Prayers for the Epiphany Season – O God, by the leading of a
star You made known Your only-begotten Son to the Gentiles. Lead us, who know
You by faith, to enjoy in heaven the fullness of Your divine presence; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Most merciful God, You gave Your eternal Word to become
incarnate of the pure Virgin. Grant Your people grace to put away fleshly lusts
that they may be ready for Your visitation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who
lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Lord God, You showed Your glory and led many to faith by the
works of Your Son. As He brought gladness and healing to His people, grant us
these same gifts and lead us also to perfect faith in Him.
For divine guidance – Heavenly Father, send Your Holy Spirit
into our hearts to direct and rule us according to Your will, to comfort us in
all our afflictions, to defend us from all error, and to lead us into all
truth; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
A prayer for grace to receive the Word –Blessed Lord, You
have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we
may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them that, by patience
and comfort of Your Holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed
hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
God and men proceed in contrary ways. People settle first on
whatever is best, and afterward they deal with what is worse. God first gives
the cross and affliction, then honor and blessedness. He does this is because
we seek to preserve the sinful flesh, which urges us to keep the Law by works
and offer promises great and sweet. But the result has a stale taste. And
although the flesh is intoxicated with great promises, it does not feel its
wretchedness. Yet when the wine is digested and the false promises gone, the
wretchedness appears. God, however, terrifies the conscience, sets on miserable
wine, in fact nothing but water. Then He consoles us with the promises of the
Gospel which endure forever. (Martin Luther)
Time in the Word
January 9-14, 2012
Preparation for next week, Epiphany 2
The theme for the second Sunday after the Epiphany is quite
clear –the call of God. Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael to discipleship in the
Gospel. God calls Samuel to be his prophet in the Old Testament lesson. Through
Paul and the church God calls us to glorify Him in our bodies. When we respond
to God’s call, we appreciate His goodness and thus we break forth in praise.
How many today feel that they are carrying our a call of
God? Probably, very few. For most, life is a matter of making a living as best
they can and getting some enjoyment out of doing it. Under this philosophy, the
one thing they look forward to is retirement – no work and all play! Christians
are different. Their lives are a fulfillment of God’s call to a specific task.
God the Father calls you to a holy vocation – 1 Samuel
3:1-10
God the Son calls you to discipleship – John 1:43-51
God the Spirit calls you to glorify God – 1 Corinthians
6:12-20
Collect for Epiphany 2— Almighty and everlasting God, who
governs all things in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the prayers of Your
people and grant us Your peace through all our days; through Jesus Christ, Your
Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now
and forever.
Monday, January 09, 2012—Psalm 40:1-5- The Antiphon, is
taken from Psalm 40:10 “I do not hide you r righteousness in my heart; I speak
of Your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal Your love and Your truth
from the great assembly. ” When speaking of the Lord we must center our
conversation on His faithfulness and salvation which flows from righteousness.
The word Epiphany literally means, I see, I understand, I see the light, I get
it! In Epiphany we “get it!” This Jesus whom we have worshipped at Christmas
truly is the Son of God. By grace, through faith, by the Spirit’s aid we are
brought to a right understanding of spiritual things; finally we “get it!”
Tuesday, January 10. 2012—Psalm 139:1-10—The key verse of
this psalm is verse 14, I praise you
because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know
that full well” The Psalmist is saying literally “Lord you know me as one who
formed me yet I can not begin to comprehend this creature you have fashioned. I
can only look upon him with awe and wonder.” Miracles happen all around us.
Some might wonder if the Lord will support them in the New Year. The antiphon
affirms He will. He acts in our lives so we can see that the plan He has for us
and the path he has determined for us will be the best for us. Fare thee well
child of God His sure hand shall guide you.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012—1 Samuel 3:1-10— The child
Samuel hears God’s call to be a prophet. In the temple at Shiloh, the boy
Samuel is serving the priest Eli. He sleeps near the Ark of the Covenant, a
symbol of God’s presence. One night Samuel is called. Twice he mistakes the
voice of God for Eli’s. Then Eli instructs the boy to say, “Speak, Lord, for
your servant hears.” Samuel obeys and God speaks to him of future happenings in
Israel.
Thursday, January 12, 2012—1 Corinthians 6:12-20— The human
body is to glorify God. People in the Corinthian church were sexually immoral
for religious reasons. They accepted the truth that Christ’s death on the cross
fulfilled the law for them. Since they were saved by grace alone, they felt
free to do what they pleased. Some of them participated in sexual perversion.
Paul counters this thinking by giving a theology of the body. These words of
Paul give us a divine perspective. We are not free to do as we please. The
grace of God is not a license to sin.
Friday, January 13, 2012—John 1:43-51— Jesus calls Philip
and Nathanael. When Jesus is in the area of John the Baptism, He calls Andrew
and Peter as disciples. Then He goes to Galilee and calls Philip of Bethsaida.
Philip asks Nathanael to come and see one, who he claims, is the Messiah.
At first Nathanael is skeptical and asks if anything good
can come from an insignificant village of Nazareth. When Jesus tells Nathanael
that he saw him under a fig tree at the time when Philip invited him, Nathanael
changes his mind and calls Jesus the Son of God and King. Jesus did not want
him to base his opinion on a miracle and promises that Nathanael will see
greater things in the future.
Notice the word of Jesus’ call to Philip denotes a
relationship between Christ and the Christian. To follow Jesus means we
acknowledge and accept Him as shepherd, leader, and master. It is not an
association of peers. There is no democratic relationship of equality. The word
also indicates our position in the relationship. To follow Him does not mean we
walk with Him (beside Him), nor before Him, but behind Him. He is first and we
are second; He is leader and we are followers; He is master and we are
servants.
Saturday, January 14, 2012—Matthew 16:24- The suggested hymn of the
day is, “Come Follow Me, the Savior Spake” (LSB 688) Nathanael is asked to follow as the Savior
has directed him. Some decisions we make
are life altering. Where do we go for direction in life? We seek the Lord. As
He has promised to guide us we too must follow. It would do us little good if
we decide to head in the opposite direction from whence we should go. This much
loved hymn speaks of the Lord guiding His own.
Sources
LUTHERAN SEVICE BOOK © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St.
Louis, MO
LECTIONALRY PREACHING WORKBOOK SERIES B © 1981 John Brokhoff
CSS Publishing Lima, OH
Luther’s Works: American Edit Edition. 55 volumes. (Volumes
1-30, Concordia Publishing House; volumes 31 31-55, Fortress Press)
Schnorr von Carolsfeld, woodcuts Zachariah names John, Jesus
feeds the 5,000 © WELS Permission to use these copyrighted items is limited to
personal and congregational use.
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