Verse for the week:

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession of faith.
Hebrews 4:14

Prayer for the Week:

“Eternal God, you commit to us the swift and solemn trust of life; since we know not what the day may bring forth, but only that the hour for serving you is always present, may we wake to the instant claims of your holy will, not waiting for tomorrow, but yielding today. Consecrate with your presence the way our feet may go and the humblest work will shine, and the roughest place be made plain. Lift us above unrighteous anger and mistrust, into faith, and hope, and charity, by a simple and steadfast reliance on your sure will. In all things draw us to the mind of Christ, that your lost image may be traced again, and you may own us as at one with him and you, to the glory of your great name. Amen” (James Martineau, Home Prayers, London: Longmans, Green, 1891)

Bible Reading for the Day

Psalm 1

¹Happy are those
who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread,
or sit in the seat of scoffers;

²but their delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law they meditate day and night.

³They are like trees
planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.

⁴The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

⁵Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

⁶for the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

Prayer of the Day**

Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for taking a sinner like me and planting me right near the life-giving stream who is Christ… ah, the sweet, hearty nourishment he is for a tree like me. Repent me of betraying these roots and following the path of this world and its scoffers. Delight me in leading my family in the daily use of your Word and keep your way in the forefront of our thoughts and actions… and, boy oh boy, the fruit will come right on time. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Catechism Lesson:

The Lord's Prayer

(As the head of the family should teach them in a simple way to his household.)

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Seventh Petition

But deliver us from evil.

What does this mean?

We pray in this petition, in summary, that our Father in heaven would rescue us from every evil of body and soul, possessions and reputation, and finally, when our last hour comes, give us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven.

(Excerpted with permission from The Small Catechism as published by Concordia Publishing House and with our sincere gratitude to them for their permission.

Pastor Paul has written a helpful guide on learning the Small Catechism. Read it here!

Benediction:

“May the God of peace himself grow you in his will entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.” Amen. —I Thessalonians 5:23

Explanations & Clarifications

* There are many patterns for devotions. This pattern has been followed by God’s people for centuries.

**The TRIP 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 www.dailytext.com). The method is founded on scripture and easy to remember:

Yes, there are fish in Texas!

• 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.

*** "Regret" is actually a very solid word, means deep sorrow, sorrow that makes one weep (the root word is “to weep”). Regrettably, I believe that Americans today have lost this sense of the word and for the most part – though not always – they use the word casually. To "repent" is to be turned around by God. "Repent" means "to have your mind and heart changed, to be converted". Luther recognized that scripture speaks of repentance both as the specific acts we change, and the deeper way God changes or "repents" us. Though our acts/works of repentance are certainly important, he still called them "little stuff, kinder (as in kindergarten) repentance". The big BIG work, the work that Christ brings about on and in us, is more lasting and goes deep, all the way to the heart, mind, and purse; he called this "anfechtung" the suffering & death of our will...so that Christ can raise us anew in HIS will. Lost sheep aren't very good at getting themselves found again...it takes the Shepherd to go after 'em and turn 'em around. So when it comes to repentance, our work might be good, but the work of the Master Carpenter Jesus is the BEST and most lasting...that's why I pray "repent me." This is also why we confess "I cannot, by my own understanding or effort believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him; but the Holy Spirit calls me and does the work" (For you students of language and grammar: "repent" can ultimately not be a reflexive verb. God alone is the author of our repentance).

Scripture quotations are from NIV ©1978