Our Savior Lutheran at Prayer
Mark 4:1-20
Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2 And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” 9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” The Purpose of the Parables 10 And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, 12 so that “ ‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’ ” 13 And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. 16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. 17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”
In the name of the Father and the +Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. The seed is the Word of God. It is cast generously by our God in the soil of our heart. But we should be aware that the devil is ready to snatch away the Word from us. The world would have you believe that the devil isn’t that dangerous, that he doesn’t exist, that he is just trying to help, or some other lie to take you off his scent. The devil is real and he is dangerous. His goal is to snatch the Word of God out of your heart so that you do not believe. But we should be aware that all the enemies of God do not want this Word of God to succeed and therefore mount every attack of tribulation and persecution against you. But we should be aware that the world is using its pleasures and sinful sights to allure your sinful nature into the trap that is away from the Word so that you make for yourself other gods and depend on your emotions and feelings and pleasures instead. But most especially we should be aware that we have an active and powerful God that hears our prayers, that knows our tribulations, that has been tempted in every way like us, that has come down to deliver us, and has promised to always be with us. The enemies of God are real and they are attacking you. Your salvation is secure in this Jesus Christ—who traveled to the cross, suffered its scorn, received the punishment for your sin, destroyed the devil and death and the reign of sin, then rose again to live forever with you. He promises to hear your prayer, to be with you in Word preached and Sacraments given, and to return to gather you to himself and take you to heaven. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. In the name of +Jesus. Amen.
Pastor Steven Cholak, School Chaplain and Assistant Pastor, Our Savior Lutheran Church and School
You may utilize the Order of Daily Prayer for Individuals and Families (pages 295-298) in Lutheran Service Book for your family prayers.
The Collect of the Week:
O Lord, mercifully hear our prayer and stretch forth the right hand of Your majesty to defend us from those who rise up against us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Prayer for others:
For the pre-born, the weak, the sick, those in hospital, and those who cannot care for themselves;
For the shut-in and those recovering from surgery at home;
For those struggling with sin and those who are sick;
For those attacked by false teaching;
For our pastors (Pastor White, Pastor Krieg, and Pastor Cholak);
For pastors and congregations throughout the world as they begin the Lenten season;
For the teachers and administration at Our Savior Lutheran School;
For those who are students in college and university;
For the Christian training of the young, especially those who homeschool.
StarboCho 