Good Evening, Lord!
Words of Comfort
[God] has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake
you." (Heb. 13:5 ESV)
Prayer of Confession
Visit our dwellings, O Lord, and in Your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night. Lead us to repentance for our sins, trusting in Your forgiveness which is ours for the sake of Your only Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.[1]
Catechism Reflections
- The Fifth Commandment
You
shall not murder.
What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need.
The Fifth Commandment gives us much to think about when it comes to preparing for confession and absolution in worship tomorrow. It has put some stringent boundaries or curbs upon us. It shows us lines that we ought not, must not!, cross for the sake of our neighbor so we will not hurt or harm him or her. It shows us and guides us to act with love and care for our neighbors to help and support them. It also reflects back the many ways we fall short of this commandment, both in the harm we have done to others and our failure to help those we could have supported.
Spend
some time meditating on the Fifth Commandment tonight. Let it accuse you, and
then prepare your heart to hear those words of forgiveness tomorrow, “In the
stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus I forgive you for all your sins”
applied directly to your sins against the Fifth Commandment.
Questions for Meditation
What does this reading teach you?
What does this reading lead you to be thankful for?
What behavior, thought, or attitude does this reading
challenge? What sin does it lead you to confess?
How might you pray for God to have a richer impact on your
life through this reading?
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.
Verse of Benediction
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Ps. 23:6 ESV)
Taking some time off from writing and recording. Return
July 1. Started doing this during the shut-down. I enjoy the writing and
recording – and I like to think these are helpful. I want to finish the Ten
Commandments in the evening devotions, after that I’m going to re-evaluate the
whole morning & evening devotions.
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