Military Devotion – Read Your Bible Prayerfully – August 30, 2024

WELS Military Devotions

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Based on various Scripture readings

One of the concerns that I often get from our warfighters, especially recruits and warfighters who are deployed, is this: “Chaplain, I like to read my Bible, but I don’t always understand what I’m reading.” “Chaplain, I’d like to read my Bible, but I just lose focus.” “Chaplain, I’d like to read my Bible, but I just don’t know where to start.”

All of these concerns are understandable. There are days when I read my Bible and there are things in there that I still don’t understand. There are times that if I don’t plan to read my Bible, it’s not going to get done. And finally, there are days that I just can’t focus.

If you could see my desk right now, you’d see that it’s filled with sticky notes and piles of mail. So first of all, what I’ve done recently is move my personal devotion space to a different location in my home so I’m not distracted by all of the sticky notes and piles of mail and my phone and my laptop.

Secondly, what I also do is journal while I’m reading Scripture. I write things down so that I stay focused on those thoughts and prayers that I would like to pray as I’m reading my Bible.

And thirdly, I have a self-study Bible that has all sorts of notes and cross-referencing so that it helps me understand what I’m reading. If you don’t have one of those, I recommend The Lutheran Study Bible. You can order that from Northwestern Publishing House.

But while you’re waiting for your new study Bible to arrive in the mail, here’s what Martin Luther taught when he was asked, “Dr. Martin, how do you read your Bible, and how do you pray?” What he shared has become known as “Luther’s four strands.” Think of a wreath that is made up of four strands. While you read your Bible, Luther said, ask these four questions.

The first strand is instruction. Look for any words or phrases where God may give you instruction about something. Now, as Christians, I know that we often look for those things like, How does God want me to live as a single person? or as a warfighter? or as a husband or wife? or as a mother or father? or as a citizen or good neighbor?

Those are good instructions to look for. But what I would suggest to you is to first look for this: How is God wanting to instruct me about Christ for me? In this passage, as I read it, how do I see Christ for me? How do I see him fulfill God’s law perfectly for me where I have failed? Where does he obey, where I have rebelled against God? Where do I see Christ loving perfectly and forgiving perfectly, where I have failed to do those things for my neighbor? If there’s something lacking, how does God show me that he has supplied this through Christ for me? So that’s the first strand—instruction. How is God instructing me?

The second strand is to read through the passage again and look for something to give thanks for. Is there something in this passage that makes me sit back and go, “Wow, thank you, God!”

The third strand is confession. As you read through the section of Scripture again, look for something that points out your sin. Where have I failed to love my neighbor? Where have I failed to forgive and to serve? Confess that sin and then go back up to that first strand and see Christ for you and forgiveness for you.

And finally, the fourth strand is prayer. Read through the passage one more time and be attentive to what in that passage might lead you to pray—whether it is intercession for someone else, praying for yourself, praying about what you have learned in the Scripture reading, or just praying and thanking God that he is with you as he promises as you study his Word.

So those are the four strands: 1. instruction, 2. thanks, 3. confession, and 4. prayer. My challenge to you is to put it into practice today. The readings for this coming Sunday are:

• Deuteronomy 4:1,2,6-9
• Romans 9:30–10:4
• Mark 7:1-8,14,15,21-23
• Psalm 119:129-139

Choose one of these readings, or all of them, and prayerfully work through them using the four strands from Martin Luther.

I would love to hear your thoughts about which passage you studied and what would God have you learn in that reading according to Luther’s four strands. But before you do all of that, just stop and pray and ask God that he would open your eyes so that you may see beautiful things in his Word.

Prayer:
Almighty and everlasting God, give us an increase of faith and hope and love. And so that we might obtain what you promise, make us love what you command. Send your Holy Spirit to bless us, as you promise, as we read and study and pray on your Word.

Gracious heavenly Father, as our country pauses to contemplate the freedom to work and the employment opportunities that are available to us, may we never lose sight of the fact that it is only because of your grace and favor that we are able to work. We thank you, Lord, for the blessings of employment and work and vocation that we have had in the past and at the present. May all that we do at work give glory to you and your precious name. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, whom we love and serve. Amen.

Written and recorded by Rev. Paul Horn, WELS National Civilian Chaplain to the Military, San Diego, California.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. Note: Scripture reading footnotes are clickable only in the web version.

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