SVLC DEVOTION FRIDAY, MAY 26, 2023

by | May 25, 2023 | Daily Devotions

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

FRIDAY, MAY 26, 2023

 Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love and teach me your statues. Psalm 119:124 ESV

 NEWS: Please refer to the Shepherd of The Valley Church Newsletter that was emailed by Allen Kolkman yesterday. It includes information about Wine on The Patio (perhaps indoors) which is tonight.

 PRAYERS: Today we lift up the Terrill family in prayer: Amy, Abby, Lot and Asha.

 READINGS: Jeremiah 4:1-18; Psalm 119:121-128; Acts 1:12-26

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Water and Fire”

May 26, 2023

 

John 7:38-39 [Jesus said] “Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'” Now this He said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive.

This devotion pairs with this weekend’s Lutheran Hour sermon, which can be found at lutheranhour.org.

Dear friend, have you ever tried to make a bonfire over a river? It is a silly idea even to think about doing something like this, right? We know very well that if we put firewood sticks over water, the firewood will sink, get wet, soak, and become useless if we want to make a fire.

Water and fire don’t go together Yet, they are both essential elements in our lives. We need fire to cook our meals and to stay warm in the winter and even to destroy trash that can be harmful to our health. We need water to quench our thirst, to shower, to clean and, most importantly, to stay alive. Because without water we won’t survive more than a few days.

During the Hebrew Feast of the Tabernacles, the Jewish community will pray for rain for the coming planting season. During this festival they also remembered that God provided water to the Israelites, while they were wandering through the desert for 40 years. It is at this festival that Jesus promises that He will make flow rivers of living water out of the heart of the believers.

This promise was fulfilled in Pentecost when the believers received the Holy Spirit. Amazingly, the Spirit did not come in the form of rain—it was not water that descended from heaven—but tongues as of fire. Only God can send fire and create a river of living water!

Moved by the Holy Spirit, Peter preached a vibrant sermon that brought to repentance about three thousand people who then were baptized with water and the Holy Spirit.

God is still active today, sending the Holy Spirit and bringing people to repentance and to Baptism. Think of this, dear friend. God is still active today creating in us the burning desire to share the living water that Jesus put in our hearts when He forgave all our sins. God is being generous with us, flooding our lives with peace and hope. Now we are being called and sent to be generous and share what we receive from Jesus. Through our testimony, God will bring forgiveness, peace, and hope to others.

WE PRAY: Dear Father, thank You for sending Jesus to pay for our sins and to create in us springs of living water. Help us to share Your forgiveness and hope with others. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Rev. Dr. Hector Hoppe.

Reflection Questions:

1. Have you ever seen a spring of water? How do you connect the living and running water that sprouts from the earth with the Holy Spirit that God sent you?

2. Can you tell how the Holy Spirit is a Comforter, a power force, and a living spring of water that keeps you going?

3. What does it say about the Holy Spirit that He is portrayed by both fire and water?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Psalms 17, 19; John 9:24-41

 

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 Fridday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us

 Pastor Joel, pastor@svlcchurch.org