[Sample]
Daily Devotional Materials
for the
Sixth Sunday after Trinity
– Thursday –
Devotion
He humbled Himself. – Philippians 2:8.
Jesus Christ was “in the form of God.” His human nature, being personally united with His divinity, possessed all divine majesty. And still, “He thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” The use of this majesty communicated to His human nature the Lord Jesus did not hold so fast as one does a spoil. “But He made Himself of no reputation.” He made no show of His divine majesty, He waived the constant and full use of it. He “took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men, and was found in fashion as a man.” You see this in the Bible stories of the evangelists. He was born a little, frail infant. He grew up, was obedient to His parents, learned, toiled, ate, drank, waked, slept, was fatigued, became sad, while at another time He was glad. He also walked from one place to another. To the will of His Father, who had foreordained this, He “became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8.) Thus He humbled Himself. This is called the State of Humiliation in which He remained from His conception to His burial. In this state He did not, according to His human nature, make use of the divine majesty which was communicated to it. Only when He performed divine works, miracles, or when He spoke words of divine majesty, did He suffer His divine majesty to shine forth. Why did Jesus Christ humble Himself so? Having become our Substitute, He wanted to redeem us by His obedience to the divine Law and by His bitter suffering and death. How could He have done this if He had used His divine glory always and fully? See Him in His deep humiliation, my dear Christian, and thank Him for it with all your heart!
PRAYER. – Lord Jesus Christ, divinely glorious Savior, I thank Thee that also for my sake Thou did so exceedingly humble Thyself as to become like me – poor lost and damned sinner in all things, sin alone excepted. Kindle faith in Thee in my heart and true love toward Thee through this blessed Gospel truth, and finally let me see Thy glory in the realms of eternal glory. Amen.
He lays aside His power divine,
A servant’s form doth take
In want and lowness He doth pine
Who heaven and earth did make.
He serves, that I a lord may be;
A great exchange, indeed!
Could Jesus’ love do more for me,
To help me in my need?
Hymn 157, 3. 7. (ELHB)
Bible Readings
MORNING:
1 Corinthians 1:10-31
10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
EVENING:
2 Samuel 1:1-27
2 Sa 1:1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;2 It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.4 And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. 5 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. 8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. 10 So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.13 And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed?15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.16 And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD’S anointed.17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) 19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. 24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
Additional Materials
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Concordia Lutheran ConferencePosted on
Posted in 3 DAILY DEVOTIONS, 6-Trinity---Thursday, 6-Trinity-Week