Daily Devotions
New devotions are posted Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
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 Christ Hymn?
Today's author is Prince of Peace member Scott Tunseth. Philippians 2:6-11 is often called “The Christ Hymn” (the Carmen Christi in Latin). But is it a hymn? And does it pre-date Paul, as many have suggested, or did Paul himself compose it? Let’s start with whether it...
Look to the Interests of Others
Christ crowned with thorns by Dieric Bouts, c. 1470. Today's author is Prince of Peace member Scott Tunseth. This week we hear the first half of the second chapter of Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. And what a profound and beautiful message it is. Paul is writing to...
Whose interests are we looking at?
Today's author is Prince of Peace's Intentional Interim, Pr. Steve Sylvester. Inigo Montoya “Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others.” [Philippians 2:4] When I read that line, I hear Inigo Montoya (the character Mandy Patinkin...
Partners in the Gospel
Today's author is Prince of Peace member Caryn Josephson. Philippians 1:1–18a In Philippians 1:3–6, Paul writes: “I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel...