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

I John 5:6-13

⁶This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. ⁷For there are three that testify: ⁸the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. ⁹If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. ¹⁰Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. ¹¹And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹²Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

¹³I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

Prayer of the Day**

Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for giving your full testimony in the flesh in Jesus and for giving me ears to hear it. Repent me and your whole church of making a liar out of you by not believing you. Each day, through your word, baptism, and your Supper, work in us faith in Jesus alone… ’cause then we have true life now & forever…and THAT is something to tell about. Guide then our testimony, Lord; I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hymn for today

For a classic hymn that connects with today’s message, follow this link:
http://nethymnal.org/htm/o/f/o/ofor1000.htm.

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 Sixth Petition

And lead us not into temptation.

What does this mean?

God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.

(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:

“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. ” Amen. —Psalm 121:7-8

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