Epaphras Letters

Those who assumed their own authority challenged Jesus’ authority and put a question to him.  Jesus turned the situation around—that is, he put the question to them.  In their failure to answer, Jesus delegitimated their challenge to his authority.  Isn’t that just like Jesus!  Down through the generations, whenever those who think they have authority (especially authority over their own lives) attempt to challenge Jesus’ authority by putting the question to him, Jesus turns the situation around and puts the question back onto them.  The question Jesus puts to those who would challenge him and his authority can be summed up by the question which God put to Job, “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” (Job 38:2).  “Who are you?” Jesus demands, “You who come with your puny human reason, your deficient wisdom, and your mere finite knowledge.  Don’t you know that my thoughts are not your thoughts and my ways, not your ways?” (cf. Is. 55:8 & 9).  Jesus Christ, the Word of God who brought creation into existence and rules it still, this creator Lord delegitimates all challenges to his authority by exposing you who would challenge him in your lack of authority.

Prayers from one whose lack of authority must be revealed to him time and time again…

Father in heaven, you have given all authority in heaven and on earth to your Son, Jesus Christ.  Grant that the authority of your Son preached to me by my pastor reveal to me my lack of authority and keep me in humility as I am brought to stand under your Word.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Father in heaven, you have given all authority in heaven and on earth to your Son, Jesus Christ.  As I come to stand under your Word, bring me to daily repentance—that is, take me from death to life and from unbelief to belief—so that I would walk in newness of life.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Father in heaven, you have given all authority in heaven and on earth to your Son, Jesus Christ.  As I walk in this newness of life, hold me in the confidence that your mercies are fresh every morning, ready to restore that newness of life should I become prideful of it or despair having it.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Father in heaven, you have given all authority in heaven and on earth to your Son, Jesus Christ.  Grant that my walk in the newness of life not become an occasion for my pride or my arrogance over and against my neighbors but keep my entire life to be one of repentance.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Father in heaven, you have given all authority in heaven and on earth to your Son, Jesus Christ.  Let that authority so work upon me that, whether from my newness of life or from the restraint of my sin, my neighbors receive usefulness from the work of my hands.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Father in heaven, you have given all authority in heaven and on earth to your Son, Jesus Christ. So bring the Institute of Lutheran Theology to stand under the authority of your Word that it would teach Jesus Christ, him crucified, and him alone. For Jesus’ sake. Amen

Father in heaven, you have given all authority in heaven and on earth to your Son, Jesus Christ.  So hold me in the faith of Jesus Christ and his exercise of the authority given to him that I’m able to wait upon his promise to return and take me to where he is.   For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

There’s a whole lot of coveting going on.  Those employed in the fields from the beginning of the day looked upon those who merely labored at the end of the day with a jealous eye.  That green-eyed monster reared its head, consumed the satisfaction of those who had put in an honest day’s labor for an honest day’s work, and made them liable for rebuke from their employer.  Yet, even as this parable illustrates the destructiveness of jealousy, envy, and coveting, we acknowledge the motivational power present in them.  Exhortation and motivation often appeal to the disparity between the present hearers and the objects of their desires.  Thereby, jealousy, envy, and covetousness are aroused.  The hearers are made dissatisfied with their current situation; their contentment is destroyed.  Since we cannot see into our own hearts, let alone the hearts of others, when we seek to exhort and motivate, we simply do not know whether we arouse beneficial affections or the destructive affections of jealousy, envy, or coveting.

Prayers from one who would easily arouse jealousy, envy, or coveting in others if it motivated them to a desired end…

Heavenly Father, you would have us be content in any circumstance.  Grant that I would receive the fullness of Jesus Christ and his life, and so not be lacking in anything.  For Jesus’ sake, hear my prayer.

Heavenly Father, you would have us be content in any circumstance.  Grant that as I receive the life of Jesus Christ, I would come to know the secret of contentment because his life is my strength.  For Jesus’ sake, hear my prayer.

Heavenly Father, you would have us be content in any circumstance.  Give me ears to hear the promise of my Lord Jesus when he declares, “Come unto me and I will give you rest,” that in such rest I will have contentment.  For Jesus’ sake, hear my prayer.

Heavenly Father, you would have us be content in any circumstance.  Forgive me when I motivate my neighbors for my benefit by appealing to their jealousy, envy, or covetousness.  For Jesus’ sake, hear my prayer.

Heavenly Father, you would have us be content in any circumstance.  Lead me to forgive my neighbors when their exhortations and motivations stir up jealousy, envy, and covetousness within me.  For Jesus’ sake, hear my prayer.

Heavenly Father, you would have us be content in any circumstance.  Grant that the Institute of Lutheran Theology, even as it strives for growth and excellence, would be kept from arousing jealousy, envy, and covetousness in its participants.  For Jesus’ sake, hear my prayer.

Heavenly Father, you would have us be content in any circumstance.  As the days of my baptism continue one after another, hold me in the faith and life of Jesus Christ that I would be content with each day even as I await with longing for that day, the day of Christ’s return in glory.  For Jesus’ sake, hear my prayer.  Amen

Let me ask you this: “Is the forgiveness of your sins law or gospel?”  I and many others answer this question by saying, “Of course, it’s gospel!”  The parable Jesus tells here of the unforgiving steward raises up the possibility of a different answer.  The master places a “should” upon that unforgiving steward: “You should have had mercy upon your fellow servant just as I had mercy on you!”  Whenever a “should” is involved, the proclamation shifts from gospel to law; the same goes for “ought” and “must.”  Jesus gets at this from a different perspective when he fills our prayers with this request to our Father in heaven, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” (Mt. 6:12).  From the perspective of this petition, only in the forgiving of those who sin against us does our Father forgive our sins against him and others.  So, is forgiveness law… or is it gospel?  Does it demand that we forgive others?  Does it set us free from sin, death, and the power of the devil?  It depends… It depends upon whether or not your flesh still adheres—that is, are you operating as the New Creature in Christ from out of the New Creation or are you operating as the new and improved sinner still living in this old, sin-broken creation?  The New Creature, caught up in faith in Christ, cannot help but pronounce the absolution.  Forgiveness cannot be silent.  Words of forgiveness burst forth from its lips as it proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The new and improved sinner, on the other hand, hears the admonition of the unjust steward’s master…  This better-behaved sinner prays the prayer Jesus taught… and this sinner whose flesh still adheres knows the law of forgiveness.  Forgiveness of others is a “must,” an “ought,” and a “should.”  Forgiveness is reasonably reciprocal.  The Father and his Son are so serious about this matter of forgiveness that they will use both law and gospel to see that forgiveness for Jesus’ sake is proclaimed unto the ends of the earth!

Prayers from one whose flesh still adheres and who would rather tolerate the sins of others in order to hold their guilt over and against them…

Our Father who art in heaven, you have taken away my iniquities and remember my sins no more.  Grant me to live out of such faith in Christ that I, too, would forgive and forget the sins committed against me.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Our Father who art in heaven, you have taken away my iniquities and remember my sins no more.  Grant me to live in such humility that I, like Christ, do not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Our Father who art in heaven, you have taken away my iniquities and remember my sins no more.   Grant me to hear the words of forgiveness pronounced by my preacher upon me so that your gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ, reigns in my life as a New Creature in your New Creation.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Our Father who art in heaven, you have taken away my iniquities and remember my sins no more.  Grant me such desire to speak the forgiveness I have received to others so even those who have sinned against me hear this forgiveness as the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Our Father who art in heaven, you have taken away my iniquities and remember my sins no more.  Help me to receive the Office of the Keys as it is laid upon me so that I bear it with responsibility and in freedom.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Our Father who art in heaven, you have taken away my iniquities and remember my sins no more.  Grant for the Institute of Lutheran Theology so to raise up its students that they, too, bear the Office of the Keys with responsibility and in freedom.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Our Father who art in heaven, you have taken away my iniquities and remember my sins no more.  Grant me to live out of the faith in Christ given me by the Holy Spirit so that the days of my baptism are filled with both the hearing and the speaking of the forgiveness of sins.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Jesus speaks here of misbehavior within the family of God—that is, when your Christian brother sins against you.  This brother would be a baptized member of the body of Christ.  The misbehavior… the sin… the fault… would be behavior out of character for that brother’s identity bestowed by the act of baptism—that is, the identity of the new creature in Christ.  To expose your brother’s fault in this way does not make an accusation under the law but rather makes an appeal to the identity established by baptism… by the gospel.  The appeal here is not to legal discipline but to an evangelical character.  As the intensity of the appeal grows from a solo conversation to a conversation with witnesses to a conversation before the whole congregation, the concern is not that of publishing far and wide your brother’s misdeed so that you would win the sympathy of the body.  No, the concern is to bear witness to your brother in Christ of his baptism into Christ.  That witness begins with you.  The plea is not an accusation but a lament, “How could you do this, brother?  You’ve been baptized!”  If your witness is insufficient to deliver repentance to your brother, then join with others and together witness to your brother’s baptism.  If that witness is still not enough, have the whole congregation give witness to your brother’s baptism.  If, after that, the brother remains adamantly unrepentant, then that brother is to have the gospel preached to him again, just as the tax collectors and sinners had to hear it.  In this life of the flesh, the baptized bear the cross of continual and constant repentance and not the glory of arrogance.

Prayers from one of those who love their legal righteousness…

Father of my brother, Jesus Christ, in my baptism into Christ you have made me a member of your household.  Grant that I live in conformity with that blessed identity and do not covet an identity under the law.  With all my brothers and sisters, I say, “Amen.”    

Father of my brother, Jesus Christ, in my baptism into Christ you have made me a member of your household.  Grant that as I live from my identity as a child of God and a member of your royal household, that I would seek to serve my Lord in love as I have been loved.  With all my brothers and sisters, I say, “Amen.”    

Father of my brother, Jesus Christ, in my baptism into Christ you have made me a member of your household.  Grant, that as I serve my Lord in love, my neighbors benefit from my loving service to them as well.  With all my brothers and sisters, I say, “Amen.”    

Father of my brother, Jesus Christ, in my baptism into Christ you have made me a member of your household.  Hold me in such faith that I remain confident of your faithfulness to me in spite of all evidence to the contrary.  With all my brothers and sisters, I say, “Amen.”    

Father of my brother, Jesus Christ, in my baptism into Christ you have made me a member of your household.  As I experience the contradictions of life in this world broken by sin and passing away, hold me in the promise of Jesus Christ for me who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  With all my brothers and sisters, I say, “Amen.”    

Father of my brother, Jesus Christ, in my baptism into Christ you have made me a member of your household.  Grant that the Institute of Lutheran Theology so fashion and form its students that they, too, come to know their place in your royal household.  With all my brothers and sisters, I say, “Amen.”    

Father of my brother, Jesus Christ, in my baptism into Christ you have made me a member of your household.    Give me patience to wait for the visible manifestation of the household of God and keep me from an impatient pre-empting of its visibility.   With all my brothers and sisters, I say, “Amen.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

For this impassioned outburst, you could say that Peter earns himself the title of “Peter the Rebuked.”  Jesus has just delivered to his disciples a prediction of his passion, i.e., the necessity of the cross.  Peter, fully aware of the shame, dishonor, and death associated with that end denies the cross’ reality in Jesus’ future.  For this denial, Jesus rebukes him, “Get thee behind me, Satan!” (vs. 23).  Peter receives this rebuke for openly expressing himself as a theologian of glory.  Jesus goes on to set forth the distinction between a theologian of glory and a theologian of the cross.  The glory theologian (as Peter has just revealed himself to be) sets his mind on the things of men.  A theologian of the cross, in contrast, sets his mind on the things of God—in this case, the cross.  After making this distinction, Jesus speaks further on someone whose mind is set on the things of God.  Such a theologian has his mind set on bearing the cross of God’s will, not his own… his mind set on losing that which constitutes his life—that is, the things of this world.  Jesus will be his life.  A theologian of the cross has her mind set on receiving her soul from Jesus Christ and not achieving it through her works in this world.  Theologians of glory receive a rebuke while theologians of the cross receive Jesus Christ as their life.

Prayers from one worthy… or so very worthy… of rebuke from his Lord…

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ suffered the passion of your will worked upon him.  Grant me to suffer the passion of your will worked upon me that I would know Christ and his salvation.  Lord, in your mercy, hear my prayer.

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ suffered the passion of your will worked upon him.  As I come to know Christ and his salvation, grant me, too, the confession of Jesus as your Son, the Son of the Living God.  Lord, in your mercy, hear my prayer.

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ suffered the passion of your will worked upon him.   In my confession of Christ as the Son of the Living God, grant me, as well, the confession of Christ as one who was crucified, died, and was buried.  Lord, in your mercy, hear my prayer.

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ suffered the passion of your will worked upon him.  As I confess the cross of Christ, grant me to confess that on the third day he arose from the dead.  Lord, in your mercy, hear my prayer.

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ suffered the passion of your will worked upon him.  As I come to confess my Lord as both crucified and risen, grant me to live under him in his kingdom and serve him in everlasting righteousness and blessedness.  Lord, in your mercy, hear my prayer.

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ suffered the passion of your will worked upon him.  Grant that, as I suffer the passion of your will worked upon me, the Institute of Lutheran Theology also suffers the passion of your will to be worked upon it.  Lord, in your mercy, hear my prayer.

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ suffered the passion of your will worked upon him.  Grant that your will be worked upon me all the days of my baptism so that my days of waiting for your Son to come in his glory are filled with the passion of you having your way with me.  Lord, in your mercy, hear my prayer.

Peter has just confessed that Jesus is the Son of the Living God (v. 16).  Jesus immediately insures against Peter’s taking credit for his confession.  Peter does not get to take any pride in being that student who presents the teacher with the correct answer.  No, Peter’s recognition of Jesus as God’s Son is a gift from the Father.  The Father is the source of revelation; the Holy Spirit is the agent of revelation; Jesus is the content of the revelation.  In this simple exchange between Jesus and Peter… between student and teacher… between disciple and master… we catch a glimpse of the divine Trinity at work.  This God of ours—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is not some distant entity, some far-off eminence of holy transcendence.  No, this God of ours is right here… right now… in our midst.  He is imminent, immediate, and Immanuel (God with us).  That we would come, like Peter, to confess Jesus as the Son of the Living God is not to our credit. The confession is to the credit of our God who works upon us.

Prayers from one who ever enjoys taking credit for making the right confession…

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Holy Spirit has called, gathered, enlightened, and kept me in the faith of Jesus Christ so that I live and move and have my being in your divine presence.  Thanks be to you, O Lord!

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Holy Spirit has called, gathered, enlightened, and kept me in the faith of Jesus Christ so that I can be confident that my Lord Jesus will never leave me nor forsake me.  Thanks be to you, O Lord!

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Holy Spirit has called, gathered, enlightened, and kept me in the faith of Jesus Christ so that Jesus words, “I will not leave you orphaned,” ring true in my ears.  Thanks be to you, O Lord!

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Holy Spirit has called, gathered, enlightened, and kept me in the faith of Jesus Christ so that I trust my Lord who says, “I will be with you even unto the end of the age.”  Thanks be to you, O Lord!

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Holy Spirit has called, gathered, enlightened, and kept me in the faith of Jesus Christ so that I do not look to the works of my hands, the affections of my heart, or the prowess of my reason for the justification of my existence.  Thanks be to you, O Lord!

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Holy Spirit has called, gathered, enlightened, and kept me in the faith of Jesus Christ so that I bear witness before the Institute of Lutheran Theology of the sole sufficiency of Jesus Christ as savior and lord.  Thanks be to you, O Lord!

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Holy Spirit has called, gathered, enlightened, and kept me in the faith of Jesus Christ so that I would live out the days of my baptism in faith that I have received the gifts of Christ—the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.  Thanks be to you, O Lord!

Jesus rewards faith.  He acknowledges this Samaritan woman’s faith, even as he has likened her to a dog beneath the table (vs. 24).  This “great faith” he rewards by granting her the answer to her prayer, “Lord, help me”.  This is confusing.  Last week, Peter, whom Jesus declares as “one of little faith,” (Mt. 14:31) … Peter gets his prayer, “Lord, save me!” answered as well.  It’s confusing for Jesus rewards little faith … and Jesus rewards great faith… Perhaps it’s not the quantity of faith that’s being rewarded but simply the presence of faith.  Once, a fellow student of mine asked our teacher how much faith was required.  Our teacher answered by saying however much faith you have when it’s needed is sufficient.  Little faith… great faith… Jesus rewards the faith that calls on him (Ro. 10:13).

Prayers from a sinner inclined to have more faith in himself than in Jesus…

Our Father who art in heaven, bring me into the presence of a preacher of Jesus Christ, him crucified, and him alone, that you have sent so that I would hear this Word of yours and be called by the Holy Spirit into faith.  Grant me this faith, O Lord.

Our Father who art in heaven, grant me to trust the hearing of such a Word that I not come to trust the work of my hands, the affections of my heart, or prowess of my reason for my faith.  Grant me this faith, O Lord.

Our Father who art in heaven, hold me in such trust that I live out the days of my baptism in confidence that you, who have begun a good work within me, will assuredly bring that work to completion.  Grant me this faith, O Lord.

Our Father who art in heaven, give me such faith that I can walk among the good works you have prepared for me to do without claiming them for myself and my credit.  Grant me this faith, O Lord.

Our Father who art in heaven, make it so that I do not question the quantity of my faith but simply accept its presence as received by the Holy Spirit who calls me through the gospel.  Grant me this faith, O Lord.

Our Father who art in heaven, grant that the Institute of Lutheran Theology continue as a purveyor of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the exclusion of all its competitors.  Grant me this faith, O Lord.

Our Father who art in heaven, grant that the days of my baptism pass with my ears filled with your Word and my heart filled with confidence that the Holy Spirit works faith within it.  Grant me this faith, O Lord.

With this challenge, Peter takes his place alongside Satan in the wilderness and the crowds at the crucifixion.  When Satan challenged Jesus in the wilderness, tempting him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down…,” (Mt. 4:8) Satan was putting his God to the test.  When the crowds, gathered around the cross upon which Jesus suffered, challenged Jesus, “If you are God’s Son, come down from the cross” (Mt. 27:40), those chanting with derision were putting their God to the test.  When Peter, in response to Jesus identifying himself and to Jesus giving him and the other disciples reassurance amid their fear… when Peter responded with his challenge, “Lord, if it is you….”  Peter was putting his God to the test; Peter took his place alongside Satan and the crowds.  And look what it got him.  Jesus gave him just what he asked and commanded him, “Come!”  So Peter did.  The text tells us that Peter actually reached Jesus but, as a consequence of putting his God to the test, Peter’s fear overtook his faith.  He cried out, “Lord, save me!” (Mt. 14:30).  And so, he was saved.  So, you… as you take your place alongside Peter, the crowds, and Satan in putting your God to the test… you, too, have a Lord to call upon.

Prayers from one who often takes his place in the company of Peter, the crowds, and Satan…

Father in heaven, you have given your Son all the authority of heaven and earth, place this truth in my ears and remove from me the temptation to put my Lord’s authority to the test so that fear will not overtake my faith.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Father in heaven, you have given your Son all the authority of heaven and earth, as your Word enters my ears use your Holy Spirit to work faith upon me that I would trust my Lord Jesus as he wields the authority you have given him.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Father in heaven, you have given your Son all the authority of heaven and earth, as the authority of Jesus takes its place in my life, grant me to trust his gift to me of eternal life.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Father in heaven, you have given your Son all the authority of heaven and earth, grant to me some measure of usefulness in this old and passing away creation that I would contribute to its order rather than its chaos.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Father in heaven, you have given your Son all the authority of heaven and earth, as I contribute to the good order of this creation grant to me the satisfaction of being a good neighbor.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Father in heaven, you have given your Son all the authority of heaven and earth, grant to the Institute of Lutheran Theology the humility of witnessing to Jesus Christ, wielder of heaven and earth’s authority.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Father in heaven, you have given your Son all the authority of heaven and earth, grant me the patience to wait for the manifestation of your Son in glory when he will openly exercise the authority you have given him over heaven and earth.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Jesus had just ordered these disciples to give the crowd something to eat.  In response to that order, the disciples protested.  They protested out their scarcity:  only five loaves… only two fish…  They implied the meagerness of the food in hand would prove insufficient for the massive crowd before them.  Jesus proceeded as if he hadn’t heard that word of protest.  He commanded the crowds to sit; he blessed the food; and handed it over to the disciples for distribution to the crowd.  There proved to be no scarcity.  The disciples’ protest proved unfounded.  Jesus provided abundance, not scarcity… and abundance extending to a surplus greater than the initial quantity.  So, too, you—today’s disciples of Jesus Christ—protest from the scarcity of this sin-broken world.  Jesus, however, bids you go forward, anticipating the abundance of faith, a surplus of provision delivered not from the scarcity of this world but the abundant life of the world to come.

Prayers from one who habitually lives from the scarcity of this sin-broken world and not the abundance of the world to come…

Heavenly Father, you pour out your abundance upon the righteous and unrighteous alike.  Grant that I would live from the abundance of your provision and not from the scarcity of my sin.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Heavenly Father, you pour out your abundance upon the righteous and unrighteous alike.  Grant that I live in such confidence of your provision that I can pour myself out in usefulness.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Heavenly Father, you pour out your abundance upon the righteous and unrighteous alike.  Grant that my neighbors benefit from my being useful such that they, too, come to know God’s provision for them.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Heavenly Father, you pour out your abundance upon the righteous and unrighteous alike.  Grant me not to question the worthiness of those upon whom you pour out your provision but accept my role in delivering your provision for them through my vocations and callings. For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Heavenly Father, you pour out your abundance upon the righteous and unrighteous alike.  Grant me to receive kindness from my neighbors as they deliver your provision to me through their vocations and callings.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Heavenly Father, you pour out your abundance upon the righteous and unrighteous alike.  Grant that the Institute of Lutheran Theology receives your provision for it with thankfulness and gratitude.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

Heavenly Father, you pour out your abundance upon the righteous and unrighteous alike.  Hold me in your provision so that I live in the confidence of confessing, “Whether I live or whether I die, I am the Lord’s.”  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen

These disciples of Jesus resemble nothing so much as students who want to please their teacher.  They have listened to their master bring knowledge to them beyond their comprehension.  Then, when the teacher probes their understanding, they answer in unison, “Yes, teacher.”  Their ongoing incomprehension is demonstrated during the post-resurrection encounters Jesus has with them.  Their failure to comprehend what Jesus had taught them demonstrates that they remained “untrained” for the kingdom of heaven (vs. 52).  During his forty days of resurrected life given over to them, Jesus remained their teacher.  During those days, Jesus “opened their minds to understand Scriptures” (Lk. 24:45); overcame their “doubt” (Mt. 28:16); rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart (Mk. 16:14); overcame their fear (Jn. 20:19); and corrected them regarding the restoration of the kingdom (Acts. 1:6).   Yet, ultimately, the Holy Spirit bringing ‘power from on high” (Luke 24:49) brought them the comprehension they would need to bear witness to their Lord unto the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).  So, too, for you.  You will not understand one iota of Scripture until the Holy Spirit brings you to stand under Scripture’s authority.

Prayers from one who feigns understanding while refusing to stand under scripture’s authority…

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ is the Word of God delivered through the words of God.  So use the Holy Spirit upon me that I would stand under your Son’s authority as it is delivered through the authoritative words of God and my preacher.  Grant this for the sake of your holy name:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ is the Word of God delivered through the words of God.  As I stand under your Son’s authority, work faith upon me so that I rest in your faithfulness as relief from my anxiousness over my own lack of faith.  Grant this for the sake of your holy name:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ is the Word of God delivered through the words of God.  As I rest in your faithfulness, let me not grow complacent or weary in the work of my hands as I deliver the goods of this creation for the benefit of my neighbors.  Grant this for the sake of your holy name:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ is the Word of God delivered through the words of God.  As I deliver the goods of this creation, open my lips so that I would preach Christ as the one good of the New Creation available in this creation now.  Grant this for the sake of your holy name:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ is the Word of God delivered through the words of God.  As my neighbors receive what they need for life in this creation and the next, give to them same contentment and rest I have received for the relief of their anxiety as well.  Grant this for the sake of your holy name:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ is the Word of God delivered through the words of God.  Hold the Institute of Lutheran Theology faithful to the Word of God, Jesus Christ, delivered in the words of God, the scripture.  Grant this for the sake of your holy name:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ is the Word of God delivered through the words of God.  As I await your Son’s manifestation in glory, keep my ears filled with the preaching of Jesus Christ and my hands set to useful tasks so that my waiting is filled with contentment and rest.  Grant this for the sake of your holy name:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Amen