VERSE: “Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’” (Luke 13:35)
Meditate on and learn by heart the hymn marked with an asterisk (*).
615: When in the Hour of Deepest Need
708*: Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart
572: In the Shattered Bliss of Eden
616: Baptismal Waters Cover Me
647: Lord Jesus Christ, the Church’s Head
This psalm is the prayer of one who has a heavy heart at the end of a difficult day. Yet when the wicked seem to prosper and deliverance seems far away, even then we need not despair. The joys of this earth are as nothing compared to the blessings God will give those who trust in him—especially peace—and he promises to respond to our prayers for help. The LORD is truly the answer to our every problem. We can trust him!
Jeremiah proclaimed the message God had given him to proclaim, a message of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in judgment on the people and their leaders. Their response was that Jeremiah deserved to die. How dare he prophesy against the LORD’s house and his city? Again and again God’s people repeated this pattern, pseudo-piously rejecting his Word of warning and judgment. Is it a pattern that continues? How is our listening?
Paul is desperately concerned for those who live as enemies of Christ, who delight in the joys of the world. As children of God our home is in heaven, and so long as we remain on earth we are resident aliens. We need to be careful about getting too comfortable. The temptation to become naturalized citizens of the earth is eternally dangerous. Consider what a foolish choice that would be, a moment of pleasure in exchange for eternal sorrow.
Jesus’ response to Herod’s evil intentions is rather amazing. He knows his fate, more the rule than the exception for prophets of the LORD. But oh, what amazing compassion he shows! Even though God’s people consistently rebuffed and rejected him—even killing his emissaries—God never quit! Then he sent his Son. How unbelievably gracious! As the poet wrote: “Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all!” (LSB 426.4)
| Monday | Genesis 6:1-7:5 | Mark 3:1-19 |
| Tuesday | Genesis 7:11-8:12 | Mark 3:20-35 |
| Wednesday | Genesis 8:13-9:17 | Mark 4:1-20 |
| Thursday | Genesis 11:27-12:20 | Mark 4:21-41 |
| Friday | Genesis 13:1-18 | Mark 5:1-20 |
| Saturday | Genesis 15:1-21 | Mark 5:21-43 |
| Sunday | Genesis 16:1-9, 15-17:22 | Mark 6:1-13 |
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
THE SECOND ARTICLE:
What does this mean? I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.
THE COLLECT FOR NEXT SUNDAY [Second Sunday in Lent] “O God, You see that of ourselves we have no strength. By Your mighty power defend us from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.” AMEN!
