SVLC DEVOTION TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2023

by | Aug 14, 2023 | Daily Devotions

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2023

 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11 ESV

 NEWS: A very blessed Tuesday to all as we are in mid-August!

 PRAYERS: Today we remember melissa and David Carlisle in our prayers. In our Summer of Prayer series, we pray for the people of Oceanside to have wisdom and be able to distinguish between truth and falsehood.

 READINGS: Jeremiah 52:12-23; Psalm 43; Philippians 2:1-11

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Outsiders”
August 15, 2023

 

Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 – Thus says the LORD: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon My salvation will come, and My righteousness be revealed. … And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to Him, to love the Name of the LORD, and to be His servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast My covenant—these I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, “I will gather yet others to Him besides those already gathered.”

Do you ever feel like an outsider? Like, no matter how hard you try, you can never make the grade—be accepted—join the family? I know I do.

And there are people, both in Old Testament times and now, who try to make God’s church this kind of exclusive club. King Herod’s remodeling job on the temple included courts for women and Gentiles, though these were not a part of God’s building plan in the Bible. In Herod’s plan, these people were not supposed to come any closer to the holy areas. Imagine what it would feel like, to watch your more privileged friends and neighbors going past you to worship, while you were left outside!

But God tells us in this passage that with Him there are no outsiders. In the eyes of the world you may be a person of little value. But in God’s eyes, you are wanted—you are called—you are welcome. The Holy Spirit is calling you to Him. Jesus Himself has laid down His life to make you God’s.

But what about your sins—and not just those, but your flaws, your problems, the things that people reject you for? Will God reject you, too? No. Jesus has died for you and risen from the dead, and He wants you for His own—for always. He has taken away your sins and forgiven and cleansed everything in you that needed that. Jesus values you, and He intends to have you, no matter what others might say to you in His Name.

As God says in our passage for today, “I will gather yet others to Him besides those already gathered.” Who is He gathering people to? To His Son Jesus. As God the Father says to Jesus in Isaiah, “It is too light a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make You as a light for the nations, that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6).

Jesus is calling you to Himself, and He promises, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never cast out” (John 6:37). That includes you—right here, right now.

WE PRAY: Dear Lord, help me to trust that You really want me—and help me to show that same love to other people. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Reflection Questions:

1. When have you felt most welcome and wanted?

2. How could you tell?

3. What has God done to bring you, you specifically, to Himself? Look back over your life and think about it.

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: 1 Chronicles 13-15; 1 Corinthians 9

 

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 hour  s: 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