SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2022
NEWS: Yesterday we celebrated All Saints Day in our congregation, with 41 worshipping in person and more with us online. We are thankful to all who attended as well as to those who served our congregation. We are also blessed to have Pastor Joel, who led our Bible study and worship.
There will be NO Tuesday evening Bible study tomorrow evening at the Kolkman’s house. This coming Saturday the men will have their monthly Bible study/breakfast in the Community/Fellowship building at 9 AM. Bruce Woodward will be bringing bagels and last I heard, he is taking orders if you plan on attending and have a favorite bagel. You can contact him at bruce_woodward@hotmail.com Note that there is an underscore, _ , between his first and last name. Then, from 10 AM to Noon, we will have our monthly work party. This is where anyone can pitch in to help clean up, fix up and tidy up our church and property.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Leonard and Suzette Prokopin.
READINGS: Psalm 121; Psalm 135; Jeremiah 11:1-23; Matthew 24:1-28
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Worldwide”
Psalm 98:2-3 – The LORD has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
The worldwide web is a computer network that allows people to search around the globe for documents and information. The web provides access to information that might not otherwise be available. Here, though, the psalmist rejoices in the fact that God made His salvation known, and this was long before the invention of a computer network. “He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.”
God remembered His covenant with Israel, His promise to send the Messiah. This covenant promise was woven through the history of ancient Israel, but it was a promise that extended beyond God’s chosen people to embrace all nations. At the right time, the promise was fulfilled as God sent His Son into the world to be its Savior. Jesus suffered and died on the cross to atone for our sins, “and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2b). In Christ, God reconciled the world to Himself and He has created His own worldwide web to make His salvation known to “all the ends of the earth.”
The crucified and risen Lord instituted this worldwide web of proclamation when He commanded His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. They were to baptize in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and teach new followers all that Jesus Himself had taught. Long before the computer-based worldwide web, believers carried the Good News of salvation into the world. New discoveries in technology provided new tools that were used by Christ’s ambassadors to spread the Gospel. The printing process, radio and television broadcasts, and now the worldwide web have been used to reveal God’s righteousness in Christ Jesus in the sight of all nations.
Jesus compared His kingdom to a different kind of web, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind” (Matthew 13:47). He called His first disciples to fish for people, to cast the Gospel net and, by the power of the Spirit, gather people into the kingdom of God. Through the use of computer technology or the time-honored (and old-fashioned!) method of speaking to others in person, we use the same Gospel net as we share the Good News of Jesus with others. It is a web that will reach out to the ends of the earth until our Lord returns: “This Gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).
WE PRAY: Jesus, help me to be a faithful ambassador for You so that others will come to know and worship You as Lord. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. Is the world better off now that we have the internet and instant information? Why or why not?
2. Can you imagine Jesus being born today in the internet age and how different that would be? Do you think His birth would make the headlines?
3. What are some ways the internet is used to spread the Gospel to others?
Today’s Bible Readings: Jeremiah 43-44 Hebrews 11:20-40
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 Monday and new week to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
