The Lord’s Prayer: The Meaning and Power

 

The Lord’s Prayer: The Meaning and Power

In Luke 11, one of Jesus’s disciples approaches and makes a simple request: “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John [the Baptist] taught his disciples” (v. 1). In response, Jesus teaches the disciples what has become known as the Our Father or the Lord’s Prayer. No other prayer is more important to Christians than this prayer. It is the Lord’s prayer—the prayer he taught us to pray. There are a host of other prayers we overhear Jesus praying in the Gospels, and I’ll mention them below. But only with this prayer does Jesus say, “Pray like this.”

Each word is saturated with meaning, a meaning that we often miss when we pray it by rote as we gather in our churches for worship. Each of its six petitions (five given by the Lord, one added by the early church) reflects the major themes from Jesus’s life and ministry. The prayer is meant by Jesus to shape our lives and, through us, to shape and change the world.

Multiple Versions of the Lord’s Prayer?

There are three versions of the Lord’s Prayer that came to us from the earliest period of Christianity. We are most familiar with Matthew’s account, found in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:9-13). The English version of that prayer was influenced by William Tyndale’s 1525 translation, which in turn shaped the form of the prayer as it appeared in the sixteenth-century Book of Common Prayer and finally the King James Version of 1611. Tyndale’s version was modified slightly into the version most English-speaking Protestants and Catholics pray today. Let’s look at the King James Version side by side with a modern translation of Matthew’s version of the Lord’s Prayer. Modern versions, in this case, the New International Version, are based upon more reliable Greek versions of Matthew’s Gospel than were available in 1611:

 

In addition to different versions of the Lord’s Prayer rendered by various English translations, we have a different version found in Luke’s account of the prayer. Here it is from the New International Version’s translation of Luke 11:2-4:

Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
  for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.

Notice that neither of these New Testament versions of the prayer, Matthew’s or Luke’s, includes the traditional closing doxology, “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.”

There is a third version of the Lord’s Prayer that comes to us from the early church, in a document called The Didache or The Lord’s Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Gentiles. This is a fascinating document describing the practices of the early church that some scholars believe was written in the first century, and others the second century, offering guidance in the Christian life. In chapter 8 of The Didache we find Matthew’s version of the prayer quoted.

Do not pray as the hypocrites, but as the Lord commanded in his Gospel, pray thus: “Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, as in Heaven so also upon earth; give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debt as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into trial, but deliver us from the Evil One, for thine is the power and the glory for ever.” Pray thus three times a day.

Note that this version included the doxology. Note, too, the closing words that are in bold, “Pray thus three times a day.” This is a remarkable testimony to the importance of the Lord’s Prayer for early Christians.

Over the years this prayer has come to mean a great deal to me. I pray it and meditate upon its words in my morning walks with my dogs. I pray it at every hospital and nursing home visit I make. I pray it with the dying, and with their friends and family at each funeral or memorial service.

I once visited a veteran in hospice care. Don (not his real name) hadn’t been responsive in hours. His eyes were closed, his breathing had become more labored, and the hospice nurse said that the end was imminent. He had not spoken since the previous day. I pulled up a chair to the bed, gently took his hand in mine, spoke to him, and also to his family sitting around the room. I reminded him of Christ’s love and his promises. I read Scripture to him. And I told him how grateful I was to have been his chaplain. I then took anointing oil and, with my thumb, made the sign of the cross upon his forehead, a reminder that he belonged to Christ. Finally, with each of his loved ones touching him, we prayed, giving thanks to God for Don’s life and entrusting him to God’s care. At the end of this prayer, I said words I had spoken many times before. “Now, let us join together in the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to pray saying,

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.

As we concluded, one of his children spoke up and said, “Did you all see that?” Another replied, “Yes, I was watching him. He moved his lips, speaking the Lord’s Prayer with us.” It was a holy and beautiful moment. These were the last words Don would attempt to speak before he passed a few minutes later. I’ve seen this happen again and again. Each time it happens, it reminds me of just how important this prayer is to so many. It is deeply embedded in the hearts and minds of most Christians.

Kyrie Eleison, Lord Have Mercy

 

Kyrie Eleison, Lord Have Mercy

“Kyrie eleison Christe elesion” — “Lord have mercy, Christ, have mercy” —we pray these words of petition for all creation, our world, ourselves, our community, the church worldwide, and for those who cannot or will not pray. Together we say, “So be it” (“Amen”), in agreement and thankful assurance that our help is in the name of the Lord whom this mercy comes.
 
It strikes me that the phrase from the Lord’s Prayer, “…and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us…” could just as easily have been written, “and have mercy on us as we have mercy on others.” Certainly, mercy was a major theme in Jesus’ teachings, as was the analogous theme of forgiveness.

Think of the people who approached Jesus with this simple prayer, “Kyrie eleison”, “Lord, have mercy”:

• The Canaanite woman whose daughter was tormented by a devil. She persisted in her plea for mercy until her daughter was healed.

• The man whose son was possessed by an evil spirit that threw him into the fire. He came to Jesus with the plea Kyrie eleison. The prayer was answered, and his son was healed.

• The two blind men sitting by the road outside Jericho who cried out to Jesus, Kyrie eleison. That cry was heard by Jesus who healed both of them.

• A final example. Jesus is left alone with the adulteress. Misery is left alone face to face with mercy. And she hears from the mouth of Jesus the words, “Neither do I condemn thee. Go and sin no more.” That is God’s mercy!
  

In all these instances Kyrie eleison was not a prayer that people recited unthinkingly and mechanically, but a cry of sincere faith that came from their hearts, a cry of desperate need and dependence on Jesus.

Matthew is a prime example. A tax collector and hated by the Jews, Jesus called Matthew to be one of his apostles. In the gospel of Matthew, the writer seems to understand this. His genealogy of Jesus includes four women (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba), each of whom was perhaps less than upstanding in at least one serious situation. In addition, Matthew includes the story of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18). It is as if Matthew is making the case that, along with these others, even he could be accepted by Jesus.

What about us? “Lord, have mercy on me as I have had mercy on others.” Jesus ends Matthew’s story of the unmerciful servant with these words, “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart” (Matthew 18:35). I know some families whose brothers will literally not speak to one another because of some problem they had decades ago.

There are countries that continue to hate their neighboring countries because of what they did years or even centuries ago. And there are politics that pit one faction against the other, even to the point of discussing civil war. I cannot but wonder where this key teaching of Jesus, “Lord, have mercy”, fits into our world and theology today.

Might we decide to use the theme of “Mercy!” as our phrase to meditate on in the coming year? The world certainly needs it. We are certainly damaged when we do not give it. How would Jesus want you to respond to the Matthews in your life today?

Blessings and peace,
Chaplain Kenny

LHM Devotion - August 10, 2018 - Return Policy

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Return Policy"

Aug. 10, 2018

For when Gentiles, who do not have the Law, by nature do what the Law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the Law. They show that the work of the Law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Jesus Christ.

~ Romans 2:14-16 (ESV)

Susan McNabb was having one of those days.

Amongst the things which had gone wrong for her was she forgot her wallet at the Walmart store in Clinton, Arkansas. When she remembered what she had done, she immediately returned to the spot where she thought the wallet ought to be.

Naturally, she feared the worst; the wallet had been stolen.

You can imagine her shock when she got to the Walmart and found her wallet exactly where she thought -- make that where she had hoped her wallet was going to be. McNabb did a quick inventory of the contents: driver's license, check; credit cards, check; $160 in cash, no check.

The wallet was there, but the cash was gone. Dutifully, and without much hope of recovering her currency, McNabb went down to the police station and reported the purloined cash. Amazingly, a few days later, the police called McNabb to let her know her money had been returned. Along with the money was a note which said, "To the lady that left her wallet at Walmart ... please forgive me as I always strive to have integrity, and that day I failed miserably."

As I thought about the crime, it occurred to me, all in all the thief had been a pretty good person. After all,

1. she hadn't taken the wallet and thrown it away in some dumpster. If she had, McNabb would have had to spend a long time trying to remember, and replace, all the things she had lost;

2. she hadn't taken anything other than some cash. If she had taken the credit cards, McNabb would have had to spend a fair amount of time calling in, reporting the cards as stolen, and replacing them;

3. she returned the money, all of it, with a note which showed she had a repentant heart.

To my way of thinking, and by my standards, this thief had been a pretty nice individual. Most certainly, she could have turned McNabb's life upside down: something she chose not to do.

After a bit, I started to wonder how God would look at the matter. I was pretty sure He wasn't going to award the conscience-bound thief a lot of points for not having stolen more than she did.

On the contrary, I think the Lord looked upon the thief as, well, as a thief: a thief and a sinner who needed the forgiveness which had been won by the Savior through His life, suffering, death, and resurrection. If she had that, the forgiveness she requested in her note of confession would be most real indeed.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, Your condemnation of sin is good and right, which is why I rejoice in the forgiveness of sin which has been won by Your Son, my Savior. In His shadow, may my life be spent glorifying You. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.

The above devotion was inspired by a number of sources, including one written by Ben Hooper for the UPI on July 27, 2018. Those who wish to reference that article may do so at the following link, which was fully functional at the time this devotion was written: https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2018/07/27/Thief-returns-cash-stolen-from-wallet-with-apology-note/3271532714250/

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Susan McNabb was having one of those days.

LHM Daily Devotion - May 6, 2017 "Truth or Not"

I wonder if you have heard the incredible story about the husband...

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

"Truth or Not"

May 6, 2017

John 8:44b - (The devil) was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

I wonder if you have heard the incredible story about the husband and wife who found they were unable to have children without assistance. Not wishing to give up on having children, they went to a fertility clinic, provided their necessary genetic material, and waited for the verdict.

The verdict was a shock. The couple was told they actually were fraternal twins.

This is the rest of their story: their biological parents died in an auto accident when they were young. The twins were split up and adopted into different families. Unfortunately, those adopting families were never told there was a twin somewhere out there. In ignorance the twins grew up, and attended college where they met, dated, and married.

How is that for a remarkable story?

Do you know what is really remarkable about the tale? Can you guess? No, you'll never manage it. The most remarkable part of that story is this: it is a story. Not a jot or tittle is true; the story is a hoax, made up by the Mississippi Herald.

It is a hoax that was accepted by all the news services, and all the newspapers, and all the radio and TV stations with all of their crackerjack news people, and all of their lawyers and personnel specifically dedicated to vetting the veracity of these strange stories, from beginning to end.

Now if you're wondering why I have spent so much time telling a tall tale, I can give you an answer: it was to show that Adam and Eve were not the only people put on earth to swallow a good lie -- hook, line and sinker.

And if there is one thing the devil, aka, the "father of lies" does well it is this: he makes his fibs seem like 24-carat-truth. .If you listen with a discerning ear, you will be able to pick up some of those lies that people find to be so very palatable:

• All religions are the same and they all lead to the same god.

• It doesn't matter what you believe as long as you are sincere.

• It doesn't make a difference if you go to church; the place is filled with hypocrites.

I could go on. I won't. Instead, I will point out that in contrast to the devil we have the Savior. In one of His "I am" passages in John, the Christ said, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6b).

Yes, Jesus is the one and only Truth who can grant us salvation.

This He does because from start to finish He was obedient to His Father's will and stayed faithful to the plan of salvation, which demanded He die so we might live. And because this is true, the Savior could assure us that "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32).

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, grant me a discerning mind and heart so I might distinguish between Your truth and Satan's lies. Keep me safe from the devil's deceptions and always safe in Your great grace. This I ask in the Name of Him who is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. Amen

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LHM Daily Devotion - May 5, 2017 "Surviving the Apocalypse"

Back when I was a young fella in grade school, the Russians managed to...

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

"Surviving the Apocalypse"

May 5, 2017

2 Peter 3:11b-13 - ... What sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Back when I was a young fella in grade school, the Russians managed to get the atomic bomb. If I remember correctly, that bit of information shook people up pretty good. Mr. and Mrs. John Doe wanted the government to tell them how to survive a nuclear explosion. Teachers wanted to know how they could protect their children.

After some thought, Washington told all the schools to train their students to "duck and cover." If a class saw a brilliant flash of light, we were supposed to duck and take cover under our desks. As far as the long term effects stemming from fallout, well, nobody knew what to do about that.

And what were adults supposed to do to survive the nuclear holocaust?

"Build a fallout shelter" was the best the government could suggest. Some folks took the suggestion and dug up their backyard or reinforced a section of their basements. Recently I was in one of those old shelters. It was unattractive. It was cold and it was damp.

Of course, that was then and this is now. Times have changed.

Oh, our worries about the nuclear apocalypse or Judgment Day or Too Late Day or World War Three are still the same. What is not the same are our fallout shelters. No longer are people willing to just survive; they want to survive in style. That's why the well-heeled buyer can purchase

• a home in Germany's Vivos Europa One. Cut out of solid rock, the facility has 34 private homes, ranging in size from 3,500 to 5,000 square feet. The facility will have a transit system to move people from restaurants, theater, coffee shops, pool, and game areas.
• a mansion at the Czech Republic's The Oppidum. Boasting a 77,000 square-foot underground facility, it is being sold as "the largest billionaire bunker in the world."

Now, here is the deal.

These shelters, with their cinemas, underground gardens, swimming pools, spas, and wine vaults may be able to take you comfortably through World War Three. I cannot promise with any degree of certainty, but they might also be of some limited help in the apocalypse.

But square footage and creature comforts are going to be absolutely no value on Too Late Day, which many simply call Judgment Day.

Truth is you can't build a shelter down far enough; you can't reinforce the walls thick enough to escape the Lord's return and the Day of Judgment. On that day, the only thing that can offer you assured safety and security is faith in the Lord Jesus. If Jesus has redeemed you, you have all the protection you need; if He has not, nothing else will suffice.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord every age sees its wars and rumors of wars. Today I ask that You will allow us to live in harmony and in the peace that comes from being part of the Savior's redeemed family of faith. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen

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LHM Daily Devotion - May 4, 2017 "Alligators"

Bucktown in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, had been having some rain.

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

"Alligators"

May 4, 2017

1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Bucktown in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, had been having some rain.

Actually, they had been having a lot of rain.

It was the amount of the rain which had everybody worried, and it was fear of flooding that urged them to keep their eyes trained on the storm drains. That explains why they were watching when something did come out of the drain behind the Marie Riviere Elementary School.

Yes, something came out and it wasn't water.

What came out of the school's drain was a seven-foot alligator. Steven Nicholson, a resident of the Parrish commented: "First his head emerged out of the drain and then his whole body."

Now I am not an educator but I don't think most teachers and superintendents want to have an alligator stalking their playground.

Now I can tell you, with a high degree of certainty, that day there was never a time when the little ones at Marie Riviere were in any kind of danger. The students weren't in danger because the students weren't there. It was spring break and everyone had wandered off to the four directions of the compass.

Even so, nobody thought it was a good plan to allow the alligator to settle down in a nice, unobtrusive place and wait until the kids returned. Instead, they decided the men would keep the gator distracted and entertained, while another volunteer called for some assistance: that is, an alligator-wrestling, pest-control officer.

By the time the pest control people arrived the men had managed to work up quite a sweat keeping that alligator entertained -- keeping everybody around, both safe and sound. Those men had done a fine job and nobody had to nag them to get going.

No, those men saw the job which needed to be done and they did it.

I wish the same enthusiasm and commitment would be there when it comes to protecting our little children from the spiritual alligators who are waiting for them. They -- like Peter's lion spoken of in our text -- are eager to devour these young souls. The pornographer, the drug dealer, the representatives from crazy cults and religions are ready to do their worst.

This is why we have to do our best.

We need to be consistent and faithful in pointing children to the Christ. We need, in word and example, to share the blood-bought story of salvation, which brings us to faith and makes us members of the household of the Lord.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, dangerous animals like lions and alligators are easy to identify. That is not always true when it comes to spiritual threats to our little ones. Grant to all adults in authority a sense of discernment that they may do all that is necessary to keep their children in Jesus. This I ask in the Savior's Name. Amen

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LHM Daily Devotion - May 3, 2017 "At the Crossroads "

Mr. Julannan lives in the Middle East.   Mr. Julannan is a family man...

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

"At the Crossroads"

May 3, 2017

Matthew 11:4-6 - And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by Me."

Mr. Julannan lives in the Middle East.

Mr. Julannan is a family man with a wife and children. He works in construction and makes a reasonable salary. This is all you probably need to know about Mr. Julannan except for the fact that he liked to drink and he didn't like Jesus.

How much did Mr. Julannan dislike Jesus?

• When people gave him Christian pamphlets, Mr. Julannan took them and set the pamphlets on fire.
• When he saw Christians gathered together in outside worship, he would often spit at them.

Things didn't get better when Mr. Julannan had a few beers. Alcohol made him abusive and not just to the Savior, but to his family and neighbors as well. Of course, that only lasted until he passed out.

That is the way things were and that is the way things would have stayed -- except for God's intervention. You see, the Lord took Mr. Julannan to a crossroads moment: to a place in time when he had to face facts. Some people would call it a "come to Jesus" moment.

That moment began when Mr. Julannan was traveling home from work and went by an open-air Christian rally. He heard the preacher's amplified voice call out: Jesus is help for your sins; Jesus is always before you, but you are causing Him pain with your sins. It is time to confess those sins to your Savior; it is time to be brought to faith; it is time to be forgiven and saved."

This time those words didn't infuriate Mr. Julannan. No, this time they just got him to thinking.

The next day, as he traveled to work, Mr. Julannan was still thinking. That's probably why he didn't notice the train barreling down on him until it was too late. People screamed as they saw the train hit him, knock him down, and go over the top of him.

When the train was gone, the people at the crossing went to look for a corpse. Rather than a corpse, they found a living Mr. Julannan. Excitedly he told how the train knocked him down between the tracks, where he called on Jesus for help. Mr. Julannan told everybody, "I know my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ saved me from what should have been a horrible tragedy!"

It was a crossroad moment that changed Mr. Julannan who now, with his wife, hands out Bibles.

I like that story and share it with you for a reason.

Many of you are worried about someone who is near and dear to you. This is someone who has little use for the Savior or anyone who talks about Him. If that is the case, I encourage you to remember, the Lord often sends crossroad moments to both believers and unbelievers.

It is when people are helpless that God's loving power becomes most obvious and most effective. It is then your words, your concerns, your prayers will become amplified and by God's grace a lost soul may be saved.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I don't know what it will take for this special person in my life to be brought to faith in Jesus. I pray that You will reach out to them and set their eyes on the Savior. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen

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LHM Daily Devotion - May 2, 2017 "A Great Faith, a Greater Savior"

Over the years I have run into many people who think pastors and priests...

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

"A Great Faith, a Greater Savior"

May 2, 2017

Matthew 5:44 - (Jesus said) "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" (KJV).

Over the years I have run into many people who think pastors and priests are always men of great faith. Now it is true that many who wear the cloth have a wondrous and wonderful relationship with their Lord. I have met and stood in awe of these preachers.

On the other hand, and I can only speak for myself here, I have also encountered laypeople whose faith makes mine appear miniscule in comparison. When we get to heaven I will count myself lucky if I can see their mansion with a large telescope.

In the list of people with great faiths, I would have to include many of the Christian Copts of Egypt.

This past Palm Sunday, when our children were waving palm fronds and shouting out their "Hallelujahs," the little ones of two Coptic congregations in Egypt were ducking for cover as suicide bombers destroyed churches, families, friendships, and futures.

The death count was 49. The wounded were numbered over 100.

Since those reports came out, I've been doing some soul-searching, trying to decide how I would react if that had been my church -- my family -- who had been blown up by fanatics of another religion, whose hearts were filled with hatred. Below is what I felt.

My very first emotion was a desire for revenge, you know, an eye for an eye, a life for a life. Thankfully, there were too many passages of Scripture which clearly condemned vengeance, and very quickly I was forced to abandon that point of view.

My second thought was if I can't have revenge, at least I can have justice. Unfortunately, the death of the innocent Savior and the persecution and murder of most of His disciples makes it clear: the scales of justice don't always get balanced during this life.

In contrast to what I felt was a Coptic woman, no, make that a new Coptic widow who has said, "I am praying for the perpetrators. I am asking the Lord to move them so they may reconsider what they are doing." Another Coptic lady said she has "already forgiven" those who had masterminded the murderous explosions.

I am moved and impressed? So are many others.

Reading about the carnage and hearing no call for revenge, one individual wrote, "Coptic Christians are made of steel." Well, maybe not steel, exactly, it's probably more like equal measures of faith, courage, and Christian commitment -- commitment to the Savior who gave His life for their redemption and salvation.As for me, all I can do is pray for these brothers and sisters, stand in awe of what the Holy Spirit is doing through them, and repeat the comment of the Savior who, having seen a centurion's witness, declared to the crowd that followed Him, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith" (Luke 7:9b).

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, guard and protect those who are being persecuted. If possible, turn the heart and hands of those who hate them, and let lives be lived in peace. This I ask in the Savior's Name. Amen

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The Daily Readings for MONDAY, May 1, 2017 - Saint Philip and Saint James Day

Opening Sentence

Their sound has gone out into all lands, and their message to the ends of the world. Psalm 19:4

Morning Prayer

O God:
Give me strength to live another day;
Let me not turn coward before its difficulties or prove recreant to its duties;
Let me not lose faith in other people;
Keep me sweet and sound of heart, in spite of ingratitude, treachery, or meanness;
Preserve me from minding little stings or giving them;
Help me to keep my heart clean, and to live so honestly and fearlessly that no outward failure can dishearten me or take away the joy of conscious integrity;
Open wide the eyes of my soul that I may see good in all things;
Grant me this day some new vision of thy truth;
Inspire me with the spirit of joy and gladness;
and make me the cup of strength to suffering souls;
in the name of the strong Deliverer, our only Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen

The Old Testament Lesson

The Old Testament Lesson for today is taken from Isaiah 30:18-21

Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. Truly, O people in Zion, inhabitants of Jerusalem, you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you. Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

Psalm 119:33-40 He Legem pone
33   Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end.
34   Give me understanding, and I shall keep your law; I shall keep it with all my heart.
35   Make me go in the path of your commandments, for that is my desire.
36   Incline my heart to your decrees and not to unjust gain.
37   Turn my eyes from watching what is worthless; give me life in your ways.
38   Fulfill your promise to your servant, which you make to those who fear you.
39   Turn away the reproach which I dread, because your judgments are good.
40   Behold, I long for your commandments; in your righteousness preserve my life.

The Epistle Lesson

The Epistle Lesson for today is taken from 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God's word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The Holy Gospel Lesson

The Holy Gospel is written in John 14:6-14

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen

Prayer of the Day

Almighty God, who gave to your apostles Philip and James grace and strength to bear witness to the truth: Grant that we, being mindful of their victory of faith, may glorify in life and death the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

A Prayer for the Renewal of Life

O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

A Prayer for Mission

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia!
Thanks be to God! Alleluia!

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible or account for fifty percent (50%) of the total work in which they are quoted.

Daily Devotion May 1, 2017 "What Fires You Up?"

This event in the Bible still amazes me. How about you?

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

By Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour

"What Fires You Up?"

May 1, 2017

Luke 24:30-35 - When He (Jesus) was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" They got up and they returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and He has appeared to Simon." Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when He broke the bread.

This event in the Bible still amazes me. How about you? It's right after the resurrection of Jesus and He starts making appearances to various disciples around Jerusalem. In this case, He comes along two people walking on the road. They're downcast; they're disappointed; they're heartbroken concerning what happened to their Savior and Friend on Good Friday, as He was crucified on the cross. Their sorrow was so all-encompassing that they couldn't -- or maybe wouldn't -- recognize Jesus, even as He came alongside of them.

Listen to what they said about His word: "Didn't our hearts burned within us as He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" That's a fire. That's a burning that you and I need in the midst of our struggles and griefs, too. When I thought about what fires us up, what burns us up, most of the things that do that for us, they eventually fade away. People are fired up at sporting events, cheering for their team, but that fades quickly, even if they win. People are fired up for their hobbies and leisure. But even burning in your heart for those things fades if there's not something more substantial in your life, above and beyond that. And of course there's all kind of fires burning in our hearts that are up to no good for us either.

So here's a thought for today: there are fires that burn things up, destroy; there are fires that motivate and give joy. Think of the fire that devours a forest or one that levels a house; it leaves nothing behind, or think of the fire at a campfire that draws you into its heat and glow and transforms the night from darkness to light, joy, and camaraderie. Pray today that you know the difference in your life between the fires that destroy (and I'm not talking about literal flames here; I'm talking about what burns in our hearts) -- pray that you know the difference such fires. But even more importantly, immerse yourself in the Words of Jesus, the Words of God, in the Scripture. It's a fire, it's a glow that will draw you close to His love and grace, and empower your life right through death itself.

Just listen to the ones who walked with the risen Savior on the road that day. God bless.

THE PRAYER: Please pray with me. Dear Lord Jesus, there are a lot of things in this world that fire us up for the moment. Give me and all listening in hearts that are fire up by You, Your Word, because that fire doesn't devour; it empowers, and it never, ever goes out. Bless us today with such a fired-up faith. Amen

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin!  Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).

LHM Daily Devotion - April 30, 2017 "The Impact of the Gospel"

Billions of people around the world are living in the dark. They...

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

"The Impact of the Gospel"

April 30, 2017

Romans 10:14-17 - How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" But they have not all obeyed the Gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

The salvation story of Jesus Christ reaches around the world. So that the readers of our Daily Devotion may see the power of the Savior on a global scale, we have asked the volunteers of our international ministry centers to write our Sunday devotions. We pray that the Spirit may touch your day through their words.

In Christ, I remain, His servant and yours,
Kenneth R. Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

Billions of people around the world are living in the dark.

They are seeking some kind of light, but where should they search and for what should they look? These things they do not know.

In contrast to what they do not know we believers are fully aware these people are in urgent spiritual need. We also know we have a responsibility to them which comes from God. He has told us the Holy Spirit will save lives when we preach the Word and bring the risen Christ to all nations.

In Vietnam we are not afraid of hard work, unforeseen inconveniences, and many difficulties. The Savior warned us these things would come. Still, no matter what may be ahead, we rejoice in the opportunity to share the Savior through our lives as well as through our words. In the office or not, we try not to sound like bosses who bark out orders to underlings. No, our words about the Savior ought to be underlined by our sanctified lives in which we offer help and care, love and sympathy.

Some examples taken from our holistic ministry may help you see this point more clearly. Over the years, we have given milk to children at nursery schools and eye glasses to the impoverished elderly of our country. We do that because we want them to see and feel God's love through our sharing.

We do it because not only the children, but also their teachers, their parents, and their neighbors then see God's Word is being underlined by our actions. And the result? Hundreds of people from our holistic projects have been saved by the power of God's Spirit.

Truly we have seen many, many people come to know Christ and trust in Him as their Lord and Savior because they have heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which has been preached to them. We know Paul was right when He was inspired to write that faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

THE PRAYER: Dear Jesus, please help us understand the real importance of evangelism so that we may want to share Your Word and love with the lost. Please help us make our witness in both word and works so the Holy Spirit may move them out of darkness and into the light of Jesus. In His Name I pray. Amen

Biography of Author: Mr. Dinh Hai Au is the Director of Lutheran Hour Ministries-Vietnam, which is located in Ho Chi Minh City. "I was born into a Christian family but did not really understand who God is," Hai Au relates. Some personal crises led him to the Lord who answered his prayers in powerful ways. "Since then I have experienced countless blessings in my life and work," he says. Hai Au majored in English and worked as an English teacher for 12 years after his graduation. From 2003 to 2007 he worked for LHM organizing shows that shared the Gospel to non-Christian children and youth. Hai Au began work as the center's Director at the end of 2011. Under his leadership, LHM-Vietnam has experienced overwhelming responses and new or revitalized evangelism strategies.

Known in-country as Globalinks, LHM-Vietnam makes use of holistic ministry, sporting events, internet radio, and musical performances to create opportunities for Gospel presentations. In this country of more than 90 million people, staff and volunteers from LHM-Vietnam's ministry center conduct eyeglass clinics and children's nutritional programs to help foster community relationships. God's Word is shared through print media, puppet productions, films, drama and rallies, too. Both Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC) and lay Christian training provided through Equipping the Saints (ETS) workshops are effective in strengthening believers' faith and giving them instruction in witnessing and personal faith-sharing.

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin!  Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM). 

LHM Daily Devotion - April 29, 2017 "Last Requests"

The doctors at Denmark's Aarhus University Hospital had told...

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

"Last Requests"

April 29, 2017

1 John 4:19 - We love because He first loved us.

The doctors at Denmark's Aarhus University Hospital had told Carsten Flemming Hansen that he had a ruptured aortic aneurysm. Then they told the 75-year-old Hansen that he was too sick to have surgery.

Translating the doctor's words so everybody can understand -- those MDs were telling Hansen he had days, maybe hours, to live. The news got Hansen thinking. He asked himself, "Do I have a last wish? Is there something I want to do with the time left to me?" Eventually, Hansen came up with an answer to his question. He told his nurse, Rikke Kvist, "I wish I could have one last cigarette and a glass of wine."

Now to you and me, that may sound like a frivolous last request. No matter how nurse Kvist might have felt personally, she decided to try and fulfill her patient's wish. That meant she had to petition the hospital for an exemption to their ironclad "no smoking" policy.

The hospital officials agreed when Nurse Kvist said she could wheel Hansen and his bed out to the hospital balcony. A few days later the hospital released a touching photo of Hansen, surrounded by his family, enjoying his smoke and a glass of white wine, as the sun set.

Now, Mr. Hansen's request might not be yours. It certainly isn't mine.

That being said, the story got me wondering: if the physicians told me my time on this earth was extremely limited, what would I do? What would be my last request? Would it be something as simple as a glass of wine and a sunset? Would it be the kind of wish that called for months of planning and a small fortune to make a reality?

Seriously, take a moment and ask yourself what would you do if you were limited to 24 hours?

Did you ever think of the requests Jesus made in His last 24-hour-period with His disciples? There are a number of things He requested:

1. He told His disciples they ought to serve others.
2. He asked them to stay awake with Him in the Garden.
3. He prayed that if it were possible the "cup of suffering" might be taken away from Him. (It was a wish followed by another wish, namely, that the Lord's "will be done.")
4. From the cross, He asked His Father to forgive the sins of those who put Him there.
5. He asked John to take care of His mother.

You will note that very few of Jesus' requests centered on Himself. Most of them were concerned with the physical and spiritual future of those He was leaving behind. From the mouth of anyone else, it would be a surprising list.

Coming from the Savior -- whose entire life was spent saving a lost and sinful world -- it is not a shock. It's the kind of thing our heaven-sent Redeemer would do.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, for Your thinking of sinners, I give thanks. For living Your life to save those sinners, I praise Your Name. For making me a saved soul, I shall always be in Your debt. May I acknowledge that debt in serving You every day of my life. In Your Name. Amen

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LHM Daily Devotion - April 28, 2017 "How to Treat Others"

There is an organization known as the George Barna Group. The George...

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

"How to Treat Others"

April 28, 2017

Philippians 2:3 - Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

There is an organization known as the George Barna Group.

The George Barna Group generally goes to Christians and asks them questions to which I really don't want to know the answer. By that I mean Barna surveys reveal information that makes me feel very uncomfortable. Let me give you an example:

A recent Barna Group survey has found there is a great difference between church-going and non-church-going Christians. That difference can be summed up in two sentences:

1. Non-church-going believers say they are "spiritual, but not religious."

2. Non-church-going believers say they "love Jesus, but not the church."

Now the other thing you probably don't want to know is this: the non-church-going group of believers is growing. That's right. In 2004 that segment of believers was around seven percent. Today, that number has jumped to 10 percent.

Now a lot of church-going believers I know would say, "If you are a Christian, you go to church. That's what Christians do." To that statement, the non-church goers would reply, "Look, we believe in the Triune God. We believe He is all-powerful, all-knowing, the Creator and Preserver of the universe. Along with that, we love the Savior who died and rose for our salvation."

Then they add, "We are a lot like you, but we have lost faith in the church."

And if you asked the non-church-attending believer why he feels the way he does, and if he were being honest, he would say, "It's because in the church I have met hypocrites. They say they love as Jesus did but, no matter how long I worship with them, I'm still a stranger."

They can go on pointing out that we talk more about money than lost souls, that we're always fighting rather than loving, that we seem more concerned about silly things and not spiritual things that ... well, you get the idea.

Now you know why the Barna Group's revelations make me feel so uncomfortable.

What bothers me even more is that I can't argue against the criticisms of those non-church goers. I can't deny what they're saying because they are speaking from personal experience. Churches and church-going believers can sometimes be as bad as these folks suggest ... sometimes.

Is there an answer to all this? Sure, to love as Jesus loved. In that spirit

1. To the non-church goers, I would say the Bible always encourages God's people to be as one. We are to support each other; bear each other's burdens, commune, and do mission work together. Generally speaking, non-church goers don't do all those things.

2. To church-goers I would say remember that we are always the Lord's representatives, and it is our job to do the things listed above. Neither a new guest nor an old-time member should ever leave us -- or our church -- feeling that Christ's church no longer looks like Jesus.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me love others as You have loved me. In Jesus' Name, I ask it. Amen

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin!  Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM). 

LHM Daily Devotion - April 27, 2017 "Fatal Fall"

George Mallory was a British hiker, a mountain climber. In 1923 a writer...

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

"Fatal Fall "

April 27, 2017

Jude 1:24-25 - Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen

George Mallory was a British hiker, a mountain climber.

In 1923 a writer for the  New York Times  asked Mallory why he spent so much time and energy trying to conquer Mount Everest. Mallory's reply was simple, "Because it's there." The following year, 1924, Mallory was last seen making a third attempt on the mountain. His body was discovered more than 75 years later.

Because it's there.

That explains why two Vancouver hiking groups were recently climbing the town mountain, mile-high Mount Harvey. The report said, "Five hikers managed to reach the summit and stepped out on a cornice." (For those of you who, like me, are not mountain climbers, let me save you the time of looking up the word. A cornice is "an overhanging mass of hardened snow at the edge of a mountain precipice.")

Our Vancouver climbers stepped out on this cornice and it gave way. They fell 1,600 feet.

The only member of the group who survived was one who had fallen behind. When he reached the summit, he expected to be met by his friends. Instead, he encountered another climber who had followed the tracks of the group. He sadly told the survivor: "I'm sorry, I think your friends have fallen."

You don't have to be a mountain climber to hear those words, "I think your friends have fallen." Indeed, many of us have special friends who are treading on dangerous ground.

These are friends and family who do not know Jesus as their Savior and Lord. They rely on themselves and their own skills to get through their days. Amazingly, many of them do well, managing to accomplish great things. But ... there always is a "but," isn't there?

In spite of their skill, in spite of their past successes, if things remain as they are, the day will come when they will take a step and find out there is nothing to support them, and they will fall.

I know you have tried to warn these special people, in the past. You have told them they need the Savior if they are going to avoid eternal death. You have told them to watch their step, but they have not listened. Well, today we are going to pray for them. We will entrust them, once again to Him who "is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy."

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, today our Daily Devotioners come before You with a very special person in our minds. We pray for (include name(s) here ________________) and all those who are living their lives without the Savior. Send Your Holy Spirit upon them so they may know and believe in the Lord who gave His life so they might have an abundant life. In Jesus' Name. Amen

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin!  Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).

LHM Daily Devotion - April 26, 2017 "Done It All"

By now, all of us have seen the videos of a passenger being dragged...

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

 "Done It All "

April 26, 2017

1 John 2:2 - He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

By now, all of us have seen the videos of a passenger being dragged off of a United Airlines' flight. We have heard the comedians joke about it, and we have listened to the excuses, the explanations, and the apologies coming from various official and unofficial sources. We have heard promises of an in-depth investigation and commitments that such a thing will never happen again.

By now, that story from a few weeks ago is old news.

Even so, forgive me for bringing the matter to your attention one more time. More specifically, I would like to reference a note United Airlines' President Oscar Munoz wrote to his employees. Part of that message said his agents "were left with no choice but to call Chicago Aviation Security Officers to assist in removing the customer from the flight."

At the risk of seeming to be picky, that statement's not quite right.

Not  every  avenue of getting people off the flight voluntarily had been fully explored. Yes, the airline's agents had offered everyone $400 if they would travel later. When that didn't work, the agents raised the incentive to $800. Again, there were no takers.

And that's where the offers stopped. You know how the rest of the nasty story goes.

But here's the thing: the agents had another choice. They could have raised the offer to $1,000! If that offer had fallen on deaf ears, United's representatives could have gone all the way up to $1,350. Now I might turn down $400 to give up my seat; I might even turn down $800, but $1,350 is a different matter entirely.

Now, nobody can ever prove that someone might have accepted the larger sum. Nobody can say what  would have  happened, but it would have been worth a try.

It would have been good to do all that could have been done.

Now I don't want to be overly judgmental here. I've looked at my life and I have to confess I haven't always done all that could have been done. I could have given to others more; I could have prayed harder; I could have volunteered more; I could have shown greater patience.

When it comes to doing all that can be done, I'm a failure -- and you probably are, too.

In fact, the only Person I can think of who did all that could be done was our Savior.

More than that, Jesus did all that could be done, all of the time. Think about it: when Jesus went to the cross, He was carrying every sin committed by every person who has ever lived. There were no exceptions. Not one. That is why, when He said, "It is finished!" It really was.

His third-day resurrection from the dead says Jesus had been successful in doing all that could be done. And because that is so, all who believe on Him are forgiven and given life eternal.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks for a Savor who has done absolutely everything necessary for my salvation. May I do all I can to live a life that always honors Him. In His Name, I pray. Amen

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin!  Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).