SVLC DEVOTION WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 2023

by | May 23, 2023 | Daily Devotions

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 2023

 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 ESV

 NEWS: Wine on The Patio returns this Friday evening at the home of Debbie and Allen Kolkman. It may be indoors, depending on the weather.  It goes from 6:30 to 8 PM. Please bring some wine to share (or other beverage) and also some hors d’oeuvres, appetizer or snack to share. Questions?  Please email Allen K. at kolkmanallen@gmail.com 

 PRAYERS: Today we lift up Bill and Pat Sperberg in prayer. Also, we pray for Cole, the grandson of Charlene Simpson, as he gets married next week in West Virginia. We include Amy Terrill as she travels to the ceremony.

 READINGS: Jeremiah 3:6-18; Psalm 119:105-112; Luke 24:36-53

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Resting”

May 24, 2023

 

Acts 2:1-4 – When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

What a wonderful day that must have been! God sent the Holy Spirit down on all those first Christians—men and women, rich and poor, high status and low—and they saw what looked like tongues of fire resting on each of them. And then right away the Holy Spirit put them to work—telling the Good News about Jesus to everyone in the city, native and foreigners alike, using their own languages.

It was a miracle! But you know that miracle didn’t keep going for days and days. Most of those people stopped speaking other languages pretty quickly. Their lives became normal again. Does that mean the Holy Spirit left them?

No, it certainly does not! The Bible says that the flames of fire they saw “rested” on each one of them. The Spirit did not come for one big show, and then leave town. No, He came to stay with them forever—whether there were flashy miracles going on or not.

The Spirit comes to us too, when we first come to faith in Jesus, whether that happens at our Baptism or some time before, when we hear the Good News of salvation. He is the One who makes it possible for us to trust in Jesus, who laid down His life to rescue us all from the power of evil. He is the One who makes us share in the everlasting life of Jesus, who rose from the dead and will never die again. The Spirit is God living within us, and He will never leave us or desert us.

Why, then, are our lives so quiet—so normal—sometimes, so difficult? If the Spirit is with us, why don’t we see Him doing incredible things the way He did on Pentecost? Jesus reminds us that most of God’s work happens in a much quieter way: “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come” (Mark 4:26-29).

As long as we belong to Jesus, the Holy Spirit is doing His work inside us—forgiving, cleansing, reshaping, and changing us to be more and more like Jesus. And this will go on lifelong.

WE PRAY: Dear Father, thank You for the gift of Your Spirit. Strengthen my faith in Your Son Jesus and make me more and more like Him. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Reflection Questions:

1. How do you think the first Christians felt when the day of Pentecost was over and life returned to normal?

2. When did the Spirit first come to you—was it at your Baptism or before it, when you heard about Jesus? (It’s fine to say “I don’t know.”)

3. It can be hard to see the Spirit’s work in our own lives, but easy to see it in others. Tell about someone you know in whom you see the Spirit working.

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Psalms 12-14; John 8:28-59

 

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