SVLC DEVOTION WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2023

by | May 9, 2023 | Daily Devotions

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2023

 This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

 NEWS:

Birth Choice Baby Shower!  This Saturday, May 13 at 1:00, all ladies are invited to a fun “Baby Shower” to benefit the ministry of Birth Choice.   You can learn more about Birth Choice here:  www.birthchoice.net   We’ll have all the usual fun activities and some great food plus we’ll hear about the important, loving work of Birth Choice.  Please bring an unwrapped baby gift and/or contributions for the money tree.  They have a gift registry here:  https://www.amazon.com/baby-reg/birthchoice-ofsanmarcos-december-2022-sanmarcos/3HYNXQTV8GQKI   Be sure to attend – and please bring several guests (neighbors, friends, relatives, co-workers)!  There will be a special gift for all the teens who participate so please especially invite them.  For planning purposes, email Debbie Kolkman at debbiekolkman@yahoo.com or phone her at 760.433.4885.

 PRAYERS: Today we lift up Margie and Allen Latall in prayer. We ask prayers for guidance as we continue to plan for a cruise in early Julyn with friends, that all my go well and all may be safe.

 READINGS: Habakkuk 3:1-13; Psalm 119:1-8; Luke 21:10-24

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Making a Defense”

May 10, 2023

 

1 Peter 3:13-17 – Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

When you hear the word “defense,” do you automatically think “defensive”? I do, but I know that’s not right. Clearly, God doesn’t need us to defend Him; you might as well say an elephant needs a mouse to protect him! No, God is fully capable of defending Himself if He thinks it necessary.

For us to get all excited and angry about “defending God” or “protecting Christianity” is for us to get it all backward—and frankly, it’s a bit insulting to God. It is God who protects us, not the other way around. We trust in Him to care for us, and to deal with all blasphemers, liars, and haters in His own time and way. Meanwhile, we pray for those people and show mercy to them; we don’t get into fights with them. After all, some of us were once among them.

Then what is Peter talking about here? He is talking about explaining the Good News of Jesus Christ, and doing it with gentleness and respect.

There’s a thing that happens sometimes—you may have seen it in your own life. Even when you are going through a very hard time, the Lord is with you, holding you up, keeping you going—even when you can’t feel His presence and are suffering a great deal. And then, maybe weeks or even years later, someone says to you: “I watched while you were going through X, and I don’t understand how you got through it. How did you do it? What do you have that I don’t have?”

That is an open door for you to tell them about Jesus. You don’t have to give a two-hour lecture or know all the answers to everything; all you have to say is something like “I didn’t know how I was going to make it, but I trusted Jesus to get me through. He laid down His life for us, and I know He loves us. And so I turn to Him when I’m in trouble.”

Your job is not to convince them; it’s simply to answer in a gentle, respectful way that they can understand. And then you go on living and relating to them in a way that is marked by the love of Jesus through and through. The Holy Spirit will do His work in their lives. And when He uses you to bring someone to faith—what an honor!

WE PRAY: Dear Father, let Your Son shine through my life and my words so that others come to trust in Him. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Reflection Questions:

1. Do you get angry when other people insult God or Christianity? How do you respond?

2. How did Jesus respond when people insulted Him during His suffering and death?

3. Is there someone in your life you can practice treating with love and gentleness? Pray for them now.

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: 2 Samuel 6-7; Psalm 30; John 1:29-51

 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, pastor@svlcchurch.org