SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
THURSDAY, JULY 28
NEWS: No news that has been shared as of this writing. For those interested, here is a link to Friends for Life from LCMS Life Ministry. It’s from February and this segment is called, “How the Gospel Impacts Health & Wellness.” https://www.kfuo.org/2022/02/11/friends-for-life-episode-22-how-the-gospel-impacts-health-wellness-rev-todd-liefer/
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Rick and Gail Adams. We especially pray for Noah, who was able to visit with Rick and Gail on Tuesday. He will be leaving for South Korea early next week as he serves our country in the military. We also pray for our church, our church family at SVLC and our Pastor and his family.
READINGS: Psalm 59:1-5; Psalm 57; 1 Samuel 13:1-18; Acts 23:12-35
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Learning to Say No”
Luke 12:13-14 – Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” I feel sorry for the man who asked Jesus to become a judge in his inheritance case. We can’t be sure whether his case was just or unjust, because he never got far enough with Jesus to tell the story. Jesus stopped him cold by saying just one sentence: “Man, who made Me a judge or arbitrator over you?”
Jesus is correct, of course. He was not a legally appointed judge among the Jews. He did not hold public office; He had no legal authority. The man asking Him for help doubtless knew this; but he was counting on Jesus to feel flattered. If Jesus had given an opinion, His status as a famous rabbi would add unfair pressure to one side of the case. And that would be wrong.
This happens to us too, doesn’t it? People come to us asking for help in areas which are really none of our business. They may want us to interfere in their private relationships with other people. They may ask us to take on jobs or offices we are not qualified for. However they phrase it, they are asking us to do things God has clearly not called us to do.
And we may be flattered! It’s hard to say no to somebody who is treating you like the fount of all wisdom. “Surely she would listen to you,” they say. Or they may phrase it this way: “You’re the first person I thought of for the job. You know how badly we need help. Can we count on you?”
Against this, we must learn to say no. Saying no to the wrong things is the only way we can say yes to the right things! This is what Jesus did, again and again, when people tried to turn Him away from the task God the Father gave Him of saving God’s people. “Come be our king!” they cried, and Jesus knew how badly they needed political reform. “Heal us, make us well, raise our loved ones from the dead!” And Jesus knew how much grief and love were in those cries. “Feed us, because we are poor and hungry!” And Jesus knew that those words, also, were true.
But Jesus could not do those things—all those things—as the focus of His one, single life. God the Father had sent Him to do something even greater—to give His life to rescue all people from the power of sin, death, and the devil. God had sent Him to die and to rise again, so that everyone who trusts in Him will have life forever. That was not compatible with doing miracles 24 hours a day. To give us the very best, Jesus had to say no to the second best. And this was hard. People didn’t understand. They blamed Him. But He did it for us—because He loves us. We, too, can learn to say no at the right times—because we are serving Jesus whom we love in the ways He has chosen for us.
WE PRAY: Lord, help me when I need to say no and it is not easy. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. Generally speaking, do you have trouble saying no to people?
2. Why or why not?
3. When has the Holy Spirit helped you say no to people, or tell them something they didn’t want to hear?
Today’s Bible Readings: Psalms 104-105 1 Thessalonians 1
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 Thursday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
