When suffering is a gracious thing

Verse for the week:  ¹¹“I am the good shepherd… ²⁷My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10.11, 27-28

Prayer for the week:  O Christ our Good Shepherd, you lead to immortal joy those who trust in you. Grant that we, being weak and prone to wander, presume not to trust in ourselves, but may always have your voice in our ears; that you, who alone know the way, may lead us to our heavenly fold. To you with the Father and the Holy Spirit be glory forever. Amen. (Primer, 1545, adapted)

Bible reading for the day:  I Peter 2.19-25 (The first century congregations receiving this letter know firsthand the experience of suffering for their faith and being under constant attack from the devil, the world, and their own sinful selves. Peter writes to encourage the church for life under the sign of the cross.)

For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. ²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. ²¹ For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. ²² He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. ²³ When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴ He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵ For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Prayer (based on the TRIP* method):  Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for calling me and conforming me not to my own image but to Christ’s. When reviled, when threatened, my pride would justify itself rather than trust in you, the only one who judges justly. So, each day, every hour, teach me what a gracious thing it is to endure suffering and live by your righteousness rather than my own… to return to the true Shepherd and Overseer of my soul. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a beloved classic which gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF2M8nvKK9k

“What does baptism mean for daily living?”

It means that my sinful self, with all its evil deeds and desires, should be drown by daily repentance and each day a new self should arise to live with God in righteousness and purity forever.

Where is this written?

Saint Paul says in Romans, “We were buried therefore with him by Baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4 ESV).

Benediction:  The God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing, that we may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  (Romans 15.13)

*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.