Good Evening, Lord!
Words of Comfort
[God] has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake
you." (Heb. 13:5 ESV)
Prayer of Confession
Lord Jesus, tomorrow we will assemble as Your church to
receive Your body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins. You teach us that
we should examine ourselves before we receive the Sacrament, so we pray tonight
that You would make us aware of our sins. Let no corner of our hearts harbor a
secret sin. Let no misdeed be forgotten as we confess to you. Let our
repentance be sincere, and help us to pursue purity and holiness in all our
actions. And as we confess our sins, comfort us in the absolution when the
pastor speaks in Your authority to pronounce our forgiveness, and draw us to
the altar to receive that holy meal that grants us pardon and peace. Fill us
with the joy of Your salvation. Amen.
Catechism Reflections – The Fourth Commandment
Honor your father and your mother.
What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents and other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them.
Tomorrow we will gather for worship. There will be that part in the service, right near the beginning in which we will confess our sins. The way we usually make that confession is fairly generic – I have sinned in thought, word, and deed. But which thoughts, which word, and which deeds? This isn’t something we need to be obsessive about, trying to catalogue every time we have strayed from God’s ways, but it is helpful to think and pray about these things. For one thing, it helps us to believe we actually are sinners, and the evidence of that condition is in the things we think, say, and do. Another valuable aspect of investigating ourselves is hearing forgiveness spoken to us as something that we really need. I think it might also help us to keep from just going through the motions when we confess, as well.
So, examine yourself in light of the Fourth Commandment. Use those handy functions of God’s Law to help you.
Where does this commandment, “Honor your father and
mother,” act as a guide? What does it teach you about your relationship with
your parents? What does it teach you about your attitude and actions toward
authorities like teachers, police, the IRS, and government officials –
especially elected officials from “the other party”?
When this commandment functions as a mirror, what does it show you? Does it reveal that sometimes it is difficult to honor the authorities in our lives? Does it show us that we would rather be our own authority and our own gods?
When this commandment functions as a guide, where does it lead you? You probably have some authority you exercise. Are you doing so within God’s will? Do you see the flow of God’s protection, justice, and provision in the relationships we have with authorities? If those authorities have left their calling, how does it guide you to respond?
As you consider these things, the Law will accuse you and condemn you as a sinner. But fear not! Jesus has died for your sins and he has freed you live in his grace. Consider these things in confidence that the Holy Spirit is at work in you to deliver God’s grace in Christ to you, and to guide you in paths of righteousness.
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)
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