“But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:11).

Take a look at these things.  If you ever find yourself asking the question, “How then shall I live?”  Here is your answer.  Focus upon these things every day.  These are the jewels of real wealth.  When you have these, the other things of this world which tempt and distract become nothing.  Seek first the things of the Kingdom and then go into the world.  Do not mix up your priorities.

Lord, is it really this simple?  I know it is not easy, but time and again You tell me the simple steps to take to live the life You have given me in grace.  Guide me, O Lord, so that I may do these things, that is, work on them that these actions may reflect who I am in You.  You know how and where I need to be led, Lord.  Lead me in these things so that I would now and always be one who lives by faith.

Lord Jesus, You have come in order that I may walk in newness of life.  Lead me, Lord, in this new way of life and guide me according to Your goodness.  Grow in me the richness of these things so that I may grow each day to be a little more like You.  Lord, teach me how to pursue good things and live in contentment with what You have given me in this world.  Through all things, keep me close to You.  Amen.

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Timothy 6:10).

More than just money, anything that gets in the way of looking to and living for the salvation of Jesus is a root of evil.  Yes, we are distracted, but do not live for things when the Creator of all things has come that you may have true life.  Live into the life you are offered in faith and keep your eye on the prize.  Do not be pierced by the pains of this world, but by the truth of sins forgiven and the new life you have in Christ.

Lord, You know where I am tempted and what it would take to see me wander away from You.  Keep me from all these things.  Guide me in Your goodness so that I would hold fast to You and be led by Your grace and mercy.  You have already given me the greatest treasure.  Keep me from wandering after false treasures or seeking after that which will be destroyed.  Keep me in You always.

Lord Jesus, You have come in order that I may have life and have it abundantly.  Even if I wallowed in poverty, in You I would still be rich.  Let me never be conditional in my faith, but always wholly committed to You, who alone can save me from the pit of destruction.  By Your grace and in Your mercy, let me firmly walk so that I may now and always see that I am truly blessed with the true treasure of heaven.  Amen.

“But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction” (1 Timothy 6:8-9).

Enough is enough only when you realize that enough is enough.  The one who desires to be rich is never content.  Beyond the necessities, wealth is used for influence.  Influence is power (or so we sinfully think).  Those who seek power seek to place themselves alongside the Lord.  Learn to be content with having enough.  If you are blessed with more, or blessed with less, in all things give thanks to the Lord.

Lord, You know where the struggles I have are in me.  You know where I want more than I need and where I am tempted for power or influence.  Guide me, Lord, so that I would not seek just things, but You who is the Maker of all things.  Lead me, Lord, in order that I may not fall prey to the common temptations, but see them for what they are and flee from them.  Help me through all struggles so that I may become like You.

Lord Jesus, You have witnessed time and again the struggle of humanity.  A few have and most do not have.  In the name of making things equal, it ends up being simply a shift in who has and who does not have.  Rather than wasting my time on meaningless pursuits, help me to pursue the greater portion by following You and learning from You the higher things.  Thank You for the salvation You alone give.  Amen.  

“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world” ( 1 Timothy 6:6-7).

Listen to this. Too many seem to think that they can take whatever it is with them.  We are blessed to have what we have.  God grants as God grants.  All these things are gifts.  Sure, we work and scrimp and save, but all of this does not mean that we will not leave them behind after our last day.  Act with equanimity and be fair to all.  You will leave everything behind, be it small or large.  Be cheerful in your giving.

Lord, I do hoard and think of all these things as mine alone.  Help me shift my thinking so that I treat all things as Yours.  They are and the difference is my attitude.  Guide me, Lord, in the right way of thinking about these things so that I may have a mature and proper attitude of stewardship.  In You is all hope and through You alone is salvation.  Guide me to not just hear these things, but to do them.

Lord Jesus, You have shown us by the example of Your life with an indifference to ownership.  You did not accumulate things, yet You never did without.  You lived in the provision of the day.  Help me to learn from Your example so that I might now and always look to You as the true source who has already provided all that is needed.  Guide me, O Lord, so that I may be a good steward and know I own nothing.  Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, Cycle C: Transfiguration of Our Lord, February 27, 2022

Deuteronomy 34:1-12: (The death of Moses after God shows him the Promised Land; no one has arisen like Moses, whom God spoke to as a friend, face to face)

       RCL/ELW: Exodus 34:29-35: (The shining face of Moses)

Psalm 99: (Extol the Lord, who spoke to his servants Moses and Aaron in a pillar of cloud. You, Lord, love justice and establish equity; you forgive sin and avenge wrongdoing)

Hebrews 3:1-6: (Moses was faithful as a servant in God’s house. Jesus is faithful as the Son)

       RCL/ELW: 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2: (We look upon the Lord with unveiled faces. Being transfigured from glory unto glory, we put aside shameful practices, commend selves to everyone in the sight of God)

Luke 9:28-36: (The Transfiguration of our Lord)

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Let us draw near to the Light of Christ, offering prayer and supplication on behalf of the Church, the world, and one another.

A brief silence

Father, today we kneel in adoration before the majesty your Son, revealed in his Transfiguration. But sometimes, our devotion grows cold. Sometimes our prayers and worship become half-hearted and routine. Sometimes we treat Jesus like a buddy we can call on if we need something from him. Kindle our hearts, minds, and spirits always to worship and obey him with holy fear, deep joy, and fervent love.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

O God beyond all praising, we worship you and adore your glory, revealed in the face of your beloved Son. Grant that your Church listens to his word and holds fast to him in its heavenly calling. Make it bold to preach Christ alone as the way of salvation. Let it proclaim to the whole world his blessings without number and his mercy without end.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Grant to your persecuted people confidence and hope, established through the steadfast obedience of Christ their Lord. Give them grace to triumph through their sufferings and rise to serve you even in the presence of those who trouble them.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Let the radiance of our Beautiful Savior fill the hearts and sanctify the ministries of this congregation. Make our worship into a joyful duty, and our service into a sacrifice of praise. Use us to lead others to Jesus, that with us, they may worship, honor, bless and adore him.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

You have appointed your Son as King of creation and Lord of the nations. Teach our leaders to praise your name; to love justice and righteousness; and to seek those things that make for peace. Come to the help of those whose lives are troubled by sorrow and hardship; and draw all people into the glorious and gentle rule of Christ their Savior.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We lift our hearts to you on behalf of all whose lives are clouded by any sort of affliction or sorrow, including: {List}. Let the light of Jesus’ countenance heal and cheer them. Let all who care for them do so with tenderness and compassion; and grant that together we may praise you for your unending mercies.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, our Beautiful Savior, those who have died trusting in you now see you face to face. Thank you for that final, best gift! Continue, we pray, to show to us your amazing love. Though we are your unworthy servants, bless us with such good gifts as will sustain us and others in this life. Bring us, in your good time, into the joy you have prepared for all whom you have redeemed. Give us voices there to sing unceasingly, “Glory and honor, praise, adoration, now and forevermore be thine!”

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For all these things, dear Father, and for whatever else you desire for us in your wisdom and compassion, we pray in the name of Jesus, our Savior, Lord, and King. Amen.

“He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain” (1 Timothy 6:4b-5).

There are those who love to stir the pot.  Always seeking to be excited about something, they do not settle for what the Lord has given them.  These are the signs.  Do not ignore them, but realize they are symptoms of the disease of sin.  Inoculate them with the love of Jesus as a doctor would with a physical disease.  Do not allow the cancer of sin to grow.  Many congregations have allowed the cancer to grow and then wonder why they have failed.

Lord, help me to be bold in seeing things for what they are.  Let me always be gracious, but also willing to stand the right ground against the sins of those who would hurt Your body.  Guide me, Lord, to know when to stand and when to sit down.  Guide me to know the difference between a tough love that says no, and an even tougher love that sees but does not yet act.  You know what is necessary.  Guide me.

Lord Jesus, how hard it is for You to always walk this line with us sinners.  You walk it so that those who will come to know You will have the grace to reach the right place.  Help me to be like You so that I do not battle with others but love them enough to bring them to where they need to be.  Help me in and through all things to be led by You and to do things as You direct them to be done.  Amen.

“Teach and urge these things. If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing” (1 Timothy 6:2a-4a).

This world is filled with people who want to do what they think is right in their own mind.  We are called to listen to the Lord Jesus and do as He directs.  More than suggestions, He has given us the words of eternal life.  Come then and be rid of your arrogance and puffed up attitude.  Live into the life you have been given by grace.  Know that in the Lord there is hope and an eternal life.

Lord Jesus, You know the difficulty of navigating life in this world.  You know that there are those who think more highly of themselves than they ought.  Sometimes that is me.  Help me to be truly honest and to teach what You have given me to teach.  Help me to imitate Your life as the godly life.  Help me to move from understanding nothing to knowing that You are Lord and Savior.

Lord Jesus, God in the flesh, though You are above everything, You acted as no one special.  You through whom all things have their being, humbled Yourself, even to death on the cross.  Lead me, Lord, in this example to not see myself as anything other than one of Your redeemed and to teach what is godly and true.  Guide me, Lord, in the way You have established and help me never to veer from the path You have set before me.  Amen.

“Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved” (1 Timothy 6:2).

In our day, we think of ourselves as equal to everyone else.  It is much better to think of yourself as the servant of all.  The attitude you adopt reflects the intent of your heart.  If at first you are unable, try to act as if you were able.  The Lord always works with a contrite heart.  Treat others with respect and dignity, no matter their position, and live the kind of life that emulates how our Lord lived on earth.

Lord, You know how difficult it is in the face of arrogance and self-superiority.  Lead me, O Lord, to live into the life You have given me so that I would forever hold fast to this life of faith and grow in Your likeness.  Do not allow me to fall into the trap of the wicked one, nor let pride rule my heart, attitude, or mind.  In all things, lead me to be humble that I would learn to be like You.

Lord Jesus, You died because of our failures.  You did so willingly, knowing that I could not be what I need to be without You.  Take me and make of me what I need to be and begin with the attitude I carry around every day (unless You need to begin elsewhere).  Lead me in Your goodness, O Lord, and help me through the obstacles that get in the way.  In and through all things, allow me to see where I am wrong and where I have not respected others as I should.  Amen.  

“Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled” (1 Timothy 6:1).

Perhaps as many as one-third of the Roman Empire were slaves.  Christ has not called us to throw off the yoke of this world’s bondage but has freed us for eternity by dying for our sins.  In the vein of that reality, we are not to be belligerent, rebellious, or angry, but live the life we have been given.  Some have and others do not.  Some are able and others are not.  In all of this, we are called to live for Christ.

Lord, there are things in my life I would like to have changed.  I do not understand these things, but You have a reason as to why what bugs me remains.  Whatever the case, help me turn to You so that I may live the life You have given me and grow in Your likeness throughout all circumstances.  Teach me to honor as You honor and live as You live knowing that all things are in Your hands.

Lord Jesus, You came to save us.  You willingly allowed Yourself to be subjected to all kinds of things in order that we might have grace and gain salvation.  Lead me, Lord, in the way of truth and guide me according to Your goodness to live as You lived.  Help me honor all who are in my life, even those who have subjected me to bondage.  Let me not revile, but love and learn to live freely.  Amen.

“The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follow after.  Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed” (1 Timothy 5:274-25).

Jesus told us that by their fruit we would be known.  This is not to say that we, or anyone, should judge others as to whether they are in the salvation of Christ.  But it does mean that we can see things and recognize whether one is doing as they say or doing what is evil in the sight of the Lord.  If the church would stop ignoring the obvious, it would be better for us all.

Lord, help me to be discerning in order that I may see what there is to see.  The one who does evil needs prayer, edification and encouragement all the more.  All of this is for the sake of those who are willing not to perish, but to come into new life.  Lead me, Lord, in the right direction to see these things and then, when You give direction, to act upon Your command.  Keep me from  thinking I know what the outcome is.

Lord Jesus, You died for all of us sinners.  You love us each equally and the Father desires that none would perish.  Yet, there are fruits that are evident that point one way or the other.  Lead me Lord to see what I need to see and yet to do so without making pronouncements even in my mind as to what I see and what it means.  Through all things, lead me to love my neighbor and care for all equally and impartially.  Amen.