Preparing for Worship - July 27, 2025

Several of the readings this week teach us about prayer, as God’s people, and the Epistle continues readings from Colossians. The Old Testament lesson is from Genesis 18:(17-19) 20-33. The Lord reaffirms His choice of Abraham, from whom would come a great nation, and all nations on earth would be blessed through him, in His descendant, our Lord Jesus. The Lord then tells Abraham what is coming for Sodom and Gomorrah, so that Abraham could learn and teach about justice and righteousness. Abraham, thinking of his relatives, Lot and family, who lived in Sodom, takes the opportunity to ask the Lord to spare them, though he describes it as not destroying the righteous with the wicked. Abraham prays humbly, knowing that he was just “dust and ashes,” but trusts God’s justice, in going from 50 to only 10 righteous people, to have the cities spared. (There were not even 10 of God’s people in those cities, and they were destroyed, but Lot and his two daughters were spared, with the angels’ help, though his wife disobeyed and died. God showed justice - and mercy, at the prayer of Abraham.)

The psalm is Psalm 138. David prays and gives thanks to the Lord for hearing his prayers and preserving his life, in the midst of enemies. David sings and praises the Lord for His steadfast love and faithfulness. He honors the Lord’s Name and trusts His Word, as the Lord strengthens his soul. The Lord cares about David, even in the lowly days he experiences. David is confident that the Lord will fulfill His purposes for him, in His steadfast love for him, and not forsake him. David will be one of those kings who give thanks to the Lord, for he has heard the Words of the Lord and has been brought to trust His ways.

The Gospel lesson is from Luke 11:1-13. Jesus modeled prayer by praying often Himself, and one of His disciples asks Him to teach them to pray, too. Jesus then gives His model prayer, what we call “The Lord’s Prayer,” which He had taught before in a slightly fuller way, in Matthew 6:9-13. We are to pray to our Heavenly Father, honoring Him and His Name and the Kingdom of God He sends to us in Christ. There is only one prayer for our everyday needs, summarized as daily bread, but we pray especially for our spiritual needs  - the forgiveness of our sins, and the willingness to forgive the sins of everyone else, too, and to be protected from times when we might be tempted to sin. Jesus then teaches us to be persistent and persevering in prayer, being almost “impudent” in our asking, seeking, and knocking, in approaching our Lord, trusting that He will hear us. He will answer as He knows what is best for us. Even imperfect human parents (He calls us “evil,” knowing our sinful nature) know not to give their children hurtful and harmful things. So our Heavenly Father will give us good gifts and especially the Holy Spirit, who brings us to faith in Christ through the Word of God and our baptism, and strengthens us through that Word and the Lord’s Supper and spiritual gifts He works in us. (See Galatians 5:22-23.)

The Epistle lesson continues readings from Colossians. This week’s reading is Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19). Paul calls upon us again to recognize the greatest gift our Lord gives, in Christ Jesus, who has the fullness of God, of deity, in a human body. As true God and man, he forgave all our sins, taking our sins upon Himself and being nailed to the cross for them, paying the debt for them and canceling that debt, and then being raised from the dead. We receive that forgiveness and new life in our baptism and being brought to faith in Jesus and His Word and what he has done for us, as our Savior. Paul warns us, then, not to be caught up in human philosophy and traditions, or even in Old Testament rules and regulations and festivals and Sabbath. The same is true about fascination with angels and supposed visions or a very rigid, ascetic lifestyle, etc. The substance of our Christian life is in Christ and holding fast to Him as our Head, and growth that is from God, through His Word and Sacraments. And we abound in thanksgiving to Him, for His saving grace for us.