Let us pray: O good and gracious God, heavenly Father + Grant us Your Spirit of Truth and Peace, that we may understand Your holy Will and follow Your Directions and trust Your Promises from the bottom of our heart all our life. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit – one God – now + forever. Amen.
The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came and then head for the wilderness of Damascus. Go and anoint Hazael king over Syria. You must anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to take your place as prophet. Jehu will kill anyone who escapes Hazael’s sword, and Elisha will kill anyone who escapes Jehu’s sword. I still have left in Israel 7,000 followers who have not bowed their knees to Baal or kissed the images of him.”
Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen; he was near the twelfth pair. Elijah passed by him and threw his robe over him. He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, then I will follow you.” Elijah said to him, “Go back! Indeed, what have I done to you?” Elisha went back and took his pair of oxen and slaughtered them. He cooked the meat over a fire that he made by burning the harness and yoke. He gave the people meat and they ate. Then he got up and followed Elijah and became his assistant.
1.Kings 19:15-21 (Lesson for Tuesday after the 5th Sunday after Trinity)
Occasionally one hears this saying of Luther´s quoted: “Let no one give up the faith that God wants to do a deed through him.” There is something inspiring about that. That saying is inscribed on the arch of the gate to the Wittenberg Seminary, but with this little alteration: “Let no one give up the faith that God wants to do a deed in him.” This change, trifling as it may seem, is important. And, to be sure, it is the original reading. This is Luther´s fundamental idea: that God has done something great to us. But then it was Luther who roused us to recognize that he wants to do something through us! This saying applies to every Christian, but it especially applies to ministers of the gospel.
Hermann Werdermann (Quoted in Dobberstein Pg. 274)
Refrain: Listen, listen, God is calling, through the Word inviting,
offering forgiveness, comfort, and joy.1. Jesus gve his mandate: share the good news
that he came to save us And set us free.2. Let none be forgotten throughout the world.
In the triune name of God Go and baptize.3. Help us to be faithful, standing steadfast,
Kenyan song translated by Howard S. Olson (1922-2010)
walking in your precepts, Led by your Word.
Wilhelm's space 