SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS
FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2023
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
NEWS: TONIGHT, Wine on The Patio takes place at the home of Debbie and Allen Kolkman. All they ask is please bring some wine to share (or other beverage), plus also an hors d’oeuvres or appetizer or snack to share. No need to RSVP, just come! Their address is 710 Fredricks Ave., Oceanside.
Tomorrow, we have the monthly Men’s Bible Study/Breakfast at 9 AM. It will be in our sanctuary this time and it’s a good opportunity for fellowship and discussing God’s word. At 10 AM the Fellowship team meets in the sanctuary. Our monthly Property Improvement event also takes place at 10. This is where all are invited to come and help tidy up our church and surrounding property.
PRAYERS: Today we pray for the Jerome family: Denae, Christopher and Evelyn. We also pray for the Luckemeyer family and especially Lucy Joy, who is not feeling well.
READINGS: Psalm 32:1-7; Psalm 51; Ezekiel 36:13-28; Romans 4:1-25
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Gifts to Share”
Colossians 1:28-29 – Him [Jesus Christ] 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.
This devotion pairs with this weekend’s Lutheran Hour sermon, which can be found at lutheranhour.org.
The turquoise-blue waters of the Dead Sea have much in common with those of the Sea of Galilee, 60 miles to the north. Both bodies of water are mentioned in the Bible. They’re both called “seas,” but are, in fact, land-locked lakes. And both are fed by the same source, the Jordan River. These two lakes have much in common, but there is one crucial difference. The Sea of Galilee shares what it gets. The Dead Sea doesn’t. In the Sea of Galilee, water flows in and out and is teeming with life. With many species of fish, the Sea of Galilee has supported generations of fishing villages. But with the Dead Sea, water only flows in. It just takes and takes and takes. Water escapes from this desert basin only through evaporation. And what remains is heavy, salty, and aside from some strains of bacteria, lifeless.
Strangely, the Bible presents the Dead Sea as an image of hope. The prophet Ezekiel gives us the vision. It came at a time when God’s people felt hopeless. The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. Their nation was no more. But Ezekiel saw a time when God would build a new temple. From the side of this temple there would flow a stream of living water. The river would flow into the desert and give life. Because this water goes there, says the LORD, so the waters of the [Dead] Sea will be healed (see Ezekiel 47:8-9).
Hundreds of years later, when Jesus died on the cross, a soldier pierced His side with a spear, bringing a flow of blood and water—water flowing from Jesus’ side (see John 19:34). Earlier, Jesus had said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19b). They had said to Him, “It has taken 46 years to build this temple! And You will raise it in three days?” (John 2:20b). They meant the temple built by human hands. But the temple of which Jesus spoke was His body. And after He rose from the dead, His disciples remembered His words and they believed the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken (see John 2:19-22).
Jesus is the new temple, the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy, our Source of healing water. He baptizes us in that water. On our own, we’re like the Dead Sea, lifeless, hopeless, floating in a tepid pool of our own neediness. But in Jesus, we become like the Sea of Galilee. Jesus restores that outflow of faith in God and love for neighbor that you and I need to truly live. And now, you have His Spirit flowing through you. You have gifts to share. You can say as Paul said in today’s reading, “I labor, struggling with all His energy which He so powerfully works within me.” And not even a sea of death can stop it.
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, pour Your Holy Spirit into me so that streams of living water would flow from my heart, according to Your promise. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour.
Reflection Questions:
1. What gifts, talents, and abilities do have to share? Try out this free, online Gift Inventory available through Lutheran Hour Ministries: everygift.org. Which were your top gifts?
2. Did the “Every Gift” inventory confirm, expand, or supplement what you knew about yourself?
3. In the past, when have you found joy in using your vocational gifts to bless others?
Today’s Bible Readings: Job 11-13 Matthew 9:18-38
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 Friday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
