SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS
MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2023
The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. Psalm 145:15-16 ESV
NEWS: We had an absolutely wonderful day in the Lord’s house yesterday! There were 50 who attended in person, with more viewing our service online through our Facebook page. We thank all who served our congregation in our worship and we thank the Lord for Pastor Joel in his leading of our church and his sermon message yesterday.
PRAYERS: Today we remember Terry and Alba Reilly in prayer. In our Summer of Prayer, day 6, we pray for the mission and vision of the congregations that rent the property from us, that they may glorify God as they proclaim the gospel, of Jesus Christ.
READINGS: Jeremiah 23:23-40; Psalm 145; Acts 13:48-14:7
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“It Adds Up”
Psalm 119:159-160 – Consider how I love Your precepts! Give me life according to Your steadfast love. The sum of Your Word is truth, and every one of Your righteous rules endures forever.
“It just doesn’t add up.” When something does not make sense, when a mystery remains unsolved or what we hear is unbelievable, we may say that the facts just do not add up. The psalmist does not face that kind of mathematical—and spiritual—challenge. For him, everything is in the hands of his Lord and it all adds up: “The sum of Your Word is truth.” The psalmist himself, the prophets, apostles, and evangelists were moved by the Holy Spirit to write down the words of God. Even when the Word and promises of God were veiled in mystery, the inspired writers knew and believed that at the right time it would all add up and the sum would be truth with a capital “T.”
When the time came for the prophecies to be fulfilled and the mystery revealed, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us … the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Jesus is the sum of it all. The steadfast love of God, the wisdom and mystery of the Word, the divine power and grace add up to the Truth revealed in human flesh in the Holy Child of Bethlehem. In the infant in the manger, in the weak, helpless victim on the cross, and in the glad news of the risen Savior, the Truth was revealed and the promise fulfilled. Jesus, the Son of God, is “the Way and the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6a).
By God’s grace through faith in Jesus, we have forgiveness for our sins and the gift of eternal life. Jesus Himself is the Way and the Life. He is the Truth and in Him every prophecy and promise of God add up. The unbelieving world may try to undermine that divine sum, suggesting, “Well, your faith may be true for you, but it isn’t true for me.” That is the way the devil does addition, but he is “the father of lies” (John 8:44b), and nothing he does or says can ever add up to truth.
God and His Word can be trusted even when some things, from our earthly point of view, may not make sense. Frightening events, trials, and sorrow may be troubling mysteries for us. As the apostle Paul writes of our present, limited understanding, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face” (1 Corinthians 13:12). One day we will finally and fully grasp the math. The sum of it all is and always has been in the hands of God, and the sum of His Word is Truth.
WE PRAY: My God and Savior, I believe that in You everything adds up to the Truth. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. People sometimes say truth changes from one context to another. How can we depend on God’s Word as truth, no matter what our circumstances?
2. What does “The sum of Your Word is truth” mean to you?
3. What is God’s wonderful truth for us in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection?
Today’s Bible Readings: 1 Kings 8-9 Acts 8:1-25
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 Monday and new week to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel, pastor@svlcchurch.org
