SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
MONDAY, JUNE 20
NEWS: It was a great Father’s Day in God’s house yesterday and we are thankful to all who attended Bible study and worship, to all who assisted in our worship service, to all who helped with and contributed to our Potluck and to our Pastor Joel and his family. We are a very blessed congregation!
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Kyle Ross. We pray for Kyle’s mom, dealing with a broken femur and dementia. We pray for Kyle as he travels to Lakeside each day, to take his father to visit mother/wife. We also pray for Kyle’s son Shaun and his family, as they have moved to Perris, CA Shaun’s health is doing well, although he is still blind in his left eye from last years accident he was in.
READINGS: Psalm 45; Proverbs 22:22-23:12; John 18:15-40
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“All Good”
Psalm 16:1-2 – Preserve me, O God, for in You I take refuge. I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from You.”
What is considered “good” in life? We might come up with a lengthy list, including life itself. Good health is, of course, good, along with family, friends, home, work, food, and possessions. Yet the psalmist prays, “Preserve me, O God, for in You I take refuge.” If we have so much that is good in life, from what must we be preserved? Why do we need a place of safety, a place to hide?
We know, as surely as David the psalmist knew, that not everything in life is good. Health may be lost. Serious illness and death may separate family members or friends. Jobs can be lost and homes damaged or destroyed. To any list we must add, in repentant sorrow, the lengthy record of our own sins, our own disobedience and rebellion against God’s Word and ways. Concerning all of this earthly good—and earthly evil—the apostle Paul reminds us, “The present form of this world is passing away” (1 Corinthians 7:31b). We know that the Day of Judgment will come, the Day when Jesus will return to bring an end to every earthly list.
In Jesus alone, we have lasting good that will not pass away. We have the eternal good of peace with God and forgiveness for our sins. Our eternal list of good expands to include victory over death and the grave through Jesus’ death and resurrection. We have the lasting good of Jesus’ love and life in His presence forever. For this reason, we joyfully pray with the psalmist: “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from You.”
When the list of all that we consider good fades away, Jesus is our place of safety, our refuge. We have no good apart from Him. Jesus said, “I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). A living, fruit-bearing branch has no good apart from its source, its stem; it will die if separated from the main vine. We have no lasting good apart from Jesus. We have been joined to the true Vine in Baptism. We are united to Jesus and in Him we bear the fruit—good fruit!—of love and service to others in His Name. This good fruit flows from our true Vine, through us, into the world. Jesus said, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples” (John 15:8). For our list of blessings, both earthly and eternal, we praise and glorify our God and Savior. It is all good because He is good!
WE PRAY: Lord, I give You praise and thanks for every blessing, both earthly and eternal. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. What’s your most prized possession?
2. How does being united to Jesus ease the pain of losing things in this world?
3. What’s an example of a Christian bearing fruit for God?
Today’s Bible Readings: Proverbs 27-29 Acts 5:1-21
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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:
Our church website is: https://www.svlchurch.org/
Below is our Facebook page:
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 Monday and new week to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
