SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS
THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2023
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
NEWS: Today we celebrate Ascension Day, when our risen Lord and Savior went to be with his and our Father in heaven.
PRAYERS: Today we up Terry and Alba Reilly in prayer. Terry requests prayers for Alba, visiting family in Mexico. Also, that she has safe travels home on Monday.
READINGS: Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47; Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:44-53
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Last Words”
John 17:1a, 6-11 – When Jesus had spoken these words, He lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come … I have manifested Your Name to the people whom You gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your Word. Now they know that everything that You have given Me is from You. For I have given them the words that You gave Me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. All Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your Name, which You have given Me, that they may be one, even as We are One.”
John 17 is very dear to me, because it’s the one chance we get to listen in on the council of the Trinity. Jesus, God the Son, is speaking to God the Father.
Jesus is almost finished with His work on earth, and He knows it. The cross looms ahead, and a borrowed tomb. Jesus is returning to the Father. But for this brief moment of peace He speaks to the Father in this world, in the hearing of His disciples. You can hear the love and concern in His voice.
And what does He say? He prays for us—all of us who trust in Him, including the ones not born yet (see John 17:20). He asks the Father to watch over us and keep us in His Name. Jesus is urgent to protect us, to keep us all in the truth, and not lose any of us to the lies and temptations of the devil. He asks the Father to protect us.
And Jesus asks God to make us one, even as Father, Son, and Spirit are One. When I hear this, I feel ashamed, because who has not blushed at the fighting that goes on in the Christian church? And yet … and yet, there is a unity, isn’t there? There is a love that unites us, across the boundaries of language and nation and denomination. My family received strangers from Asia into our home during a mission conference, and a daughter of our Vietnamese congregation found a home with a Christian lady when she thought she’d have to sleep in a car. The Name of Jesus alone is a passport to all sorts of loving support—and not only for Christians!
Jesus prayed for us, and His prayer has been answered. May the Holy Spirit continue to make the fruits of that prayer spring up among us who belong to Jesus.
WE PRAY: Dear Father, thank You for hearing Jesus’ prayer for us. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. Is there one prayer you have heard in your life that sticks out in your memory? If so, what and when was it?
2. Why do you think Jesus is so concerned for our unity?
3. What does it mean to you, to know that Jesus was thinking of you the night before His death?
Today’s Bible Readings: Psalms 64 Psalms 70 John 6:1-21
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, pastor@svlcchurch.org
