as he is risen from the dead and lives and reigns for all eternity. This is most certainly true!  (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)

Benediction: Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph 3:20-21) 

*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.