Lord, as we enter into a time in your Word together, continue to pour out your Holy Spirit. Give us the Holy Spirit, who writes the preached Word into our hearts. Where we are turned inward on ourselves, turn us to you. Give us repentant, merciful and peaceful hearts when our pride turns us away from you and against each other. Let your mercy and peace win the victory in our hearts.
Lord,
By the light of your Word we see the dark mark of our sin. Yet by the light of your Word we are also marked with forgiveness and new life in Christ. Let us be marked not for sorrow, but marked as ones who are claimed by the “man of sorrows”. Let us be marked not for cold and hardened self-righteousness, but for Christ shown and Christ given humility. Let us be marked not for our shame, but marked by the Holy One who was shamed by the world that He might save it. Let us be marked not by the false sacrifice of self satisfying works through which we think we earn your favor, but by sacrificial love for our neighbor. For on account of Christ’s one sacrifice for all time for the forgiveness of sins, you do not require sacrifice, Lord, but mercy poured out to others.
King Jesus,
So often we fall to temptation, and bear the fruit of sin: hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy. Be the friend and pardoner of sinners. In your mercy turn us, repent us, faith us, forgive us, renew us.
Remind us that we are marked with your name, and stir your Holy Spirit within us that we might instead bear the fruit that this world so desperately needs: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
In your name we pray,
AMEN.