Friday of Lent 3

The Seventh Petition.

But deliver us from evil.

What does this mean?

Answer - We pray in this petition, as in a summary, that our Father in heaven would deliver us from all manner of evil, of body and soul, property and honor, and at last, when our last hour shall come, grant us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this vale of tears to Himself into heaven.

In this petition, we ask God to keep every form of evil from us. We are living outside of Eden. This is a broken and fallen world.  As long as we are in the world, we will have to endure all sorts of evil, the consequence of living in a sinful world and the results of our own individual sins. By this prayer we ask the Father to guard and keep us in the faith until we die, that He would grant us a blessed end, and usher us into His kingdom of glory.

When we pray this petition in sincerity and faith we can pray also the prayer of Simeon, “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation.” (Luke 2:29,30)

Almighty, everlasting God, whose Son has assured forgiveness of sins and deliverance from eternal death, strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit that our faith in Christ increase daily and we hold fast the hope that we shall not die but fall asleep and on the last day be raised to eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Collect For the hope of eternal life in Christ, Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Artwork by Ed Rojas, © Higher Things

Thursday of Lent 3

The Sixth Petition.

And lead us not into temptation.

What does this mean?

Answer - God, indeed, tempts no one; but we pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us, so that the devil, the world, and our flesh may not deceive us, nor seduce us into misbelief, despair, and other great shame and vice; and though we be assailed by them, that still we may finally overcome and gain the victory.

Choose, but choose wisely. A temptation is any life situation in which we must decide for or against God, for good or for evil. There are usually strong inducements that would draw us either way and so we are tested where we follow the one or the other.

God never tempts us. He allows temptation to come our way as the influences of the devil, the world and our own flesh are always about. When temptation comes and we resist, we grow in strength of faith and in holiness of life.  This battle will continue until the day we draw our last breath. The devil, who does the testing has the evil purpose of leading us into misbelief, despair, and other great shame and vise. The same temptation which God allows and permits to test our faith the devil will use to destroy us. We need to look to Christ for without Him we have nothing but misery.

I need Thy presence every passing hour;

What but Thy grace can foil the Tempter’s power?

Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?

Through cloud and sunshine, oh, abide with me.

Abide with Me! Stanza 6, The Lutheran Hymnal © 1941 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Artwork by Ed Rojas, © Higher Things

Wednesday of Lent 3

The Fifth Petition.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

What does this mean?

Answer - We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look upon our sins, nor deny such petitions on account of them; for we are worthy of none of the things for which we pray, neither have we deserved them; but that He would grant them all to us by grace; for we daily sin much, and indeed deserve nothing but punishment. So will we verily, on our part, also heartily forgive and also readily do good to those who sin against us.

The most powerful person on the face of the earth is that person who is in position to forgive. When I need forgiveness and my neighbor refuses to forgive me, I am left powerless. There is nothing I can do. I can beg, plead, and appeal all day long, but until that person forgives, I am left powerless, helpless, stranded.  In this petition we are reminded that we forgive because God forgives.

Because God forgives our sins, we promise to forgive those who sin against us. We do this from the heart by doing good to those that have done evil against us. As we daily sin much and daily need the assurance of God’s forgiveness so we need to forgive our neighbor. As God in Christ Jesus has forgiven great and many sins we need to be ready to forgive the sins others have committed against us.

O most merciful God, who hast given Thine only-begotten Son to die for us, have mercy upon us and for His sake grant us remission of all our sins; and by Thy Holy Spirit increase in us true knowledge of Thee and of Thy will true obedience of Thy Word, to the end that by Thy grace we may come to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord

Prayer of Confession, The Lutheran Hymnal © 1941 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Artwork by Ed Rojas, © Higher Things

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Students & Staff  Wyneken Lutheran School 

Tuesday of Lent 3

The Fourth Petition.

Give us this day our daily bread.

What does this mean?

Answer - God gives daily bread, even without our prayer, to all wicked men; but we pray in this petition that He would lead us to know it, and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.

What is meant by daily bread?

Answer - Everything that belongs to the support and wants of the body, such as meat, drink, clothing, shoes, house, homestead, field, cattle, money, goods, a pious spouse, pious children, pious servants, pious and faithful magistrates, good government, good weather, peace, health, discipline, honor, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.

We need to live a balanced life. Thus we pray “this day” and “daily”. We should be satisfied with what we need each day, for it is foolish and sinful to worry about the future. Wise king Solomon writes in Proverbs 30:7-9, Two things have I required of Thee; deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me, lest I be full and deny thee and say, Who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor and steal and take the name of my God in vain. St Paul explains to young Timothy, Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content. (1 Timothy 6:8)

God has promised to provide for us each day our daily needs. As we plan for the future, as we save and invest we place our confidence in the Lord that He will supply us for what we need each day. When people were in need the Savior provided for them. To this day He has promised to provide for us whatever we need to support our body and life. In a sure confidence we can be content knowing that He is able to provide whatever we may need.  Our time are truly in His hands.

Almighty God, all that we possess is from Your loving hand. Give us grace that we may honor You with all we own, always remembering the account we must one day give to Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Collect for Proper use of wealth, Lutheran Service Book © 2008 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Artwork by Ed Rojas, © Higher Things

Jesus I will Ponder Now

Jesu, who for me didst die,
Livest now forever.
When my hour of death draws nigh,
Let me waver never.
May I e’er to Thee be turned,
O my faithful Savior!
Give me but what Thou hast earned,
More I do not pray for.

When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, Behold the man! - John 19:5

Introduction: “Behold the man!” That’s what Pilate said. Who is this Jesus? How will you perceive Him? How will you react to Him? What has He done to deserve all this? Our chorale for this evening penned by Johan Sebastian Bach gives us much to contemplate.

I. Behold, the Savior of the world. Jesu, who for me didst die, Livest now forever.

A. Christ died –
1. He died for every sinner.
2. He died for me!
B. But now He lives –
1. Death could not hold Him.
2. He now lives and reigns through all eternity.

II. Behold Him who will hold us in death. When my hour of death draws nigh, Let me waver never.

A. Each must face death.
1. It is appointed for man once to die and after that face judgment. -Hebrews 9:72
2. Death is a curse, which sinful humans have brought upon themselves. “The soul that sins it shall die.” - Ezekiel 18;4,20
B. Yet we can face death confidently in Jesus.
1. Because Christ defeated death by His own death we can now see death as a gate, which leads to eternal life.
2. When facing our own demise terrors of conscience may seize us. Only Christ can keep us faithful. “Be Thou faithful until death and I will give Thee the crown of life.” - Revelation 2:10

III. Behold Him who will keep us. May I e’er to Thee be turned, O my faithful Savior.

A. By our own reason or strength we cannot come to Him.
1. We are blind, dead and enemies of God.
2. Our sin prevents us.
B. Thus He sends us His Holy Spirit who…
1. Calls us - by the Gospel
2. Gathers us – into His body the Church
3. Enlightens us – with His gifts
4. Sanctifies us – keeps us holy
5. Keeps us – in the one true faith

IV. Behold him who will receive us into His glory. Give me but what Thou has earned, More I do not pray for.

A. What has Christ earned?
1. We now have peace with God.
2. We are given access to the Father’s throne - room of grace.
3. We have received forgiveness from all sin.
4. We’ve been given the hope of heaven with mansions glorious.
B. With all these gifts what more do we need?
1. The Christian can now be content.
2. There is nothing lacking for Christ has the sufficiency to supply us with all that we may ever need.

Conclusion:
I am content my Jesus liveth still
In whom my heart is pleased.
He hath fulfilled the Law of God for me,
God’s Wrath He hath appeased.
Since He in death could perish never
I also shall not die forever.
I am content! I am content!

Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS used by permission for personal and congregational use. From Bach's St. John Passion

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