Not in a building made with hands...

...we are God's house of living stones.

Verse for the week: “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”  Luke 1.46-47

Prayer for the 3^rd week of Advent: “Almighty God, you once called John the Baptist to give witness to the coming of your Son and to prepare his way. Grant us the wisdom to see your purpose today and the openness to hear your will, that we too, may witness to Christ’s coming and so prepare his way for our neighbor; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Bible reading for the day: II Samuel 7.1-11, 16 (note: The books of First & Second Samuel cover the period from the end of the days of the judges to the first days of the monarchy, approximately 1100-1050BC. Second Samuel begins after the death of Saul and tells the story of David’s kingship. Key to understanding this passage is the play on the word house: in verses 1-2 it means “palace,” in verses 5,6,7, and 13 it means “temple,” in verses 11 and 16 it means “dynasty.”)

Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, ² the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” ³ And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”

⁴ But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, ⁵ “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? ⁶ I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. ⁷ In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ ⁸ Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. ⁹ And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. ¹⁰ And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, ¹¹ from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house… ¹⁶And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.”

Prayer (based on T.R.I.P. method*): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you: you are not a thing built by us, nor even a created being. You are the living God… the Word in the flesh… not contained by a building, nor even by a tomb. Alleluia! Repent me, my congregation, and your whole church of our plans and projects for you. Stay on the move, pursue us even… give us rest from our enemies – our sin, our death, and the Devil – and each day, day after day, keep making us into your household. I ask this in the name of Jesus, David’s descendent, your Son. Amen.

Hymn: from the fourth stanza of Nikolaus Herman’s hymn “Let All Together Praise our God”

He undertakes a great exchange,
Puts on a human frame,
And in return gives us His realm,
His glory, and His name,
His glory, and His name.

…and if you want to sing the hymn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLs6bSodaS4

“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)

Benediction: Blessing and honor and thanksgiving and praise, more than we can utter, more than we can conceive, be unto thee, O holy and glorious Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, by all angels, all people, all creatures, forever and ever. Amen. (Thomas Ken quoted in Frederick B. Macnutt, The Prayer Manual   London: Mowbray, 1951, p.39)

*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.