SVLC DEVOTION MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 2023

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 2023

 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. Colossians 1:17-18 ESV

 NEWS: As the major storm system moved into our area yesterday, we still had a blessed day in the house of the Lord. There were 28 who attended worship in person, with more joining us online. We thank all who served our congregation as well as those who participated in our Potluck. We are also grateful for and thankful to Pastor Joel for his teaching in Bible study and his preaching/leading in worship!

 PRAYERS: Today we remember Bill Erne in our prayers. In our Summer of Prayer series, we pray that families in Oceanside would look to the Lord and give thanksgiving for what they have, not seeking happiness in gaining more things.

 READINGS: Lamentations 3:25-39; Psalm 49; Colossians 1:15-23

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“A Purpose Fulfilled” August 21, 2023

 

Psalm 138:7-8 – Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life; You stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand delivers me. The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me; Your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of Your hands. “I walk in the midst of trouble.” That sounds like a fairly accurate description of daily life. We face all kinds of trouble—difficulties at work, financial worries, family strife, health concerns—the list is often very long. Is that the Lord’s purpose for us, to endure trouble? The psalmist does not say the Lord removes the trouble, but that the Lord preserves his life. Like the psalmist, even in the midst of trouble we are held securely in the Lord’s care. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, promises, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:27-28). The Good Shepherd who holds us in His hand laid down His life to deliver us from the wrath of enemies who threatened trouble far greater than any earthly challenge we might face. Sin, death, and Satan were foes that wanted to snatch us from the Shepherd’s hand. It was trouble we could never overcome. Yet for us Jesus walked willingly into the midst of those deadly threats. His life was not preserved and by His death He destroyed the powers of sin, death, and the devil. To save His sheep, the Good Shepherd laid down His life and took up His life again because, He said, “This charge I have received from My Father” (John 10:18b). Jesus fulfilled His Father’s purpose. What is our purpose? Speaking of the psalmist’s death, the apostle Paul said, “David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers” (Acts 13:36a). David fell asleep, not after he fulfilled his own purpose in life, but when he fulfilled the purpose of the Lord. It is what David had announced in the psalm: “The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me.” That is our confident statement as well. The day will come when the Lord has fulfilled His purpose in our lives and we will fall asleep in Christ. Before that day, we may not know all that the Lord has planned for us, but we place our trust, as David did, in the steadfast love of the Lord. Nothing in life, no earthly or eternal troubles, not even death itself, “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39b). God has created us anew in Christ Jesus for His purpose and He will never forsake the work of His hands. WE PRAY: Lord, I know that You will fulfill Your purpose in my life. Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. Reflection Questions: 1. Sometimes God doesn’t remove our troubles but preserves us through them. Can you think of an example of this? 2. Can you name some shepherd-like qualities Jesus displays in His care for us? 3. How do we know that Jesus is concerned for our welfare?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: 1 Chronicles 17-19; 1 Corinthians 13

 

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 Monday and new week to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us

 Pastor Joel, pastor@svlcchurch.org