A better Word than your many transgressions

Verse for the week: “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” I Corinthians 1.27

Prayer for the week: “Almighty and merciful God, for your mercy’s sake, keep far from us all that opposes you, that, unhindered in body and soul, we may serve you with hearts set free; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen” (K.B. Ritter, Gebete fur das jahr der Kirched, 2nd  ed. Kassel: Barenreiter Verlag, 1948, p.216). 

Bible reading for the day:  Amos 5.4-7,10-15 (note: Amos was not a professional prophet, but a layperson – a herdsman and an arborist – whom God called to preach for a short time in the 8^th century BC.  Israel’s two prevailing sins at that time were: (1) worship of the pagan god Ba’al – altars to him were built at Bethel, Gilgal, and other high places - and (2) rote religion in which the Israelites did not live their faith out in daily life.)

⁴ For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel:

“Seek me and live;
⁵     but do not seek Bethel,
and do not enter into Gilgal
    or cross over to Beersheba;
for Gilgal shall surely go into exile,
    and Bethel shall come to nothing.”

⁶ Seek the Lord and live,
    lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph,
    and it devour, with none to quench it for Bethel,
⁷ O you who turn justice to wormwood
    and cast down righteousness to the earth!

¹⁰ They hate him who reproves in the gate,
    and they abhor him who speaks the truth.
¹¹ Therefore because you trample on the poor
    and you exact taxes of grain from him,
you have built houses of hewn stone,
    but you shall not dwell in them;
you have planted pleasant vineyards,
    but you shall not drink their wine.
¹² For I know how many are your transgressions
    and how great are your sins—
you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe,
    and turn aside the needy in the gate.
¹³ Therefore he who is prudent will keep silent in such a time,
    for it is an evil time.

¹⁴ Seek good, and not evil,
    that you may live;
and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you,
    as you have said.
¹⁵ Hate evil, and love good,
    and establish justice in the gate;
it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts,
    will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

Prayer (based on T.R.I.P. method*): Gracious and almighty Father, you know my many transgressions, all my self-seeking… and in Christ you have been gracious to me and swallowed this all. Thank you. Remember your election of Joseph and devour my lingering pride… that by your grace I may indeed seek good and hate evil; in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a beloved, classic hymn that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord, sing along and belt it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2bhHosLHmI

“Our Father, who art in heaven…”

What does this mean?

Here God encourages us to believe that he is truly our Father, and that we are truly his children, so we may boldly and confidently pray to him, just as beloved children speak to their dear father. (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)

Benediction:  The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.

                             The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in

                             From this time on and forevermore.  Ps 121.7-8  

 

*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.