SVLC DEVOTION THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 2023

by | Aug 23, 2023 | Daily Devotions

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 2023

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

 NEWS: Got Questions?  We have an excellent series of studies concerning Christian teachings at https://www.svlchurch.org/about-us/lutheranism-101/  This is a great resource for learning more about Lutheranism and what we believe/confess.   Do you have questions about Baptism or heaven?  Questions about Jesus or Mary?  Here is a GREAT resource.

 PRAYERS: Today we remember Gordon and Lois Friske in our prayers. In our Summer of Prayer series, we pray for the people who want to break up marriages and ruin homes, that the Lord would show them a better way.

 READINGS: Lamentations 5; Psalm 52; Colossians 2:16-23

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Who Do You Say That I Am?”
August 24, 2023

 

Matthew 16:13-20 – Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then He strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that He was the Christ.

It’s an important question Jesus asks the disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” He starts with the easier question—what other people think—and gets the usual potpourri of answers. Of course people were speculating. And they were coming up with answers based on a combo of Jesus’ miracles, wild rumors, and even prophecies they remembered from the Old Testament.

But the disciples stand in a better place to answer this question. After all, they’ve been living with Jesus for months, even years at this point. They have more to go on than just His public teaching and miracles. They’ve seen Him in daily life—how He reacts to annoyances, what happens when He’s tired, what He does when someone the world considers worthless approaches Him for a favor. And so Jesus asks them, too: “But who do you say that I am?”

Peter, always the first to open his mouth, gives the answer: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus praises him! Not for being so smart or clued-in, however. No, He says to him that God the Father has given him this understanding and faith. Because no matter how well we think we know Jesus, it’s going to take God’s Spirit to give us the faith to truly grasp it: “Yes, this is our Messiah. Yes, this is the Son of God.”

And Jesus faces us with this same question even today. “Who do you say that I am”—this ordinary hard-working Man, dusty from travelling, tired from teaching and healing, who speaks the words of God? This Man, beaten and humiliated, hanging naked on a cross? This Man, buried in a borrowed tomb? This Man, risen from the dead, never to die again—full of joy and promising everlasting life to everyone who trusts in Him?

And our lives answer Him: Yes, You are our Lord and our Savior, the One we count on in every time of trouble. You are the Son of God and the Son of Man, the One who rules the universe at God the Father’s right hand. You are the One who is our hope and our joy even in the darkness, because You will never leave us and never forsake us. You are Jesus, and we are Yours.

WE PRAY: Dear Lord, thank You for making Yourself known to me. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Reflection Questions:

1. Who do your friends think Jesus is?

2. How did you first come to know Jesus?

3. Why do you believe Jesus is who He says He is?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: 1 Chronicles 26-27; 1 Corinthians 15:1-28

 

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

 Pastor Joel, pastor@svlcchurch.org