The best thing to pray for...

Verse for the week:
“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
    whose sin is covered.” Psalm 32.1

Prayer for the week: Almighty God, Christ Jesus is the one who was, who is, and who is to come. In him your reign has broken in for us in our iniquity and for this troubled world. While we yet wait for the fulfillment of your kingdom, rescue our bones from our own bondage and hide us in Christ; through the same Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Bible reading for the day:  John 12.44-50 (the setting is the week leading up to Jesus’ passion. He has just entered Jerusalem, the city of peace, where he will be flogged and crucified.)

⁴⁴ And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. ⁴⁵ And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. ⁴⁶ I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. ⁴⁷ If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. ⁴⁸ The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. ⁴⁹ For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. ⁵⁰ And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

Prayer of the Day: Gracious and almighty Father, in Christ you rescue us from our own deafness and darkness and reunite us with yourself. Thank you! Your word judges my sin and speaks forgiveness, life, and salvation for me. Please Father, daily give me and your whole church ears to hear. In Jesus’ name I pray, 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=2pQuShbAGyk

“I believe in Jesus Christ…”

What does this mean? I believe that Jesus Christ – true God, Son of the Father from eternity, and true man, born of the virgin Mary – is my Lord.

At great cost he has saved and redeemed me, a lost and condemned person.

He has freed me from sin, death, and the power of the devil –

Not with silver or gold, but with his holy and precious blood

And his innocent suffering and death.

 All this he has done that I might be his own, live under him in his kingdom,

And serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness,

Just as his is risen from the dead and lives and rules eternally. This is most certainly true.  (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther)

Benediction: For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;

    he adorns the humble with salvation.   Psalm 149.4

 

*This is now our congregation’s 99^th year in the Word. In 2025, we are reading from Genesis to Revelation, with a few interludes along the way.