Mark 9:40 For the one who is not against us is for us.

1. We are our own ____________ when it comes to our relationship with God.

2. We must rid ourselves of ____________ that gets between us and ____________.

3. Christ commands us to make event ____________ ____________ if something prevents us from receiving His gifts.


Scripture Readings
Numbers 11:4-16,24-29
James 5:13-20
Mark 9:38-50


Take It With You!

Here are some further thoughts to help you contemplate and living the life as a baptized child of God!

The Sixth Petition: Lead Us Not into Temptation

We have now heard enough about the trouble and effort it takes to retain and preserve in all the gifts for which we pray. This, however, is not accomplished without failures and stumbling. Moreover, although we have acquired forgiveness and a good conscience and have been wholly absolved, yet such is life that one stands today and falls tomorrow. Therefore, even though at present we are upright and stand before God with a good conscience, we must ask once again that he will not allow us to fall and collapse under attacks and temptations.

Temptation is of three kinds: of the flesh, the world, and the devil. For we live in the flesh and carry the old creature around our necks; it goes to work and lures us daily into unchastity, laziness, gluttony and drunkenness, greed and deceit, into acts of fraud and deception against our neighbor- in short, into all kinds of evil lusts that by nature cling to us and to which we are incited by the association and example of other people and by things we hear and see. All this often wounds and inflames even an innocent heart.

Martin Luther, The Large Catechism: Sixth Petition of the Lord's Prayer.