SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
TUESDAY, MARCH 8
NEWS: Tomorrow evening we have our second midweek Lenten service. We have a Potluck, starting at 6:15 PM in our Fellowship Hall and then we move to the sanctuary for our 7 PM service.
Saturday the Men will have their monthly Bible study/breakfast in the Fellowship Hall, followed by our monthly work party from 10 AM to Noon. All are invited to help out for whatever time you can spare ion tidying up our church and property.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Terry and Alba Reilly. The give thanks for all their blessings in life and for Brandon’s new job, which allows him to attend God’s house again on Sunday. We also pray for Margaret Paton’s nephew Johnny, who was in surgery when she emaioled and facing the possible amputation of one of his feet.
READINGS: Psalm 104:1-9; Psalm 124; Psalm 143; Genesis 7:11-8:11; Mark 3:20-35
DEVOTION:
“WRONG-HEADED”
When the days drew near for Him to be taken up, He set His face to go to Jerusalem. And He sent messengers ahead of Him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for Him. But the people did not receive Him, because His face was set toward Jerusalem. And when His disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do You want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But He turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village. (Luke 9:51-56)
The Jews and the Samaritans did not get along very well. When the people of this village found out Jesus was heading for Jerusalem, they shut their doors to Him. He wasn’t welcome. In their eyes, He was an enemy.
James and John were perfectly happy to return their attitude. They wanted to kill them all with fire from God! No doubt they felt perfectly righteous about it. After all, the people were insulting the Son of God.
But Jesus is not like that. He looked at that village and saw, not enemies, but people—people to be loved, people to be saved and forgiven and cared for. He was on His way to Jerusalem to die for those people! And so He rebuked His disciples, and they went somewhere else to sleep.
No doubt the people thought they had “won.” And in some sense they had—not by triumphing over Jesus, but rather by His gracious mercy. What did they win? Another chance, on another day, to somehow, some way, hear the true story of the One who came to visit them—the One who suffered, died, and rose again for their sake, so that He could invite them into His own kingdom.
And we, when we are fool enough to reject Christ—what do we win? Not what we deserve, usually. Because Jesus goes on trying. The Holy Spirit goes on calling. The Father seeks to bring us home—through Jesus His Son, our Savior.
THE PRAYER: Dear Father, help me to welcome Your Son always, as You have called me to be His. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* Did you ever fail to recognize someone? Tell the story.
* When do you feel most defensive toward other people?
* Is there an enemy in your life? Ask Jesus to help you see the best way of dealing with that person.
Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today’s Bible Readings: Leviticus 25 Mark 11:1-18
To Download Devotion MP3 to your computer, right click here and select “Save Link As” or “Save Target As” or “Download Linked File As”
Luther’s Morning Prayer
In the morning, as soon as you get out of bed, you are to make the Sign of the Cross and say:
“God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit watch over me. Amen.”
Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. In addition recite this prayer as well:
“I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father through Jesus Christ your dear son, that you have protected me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you that you would also protect me today from sin and all evil, so that my life and actions may please you completely. For into your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.”
After singing a hymn or whatever else may serve your devotion, you can go about your day joyfully!
Luther’s Evening Prayer
In the evening, when you go to bed, you are to make the Sign of the Cross and say:
“God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit watch over me. Amen.”
Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. In addition recite this prayer as well:
“I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have graciously protected me today, and I ask you to forgive me all my sins, where I have done wrong, and graciously to protect me tonight. For into your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.”
You can now go to bed quickly and cheerfully.
OTHER RESOURCES:
www.facebook.com/shepherdofthevalleyoceanside
Here is the website for Lutheran Hour Ministries: https://www.lhm.org/
Lutheran Public Radio is listener supported and has two channels, one for sacred music and the other for talk, including news, current issues, politics and spiritual matters from a Lutheran perspective. Hosted by Pastor Todd Wilken, Issues, Etc. airs live Monday thru Friday from 1 to 3 pm Pacific, with the “Best Of” running at other hours: https://lutheranpublicradio.org/
KFUO is the listener supported radio station owned and operated by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Based in St. Louis, their format consists of teaching, preaching, ministry and sacred music: https://www.kfuo.org/
A very blessed Tuesday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us.
