Advent Devotions
All are invited as we Make Room this Advent season.
Prayer of Confession
Today’s author is Prince of Peace’s Intentional Interim, Pr. Steve Sylvester.
In one of the more traditional versions of the Confession and Forgiveness in our Lutheran liturgy, we say that “We have sinned against [God] in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone.” That’s pretty inclusive, and I don’t know that you can throw a wider confession net. But I do think there is a way to throw the net differently. Take Job 13:23. “How many are my iniquities and my sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin.”
It’s one thing to go to God in prayer with, “I’ve sinned by doing X and by not doing Y,” but it’s quite another to say, “OK, you tell me, how many and what have they been?” The former is to control the narrative, while the latter is to be a naked creature before the Creator.
I don’t know that I’ve ever written a Monday devotional with fewer than 400 words, but this time I’m going to come in around half that, because in this devotional, I’m asking simply that you use Job’s prayer of confession for a week: “How many are my iniquities and my sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin.” And part of this prayer, of course, means to give time to hear God’s response.
Previously…
The Light
Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Gary Olson.Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews, met with Jesus at night. I presume he had questions. He was met by the mysterious presence of God on earth. Nicodemus’ opening comment was he knew Jesus was a teacher from God. Jesus...
God’s Love Is Not Quantified
Today's author is Prince of Peace's Intentional Interim, Rev. Steve Sylvester. One of my pet peeves is the confusion of number and amount. For example, I often hear that “a lot of people are annoyed by grammar geeks.” A lot refers to quantity, and people...
A Theological Puzzle (or Not)
Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Scott Tunseth. The end of the text that was read in worship this past Sunday is a bit puzzling. In fact, I decided not to preach on these verses (John 2:23-25) at all. It’s not that they are impossible to decipher; they hint...
The Lamb of God
Today's author is Prince of Peace Member, Scott Tunseth. We are working our way through the Gospel of John in this fourth year of the Narrative Lectionary. One of the interesting threads in John’s Gospel is his focus on Jesus as the Lamb of God. That name for Jesus is...