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Weekly Devotional

February 8, 2010

God’s Peace be with you all.

Luke 23:33-46  ³³ When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.  ³⁴ Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."  And they cast lots to divide his clothing.  ³⁵ And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!"  ³⁶ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine,  ³⁷ and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"  ³⁸ There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."  ³⁹ One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!"  ⁴⁰ But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?  ⁴¹ And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong."  ⁴² Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."  ⁴³ He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."  ⁴⁴ It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,  ⁴⁵ while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.  ⁴⁶ Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Having said this, he breathed his last.

            Yesterday I mentioned that during our mid-week Lenten services we will begin to use our new hymnals.  Not only will we start to become familiar with the songs, but we will also use a part of the books that is not included in our current hymnals.  That part is the Small Catechism that Martin Luther wrote.  Not only will we learn a little bit about it (I will be focusing on a different part of the catechism each week during my sermon), but we will learn and study some of Luther’s prayers as well.  One of those prayers that we will use each week is Luther’s evening prayer.  Below you can read this prayer, and begin to digest it.

“Evening Prayer.

In the evening, when you go to bed, you shall bless yourself with the holy cross and say:

In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Then, kneeling or standing, repeat the Creed and the Lord's Prayer. If you choose, you may, in addition, say this little prayer:

I thank Thee, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, that Thou hast graciously kept me this day, and I pray Thee to forgive me all my sins, where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Thy hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Thy holy angel be with me, that the Wicked Foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Then go to sleep promptly and cheerfully.”

I hope all of you can join us for our mid-week services as we dive into this prayer and into the different parts of Luther’s Small Catechism.  As confirmed adults in the congregation, it is always worthwhile to reeducate ourselves in respect to the things we believe and the things that build up our faith.

In our prayers this week: Wendi, Ann, Kim, Robert, Lisa, Catherine

God’s Peace,

Pastor Judson