SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
FRIDAY, MARCH 11
NEWS: Tomorrow the men meet for their monthly Bible study and breakfast. The time is 9 AM in our Fellowship Hall and Pastor Joel will be talking about St. Patrick. No, he didn’t drive snakes out of Ireland (as some stories have been told) since Ireland doesn’t really have those. It is quite a fascinating story about bravery and sharing the gospel of Christ with those who never heard it. Please join us if you can.
After the Bible study we have our monthly Work Party from 10 AM to Noon. All are invited to help fix up, clean and tidy up our church and property.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Daria Roth. She requests prayers for all the people of the Ukraine in the terrible situation going on there. We also pray for Johnny, the nephew of Margaret Paton. He was gone through a third surgery, one of which was the amputation of one of his feet. We pray for his emotional and physical health.
READINGS: Psalm 73:25-28; Psalm 133; Psalm 38; Genesis 13:1-18; Mark 5:1-20
DEVOTION:
“LOOKING AHEAD”
[Jesus said] “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a Baptism to be baptized with, and how great is My distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” (Luke 12:49-53)
Jesus has had a long day preaching to the crowds. Soon He will head for Jerusalem for the last time. Jesus is looking ahead, and what does He see? A mysterious “baptism” Jesus is looking forward to with such distress—and what is that but His suffering and death on the cross? Jesus will die and rise again at Jerusalem, so that we too—all of us who trust in Him—will live.
And then what? Fire. Pentecost, when the purifying fire of the Holy Spirit begins to spread throughout the world as the Gospel goes out to all nations.
And in its wake, not peace but division. A world that is dead in the darkness is peaceful, isn’t it? There is no conflict there. But in the wake of the Gospel, there will be conflict—because some will see the light, will come alive, and believe—and their families will resent that faith and do their best to kill it.
This isn’t a peaceful future Jesus is looking forward to—and yet it is a good one. It is a future full of life and hope, the future we are living right now—as we wait for Jesus to return.
THE PRAYER: Lord, help us during this time of division to remember Your sacrifice and rejoice in Your purifying light. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* What does fire represent to you?
* When have you looked forward to something with both hope and dread?
* Have you felt the effects of division over Christ in your own life?
Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today’s Bible Readings: Numbers 3-4 Mark 12:28-44
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 Fruday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us.
