SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
WEDNESDAY, JULY 13
NEWS: The women’s online Bible study is this evening at 5 PM. For more information or to get the Zoom link, please contact Kay Berni by email, kberni@aol.com
This Saturday, please plan to attend our EAT-O-VISION at 4 PM in our sanctuary. We will be viewing the movie, “Meet Me In St. Louis,” (in Technicolor) starring Judy Garland! The great thing is, food will be served, related to certain scenes in the movie. We’ll enjoy a great flick and no one will be leaving hungry!
There’s still time to RSVP if you’d like to go and see the Lake Elsinore Storm baseball game on Friday, August 12. Tickets are $14 each and that includes parking and a non-alcoholic drink. The last day to get your name on the list is this coming Sunday, July 17. You can either talk to Rick Adams in church or contact him by email if interested, daddams@hotmail.com .
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for the Luckemeyer family: Amy, Lucy, Jeremy and Pastor Joel. We pray for Tom and Gloria Morofski, for their health needs and concerns. Also, a prayer taken from the LSB for Faith, Hope and Love, “Almighty God, grant us a steadfast faith in Jesus Christ, a cheerful hope in Your mercy and a sincere love for You and one another; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.”
READINGS: Psalm 71; Judges 13:1-25; Galatians 2:1-21
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Lacking?”
Colossians 1:24-29 – Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the Word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within me.
I admit that it freaks me out every time I read this passage and hear Paul talk about “filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.” I thought Jesus said “It is finished!” about His suffering. How can anything be lacking in His suffering and death?
But then I take a closer look at these phrases: “my sufferings for your sake,” and “Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, the church.” There’s no denying that a lot of suffering still happens among Christians. And some of that suffering happens when we are caring for others.
It isn’t easy to care for somebody who has a physical or mental illness. It isn’t easy to walk with somebody who’s going through divorce or job loss or the end of a dream. And there’s a special agony for those who love people who are far away from Jesus, and who are in danger not just physically but spiritually.
Sometimes caring for people is going to rise to a level we might fairly call “suffering.” In Paul’s case, it involved being beaten and thrown in jail for sharing the Gospel with people who hadn’t heard of Jesus yet. In our case, it may be much more mundane—a night walking the floor with a friend’s screaming baby, a blood donation when you’re scared of needles, free evenings sacrificed to figuring out someone else’s taxes.
Yet as Christians, we know that we’re not doing it alone—Jesus Christ Himself is doing it through us, directing our love and sharing whatever suffering there may be. Our afflictions are His afflictions. And so it is fair to call it “filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions,” because when it comes to Christ living through His people, the work will never be done until the end of the world—and neither will the suffering.
But what an honor! The same Jesus who suffered, died, and rose from the dead for our sake, because He loved us—that is the One who is inviting us into His work today. He makes us junior partners in His work of love. He trusts other people He loves into our care. It doesn’t get much better than that. Like Paul, we too “rejoice in [our] sufferings for your sake!”
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, use me to care for others in the way You see best—and help me to rejoice in it. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. What kinds of care have you seen in your life that you could fairly call “suffering”?
2. Tell about a time God cared for you through someone else.
3. Tell about a time when God used you to care for someone.
Today’s Bible Readings: Amos 1-3 Acts 15:22-41
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 Lutherans for Life: https://lutheransforlife.org/
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 Wednesday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
