Mid-Week Devotion

Make the sign of the cross and say:

In the Name of the Father and of the † Son and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen.

O God, make speed to save me.
O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Psalm 98

A Psalm.
¹ Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
² The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
³ He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
⁴ Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
⁵ Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody!
⁶ With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!
⁷ Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!
⁸ Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together
⁹ before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity. (ESV)

Old Testament: Isaiah 62:10-12

¹⁰ Go through, go through the gates; prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway; clear it of stones; lift up a signal over the peoples.
¹¹ Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to the daughter of Zion, “Behold, your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.”
¹² And they shall be called The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD; and you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken. (ESV)

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Epistle: Hebrews 1:1-12

¹ Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
³ He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
⁴ having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
⁵ For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”?
⁶ And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
⁷ Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.”
⁸ But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
⁹ You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
¹⁰ And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands;
¹¹ they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment,
¹² like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” (ESV)

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Gospel: John 1:1-14

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
² He was in the beginning with God.
³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
⁷ He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.
⁸ He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
⁹ The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
¹¹ He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
¹² But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (ESV)

Thou shalt have no other gods.

Prayer: Lord God, author and source of all that is good, give us wisdom to fear Your wrath, strength to love You above all things, and faith to trust in Your promises alone, that by Your grace we may serve You all our days and finally come to inherit Your heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, now and forever. Amen.

Catechism source: bookofconcord.org

For Our Family

Almighty God, merciful Father, You have blessed us with the gift of family. We entrust our loved ones to Your care. Defend them from all evil, enrich them with Your grace, and bring them at last to Your heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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For Our Friends

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the blessing of our friends. Watch over them in Your loving-kindness, keep them in Your faith and fear, and grant that we may encourage one another in love and good works; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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For Others (Outside of Friends/Family)

Lord of all, we pray for those outside our immediate circle: our neighbors, colleagues, and all whom we meet. Grant them Your peace, reveal to them Your salvation, and help us to be a blessing to them; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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For Civil Authorities, Peace, and Order

O God, from whom all authority is derived, we pray for the leaders of our nation and community. Grant them wisdom, integrity, and a desire for justice, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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For the Spread of the Gospel & Missions

Lord Jesus Christ, You commanded us to make disciples of all nations. Bless all missionaries and evangelists who proclaim Your Word. Open hearts to receive the Gospel, and hasten the coming of Your kingdom; for Your name's sake. Amen.

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For Protection from Evil & Spiritual Growth

Almighty and everlasting God, defend us from the assaults of the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh. Strengthen us by Your Spirit that we may grow in faith, love, and obedience to Your Word; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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The Church and Her Pastors

Gracious Father, we pray for Your holy Church throughout the world. Fill it with Your truth, defend it in times of adversity, and grant it unity and peace. Bless all pastors who preach Your Word and administer Your Sacraments; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom
and the power and the glory
forever and ever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13

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Prayer for the Week

Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that the new birth of Thine only-begotten Son in the flesh may set us free who are held in the old bondage under the yoke of sin; through the same Thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Dedication

Almighty God, merciful Father, who created and completed all things, on this day when the work of our calling begins anew, we implore You to create its beginning, direct its continuance, and bless its end, that our doings may be preserved from sin, our life sanctified, and our work this day be well pleasing to You; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.