The mission of St. Martin's Lutheran Church
is to be a community of grace and love, serving all people through worship, outreach and fellowship.

Morning Prayer For the Entire Week is Published Here

July 26

Titus 3:14

“Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.”

While this verse from Titus may seem like common sense to you, it had to be taught to many living in the 1st century. The Christian faith brought to the common person a purpose for living and for being productive. The common person was used to the government forcing productivity through the use of force, taxation, and coercion. It was seldom of the free will. Once they heard the Gospel of freedom in Christ, then Paul through people like Titus had to teach people to be productive on their own, doing good and providing for the necessities of daily life. Let us devote ourselves not only to worship, prayer, and daily reading of scriptures, but also devote ourselves to being productive, insuring the proper rest to keep things in balance.

Pray today for balance in your life. Pray, read scriptures, work, tend to your household, and rest; these are the hallmarks of a balanced Christian life.

July 27

Hosea 10:12

“Sow with a view to righteousness, reap in accordance with kindness.”

We often fall into a trap of thinking of ancient man being rather simple and backward. Far from it! If you spend any time with the History channel, you know that ancient man had amazing abilities in engineering, science, and certainly philosophy and wisdom. From the prophet Hosea today we have wisdom. He is saying that in your life, sow (work, plant, do) with a view to righteousness, that is think of the consequences of that which you do, even the little things. He also says that when you reap (harvest, receive reward for your work) do so with others in mind (kindness).

Pray today that you might be wise in your sowing and reaping.

July 28

Romans 11:32

“God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.”

Out of context this verse could sound pretty ugly of God. It sound like God traps us and then rescues us so that we might be eternally grateful to him! Well, you must instinctively know that this couldn’t be the case. God’s laws are in place. Those are the perimeters in our lives. Yet none of us seem able to keep them perfectly no matter how hard we try. 1st century thinkers tended to put this all on God, but other great thinkers (even in the 1st century) knew this wasn’t the case. In ANY case, we do know that God is merciful to all because, while the law was given for our good, God also knows that our only way out is His mercy.

Pray for God’s mercy in your life today.

July 29

Mark 4:33

“With many such parables Jesus spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it.”

Jesus did not confuse people. Jesus did not speak over their heads. The simple heard Jesus and understood him. The very intelligent hear Jesus and may have the ability to go deeper as they are able. In the end, it makes no difference. When I lead a Bible study, most everyone can pick something from the verses, then with my specialize training in Bible, theology, philosophy, etc. we are able to go a bit deeper and God’s flower becomes more glorious. Yet be sure of this, you can read the scriptures and get meaning from it without any special training!

Pray for your understanding as Jesus speaks the word to you.

July 30

Luke 22:35

He said to them, ‘When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?’ They said, ‘No, not a thing

I keep thinking that I am going to run out of stuff. I look at my budget, pension, supplies, etc double checking to see if there is “enough.” Jesus sent his disciples out with out anything, yet, they didn’t lack. I don’t know exactly how that worked but as I look back on my life, it has always worked, but I can’t explain it. That is the way with God. When we trust God, we lack for nothing.

Prayer: You always provide, dear Lord, and we give thanks, in Jesus name, Amen