SVLC DEVOTION TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2023

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2023

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

 NEWS: The Tuesday evening Bible study is now on break until the fall.

 PRAYERS: Today  we remember Theodora Elias in prayer. We pray for Theodora’s health needs and for her daughter Rita and son Sadi in their jobs.

 READINGS: Jeremiah 10:1-10; Psalm 125; Acts 6:1-7

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Is God Abusive?” June 6, 2023

 

Hosea 5:15-6:2 – “I will return again to My place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face, and in their distress earnestly seek Me.” “Come, let us return to the LORD; for He has torn us, that He may heal us; He has struck us down, and He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live before Him.” This passage from Hosea makes me nervous sometimes. Look at the language! What is all this talk about God tearing people and striking them down? That sounds really creepy! And the people are going right back to Him afterward! It sounds like one of those cases where someone returns to a spouse who beats them. Is God abusive? Why would He cause pain at all? Maybe we can find some answers if we think about our own experiences with medical care. We all know that there are times when the only way to heal physically is to go through suffering. If we dislocate a shoulder, we accept the pain that comes when the doctor puts it back in the right place. It’s the only way to be healthy again. If we have appendicitis, we agree to surgery and the pain that goes with it because we know that it will save our lives. Nobody likes pain, but we accept it when it is necessary for healing. If we look at what God is doing from that perspective, we can tell the difference between His actions and abuse. Abusive people cause pain for no good reason. They hurt people, but nothing good results from it—just years of suffering and sadness. But God never causes pain when He can avoid it. As the Bible says, “For He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone” (Lamentations 3:33, NIV). It’s true that people who have experienced abuse from human beings are often afraid of God. This is natural, and God doesn’t blame us for it. But He wants us to know that He is not like that. How do we know? Because God Himself came to walk this earth as the Man Christ Jesus. And what do we see in Jesus? We see patience and gentleness and mercy. We see a Man who is more than happy to hold babies and to talk to foreign women and to comfort people who are grieving when someone they love has died. We see a Man who has infinite patience with His disciples, even when they get it wrong again and again and again. We see a God who chooses to lay down His own life in a terrible death on a cross—all so He can bring us back to Himself, alive as He is alive, now healed in body and soul, as joyful children of God. There is a lot of pain in this broken world, but God has made sure that the worst of it falls on Himself. “And with His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5b). WE PRAY: Dear Lord, let me see Your gentleness and mercy. Let me know You as You are. Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo. Reflection Questions: 1. Has anyone ever described God to you in a way that sounded abusive? 2. What do you think was wrong with that teaching? 3. How do you see God showing mercy, love, and patience to you in your own life?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Psalms 109-110,138; John 16

 

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

 Pastor Joel, pastor@svlcchurch.org