SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2023
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
NEWS: We had an awesome day in the Lord’s house yesterday as 38 gathered together in person and more joined us online. The sun came out as we woprshipped and we thank all who served our congregation. We also give thanks to and for Pastor Joel for leading our Bible study and worship service. We completed study in the book, “Why Pray.” There are still some copies available for anyone who hasn’t picked one up. It’s in the form of a daily devotion and takes five to ten minutes a day to read.
Tomorrow evening we continue the study of the Parables of Jesus at the home of Allen and Debbie Kolkman. It goes from 6:30 to 8 PM and starts with a short devotion, followed by the study, then fellowship time with coffee and some goodies. All are invited to participate.
PRAYERS: Today we pray for Gail and Rick Adams.
READINGS: Psalm 77:1-3, 7-12, 15; Psalm 74; Job 3:11-26; John 1:35-51
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Steadfast”
Psalm 119:4-6 – You have commanded Your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping Your statutes! Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all Your commandments.
The psalmist loves God’s commandments and wants to be steadfast in keeping them because God was faithful and steadfast to His chosen people. God gave His commandments to Israel, but before He told them what they were to do, He reminded Israel of what He had done for them. The commandments begin with God’s proclamation: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Exodus 20:2). Upon hearing God’s commands, the people of Israel declared, “All the words that the LORD has spoken we will do” (Exodus 24:3b).
God’s people did not always do all that the Lord had spoken. Even the psalmist, for all his good intentions, was not steadfast in keeping the precepts of God. We share the same guilt and shame. We do not keep the commandments; we do not walk in the Lord’s ways as we should. God decreed death as the just penalty for sin and, according to God’s command, the people of Israel offered sacrifices to atone for their sins. Those sacrifices pointed forward to the new covenant God would make with His people and to the final, perfect Sacrifice. The new covenant would not be like the covenant shattered by sin. It would be a covenant of God’s steadfast love. He would write His laws on the hearts of His people, and He would build His covenant on forgiveness: “For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:34b).
The new covenant was sealed in blood, but not the blood of bulls and goats. The new covenant was established with the blood of God’s own Son. On the night He was betrayed, Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, remembering God’s mighty acts in setting His people free from slavery in Egypt. After the meal, Jesus gave His disciples the bread and wine, saying, “This is My body, which is given for you … This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:19b, 20b). His blood, shed on the cross, atoned for the sins of the world. Through faith in Jesus, in this covenant of steadfast love, our sins are forgiven and God remembers our sin no more.
God said of His new covenant, “No longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know Me” (Jeremiah 31:34b). Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we pray with the psalmist that we too might be steadfast in keeping the commandments because we know the steadfast love of God.
WE PRAY: Lord God, help me to keep my eyes fixed on Your commandments and on Your steadfast love. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. What value is there in following God’s commandments?
2. Though mankind sinned against God, what did He do to make forgiveness possible?
3. If you’re rusty on the Ten Commandments and their importance, go to Luther’s Large Catechism and check them out. Do his comments help clarify things?
Today’s Bible Readings: Genesis 49-50 Matthew 23:23-29
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
