MONDAY
(Also see the Table of Duties)
First Commandment
O Holy Trinity, You have commanded us to have no other gods. Grant that we
may fear, love, and trust in You above all things; through Jesus Christ our
Lord.
Second Commandment
Lord God, You have commanded us not to misuse
Your name. Grant that we may fear and love You so that we do not curse, swear,
use satanic arts, lie or deceive by Your name, but call upon it in every
trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Third Commandment
Almighty God, You have commanded us to remember
the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Grant that we may fear and love You so that
we do not despise preaching and your Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear
and learn it; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Fourth Commandment
Heavenly Father, You have commanded us to honor
our father and mother. Grant that we may fear and love You so that we do not
despise or anger our parents and other authorities, but honor them, serve and
obey them, love and cherish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Fifth Commandment
Lord of life, You have commanded us not to
murder. Grant that we may fear and love You so that we do not hurt or harm our
neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need; through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sixth Commandment
Almighty God, You have commanded us not to
commit adultery. Grant that we may fear and love You so that we lead a sexually
pure and decent life in what we say and do, and husbands and wives love and
honor each other; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Seventh Commandment
O Lord, You have commanded us not to steal.
Grant that we may fear and love You so that we do not take our neighbor's money
or possessions, or get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and
protect his possessions and income; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Eighth Commandment
Almighty God, You have commanded us not to give
false testimony against our neighbor. Grant that we may fear and love You so
that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt
his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the
kindest way; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ninth Commandment
Almighty God, You have commanded us not to covet
our neighbor's house. Grant that we may fear and love You so that we do not
scheme to get our neighbor's inheritance or house, or get it in a way which only
appears right, but help and be of service to him in keeping it; through Jesus
Christ our Lord.
Tenth Commandment
Almighty God, You have commanded us not to covet
our neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or
anything that belongs to our neighbor. Grant that we may fear and love You so
that we do not entice or force away our neighbor's wife, workers, or animals, or
turn them against him, but urge them to stay and do their duty; through Jesus
Christ our Lord.
What does God say about all these commandments?
"I, the LORD
your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to
the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing love to a
thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments." (Exodus
20:5-6)
Almighty God, You threaten to punish all who break your
commandments. Grant therefore, that we may fear Your wrath and not do anything
against them. But You promise grace and every blessing to all who keep Your
commandments. Grant, therefore, that we may also love and trust in You and
gladly do what You command; through Jesus
Christ our Lord.
TUESDAY
First Article of the Creed
Almighty Father,
Creator of heaven and earth, You have made me and all creatures; You have given
me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my
senses, and You still take care of them. You also give me clothing and shoes,
food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I
have. You richly and daily provide me with all that I need to support this body
and life. You defend me against all danger and guard and protect me from all
evil. Give me to recognize that all this You do only out of fatherly, divine
goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my
duty to thank and praise, serve and obey You; through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Second Article of the Creed
Lord Jesus Christ, You are true God,
begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin
Mary. You have redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me
from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or
silver, but with Your holy, precious blood and with Your innocent suffering and
death. Give me to believe that You did this in order that I may be Your own, and
live under You in Your kingdom, and serve You in everlasting
righteousness,
innocence, and blessedness, just as You have risen from the dead, live and reign
to all eternity with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Third Article of the Creed
O Holy Spirit, I cannot by my own
reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but You
have called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with Your gifts, sanctified and
kept me in the true faith. In the same way You call, gather, enlighten, and
sanctify the whole Christian Church on earth, and keep it with Jesus Christ in
the one true faith. Give me to know that in this Christian Church You daily and
richly forgive all my sins and the sins of all believers, and on the Last Day
You will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all
believers in Christ; for You with the Father and the Son together are worshiped
and glorified, one God, now and forever.
WEDNESDAY
Introduction to the Lord's Prayer
"Our
Father who art in heaven."
O God, with these words You tenderly invite
us to believe that You are our true Father and that we are Your true children.
Grant that with all boldness and confidence we may ask You as dear children ask
their dear father; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
First Petition of the Lord's Prayer
"Hallowed be Thy name."
Dear Father in heaven, Your name is certainly holy in itself, but we pray
that it may be kept holy among us also. Grant that Your Word may be taught in
its truth and purity, and help us, as Your children, to lead holy lives
according to it. Protect us from anyone who would profane Your name by teaching
or living contrary to Your Word; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Second Petition of the Lord's Prayer
"Thy kingdom come."
Dear Father in heaven, Your kingdom certainly comes by itself without our
prayer, but we pray that it may come to us also. Grant us Your Holy Spirit, so
that by Your grace we believe Your holy Word and lead godly lives here in time
and there in eternity; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Third Petition of the Lord's Prayer
"Thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven."
Heavenly Father, Your good and gracious will is
done even without our prayer, but we pray that it may be done among us also.
Break and hinder every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our
sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow Your name or let Your kingdom
come. And strengthen and keep us firm in Your Word and faith until we die. This
is Your good and gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Fourth Petition of the Lord's Prayer
"Give us this day our
daily bread."
Dear Father in heaven, You certainly give daily bread to
everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray that You
would lead us to realize this and to receive with thanksgiving all the things
that You provide for the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink,
clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or
wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good
government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good
friends, faithful neighbors, and the like; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Fifth Petition of the Lord's Prayer
"And forgive us our
trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us."
Heavenly
Father, do not look at our sins or deny our prayer because of them. We are
neither worthy of the things for which we pray, nor have we deserved them. But
we ask that You would give them all to us by grace. For we daily sin much and
surely deserve nothing but punishment. So we too will sincerely forgive and
gladly do good to those who sin against us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sixth Petition of the Lord's Prayer
"And lead us not into
temptation."
Dear Father in heaven, You tempt no one. We pray that You
would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may
not deceive or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and
vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally
overcome them and win the victory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Seventh Petition of the Lord's Prayer
"But deliver us from
evil."
Heavenly Father, we pray that You would rescue us from every evil
of body and soul, possessions and reputation, and finally, when our last hour
comes, give us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow
to yourself in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Conclusion to the Lord's Prayer
"For Thine is the kingdom and
the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen."
Dear Father in heaven,
grant that we may be certain that these petitions are pleasing to You and are
heard by You. For You Yourself have commanded us to pray in this way and have
promised to hear us. Amen, Amen; Yes, Yes, it shall be so.
THURSDAY
Baptism, Parts I and II
"Therefore go and
make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19)
"Whoever believes and
is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."
(Mark 16:16)
Merciful God, You have revealed to us that baptism is not just
plain water, but it is the water included in Your command and combined with Your
Word. Help us to trust that baptism works forgiveness of sins, rescues from
death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as
Your words and promises declare; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Baptism, parts III and IV
"He saved us through the washing of
rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously
through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we
might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy
saying." (Titus 3:5-8)
"We were therefore buried with Him through
baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead
through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." (Romans 6:4)
Gracious Lord, certainly not just water, but Your Word in and with the water
of baptism forgives our sins, rescues us from death and the devil, and gives us
eternal salvation. Faith trusts this Word of Yours in the water. For without
Your Word, the water is plain water and no baptism. But with Your Word it is a
baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new
birth in the Holy Spirit. Grant, therefore, that by daily contrition and
repentance, the Old Adam in us may be drowned and die with all sins and evil
desires, and that a new man may daily emerge and arise to live before You in
righteousness and purity forever; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
FRIDAY
The Office of the Keys
"The Lord Jesus
breathed on His disciples and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive
anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not
forgiven.'" (John 20:22-23)
Lord Jesus Christ, You have given Your
Church on earth the special authority to forgive the sins of repentant sinners,
but to withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant as long as they do not
repent. Give us to believe that when Your called ministers deal with us by
Your divine command, in particular when they exclude openly unrepentant sinners
from the Christian congregation and absolve those who repent of their sins and
want to do better, this is just as valid and certain, even in heaven, as if You,
our dear Lord, dealt with us Yourself; for You live and reign with the Father
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Confession
Almighty and most merciful God, You teach us that
confession has two parts: first, that we confess our sins, and second, that we
receive absolution, that is, forgiveness, from the pastor as from You Yourself,
not doubting, but firmly believing that by it our sins are forgiven before You
in heaven. Grant us true repentance, that before You we may plead guilty of all
sins, even those we are not aware of, as we do in the Lord's Prayer, and that
before the pastor we may confess those sins which we
know and feel in our
hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
SATURDAY
The Sacrament of the Altar, questions 1-3
"Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread,
and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said:
‘Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in
remembrance of Me.' In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and
when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you;
this cup is the new testament, in My blood, which is shed for you for the
forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of
Me.'"
Gracious God, You have given us to believe that the Sacrament of
the Altar is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread
and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and drink. Grant
that by these words, "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins," we
may believe that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are
given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is
also life and salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Sacrament of the altar, question 4
Almighty God, certainly not
just eating and drinking the Sacrament of the Altar gives us life and salvation,
but the words, "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." These
words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the
Sacrament. Grant that by believing these words, we may have exactly what they
say: forgiveness of sins; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Sacrament of the Altar, question 5
Almighty God, fasting and
bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training to receive the Sacrament
of the Altar. But grant especially that we may be worthy and well-prepared for
it by having faith in these words, "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness
of sins." Anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and
unprepared. For the words "for you" require all hearts to believe; through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
SUNDAY
Christian Questions with Their Answers
Prepared by Dr.
Martin Luther for those who intend to go to the Sacrament
After Confession and instruction in the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, the pastor may ask, or Christians may ask themselves:
Q: Do you believe that you are a sinner?
A: Yes, I believe it. I am
a sinner.
Q: How do you know this?
A: From the Ten Commandments, which I
have not kept.
Q: Are you sorry for your sins?
A: Yes, I am sorry that I
have sinned against God.
Q: What have you deserved from God because of your
sins?
A: His wrath and displeasure, temporal death, and eternal
damnation. (See Romans 6:21,23)
Q: Do you hope to be saved?
A:
Yes, that is my hope.
Q: In whom then do you trust?
A: In my dear Lord
Jesus Christ.
Q: Who is Christ?
A: The Son of God, true God and man.
Q: How many Gods are there?
A: Only one, but there are three Persons:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Q: What has Christ done for you that you trust
in Him?
A: He died for me and shed His blood for me on the cross for the
forgiveness of sins.
Q: Did the Father also die for you?
A: He did
not. The Father is God only, as is the Holy Spirit; but the Son is both
true God and true man. He died for me and shed His blood for me.
Q:
How do you know this?
A: From the Holy Gospel, from the words instituting
the Sacrament, and by His body and blood given me as a pledge in the Sacrament.
Q: Do you believe, then, that the true body and blood of Christ are in the
Sacrament?
A: Yes, I believe it.
Q: What convinces you to believe this?
A: The word of Christ: Take, eat, this is My Body; Drink of it, all of you,
this is My blood.
Q: What should we do when we eat His body and drink His
blood, and in this way receive His pledge?
A: We should remember and
proclaim His death and the shedding of His blood, as He taught us: This do as
often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.
Q: Why should we remember and
proclaim His death?
A: First, so we may learn to believe that no creature
could make satisfaction for our sins. Only Christ, true God and man, could
do that. Second, so we may learn to be horrified by our sins, and to
regard them as very serious. Third, so we may find joy and comfort in
Christ alone, and through faith in Him be saved.
Q: What motivated Christ to
die and make full payment for your sins?
A: His great love for His Father
and for me and other sinners, as it is written in John 14; Romans 5; Galatians
2; and Ephesians 5.
Q: Finally, why do you wish to go to the Sacrament?
A: That I may learn to believe that Christ, out of great love, died for my
sin, and also learn from Him to love God and my neighbor.
Q: What should
admonish and encourage a Christian to receive the Sacrament frequently?
A:
First, both the command and the promise of Christ the Lord. Second, his
own pressing need, because of which the command, encouragement, and promise are
given.
Q: But what should you do if you are not aware of this need and have
no hunger and thirst for the Sacrament?
A: To such a person no better advice
can be given than this: first, he should touch his body to see if he still has
flesh and blood. Then he should believe what the Scriptures say of it in
Galatians 5 and Romans 7.
Second, he should look
around to see whether he is still in the world, and remember that there will be
no lack of sin and trouble, as the Scriptures say in John 15 and 16 and in I
John 2 and 5.
Third, he will certainly
have the devil also around him, who with his lying and murdering day and night
will let him have no peace, within or without, as the Scriptures picture him in
John 8 and 16; I Peter 5; Ephesians 6; and II Timothy 2.
Note
These questions and answers are no
child's play, but are drawn up with great earnestness of purpose by the
venerable and devout Dr. Luther for both young and old. Let each one pay
attention and consider it a serious matter; for St. Paul writes to the Galatians
in chapter six: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked."