SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2023
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
NEWS: It was a very warm day yesterday as we returned to the Lord’s dwelling. Besides those who attended in person we had more who joined us online. Thank you to all who served our congregation during our service and thanks to Victor Dille for providing the fellowship treats. Also, thank you to Pastor Joel for his leading Bible study and for conducting our worship service, along with his sermon message.
PRAYERS: Today we remember Kyle Ross in our prayers.
In our Summer of Prayer series, we rember those who grieve on this anniversary of the terrorist attacks on our country in 2001.
READINGS: Ezekiel 8; Psalm 70; 1 Timothy 3:14-4:16
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“No Pay Back”
Psalm 103:8-11 – The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will He keep His anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him.
“Pay back” is the way of the world. We see it all around us, in road-rage incidents, in family quarrels, in arguments that escalate into physical fights or gunfire. This is what our fallen human nature wants—revenge against others for real or perceived wrongs. Often enough we participate in such behavior ourselves, but our merciful and gracious God does not deal with us in the way that we deal with one another.
God would certainly have good reason to pay us back as we deserve. We continually sin against Him, repenting as we should, but then doing the same things again. We follow our own selfish desires instead of following His commands. Yet God does not seek revenge. He does not deal with us according to our sins, but according to His ways: “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” Because of that steadfast love, God does not pay us back with the condemnation that we deserve. He does not act in vengeance against us. Acting in mercy and grace, God sent His Son to be our Savior. Bearing our sins in His own body, Jesus was judged and condemned in our place. He suffered the penalty of death that we deserved for our sins. The steadfast love of God for those who fear Him, those who trust in Him, is “as high as the heavens are above the earth.” It is a love revealed at the cross on which Jesus hung suspended between heaven and earth. There, at that cross, God did “not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.” He dealt with us in love.
Now through faith in Christ, we know the steadfast love of God every day of our lives, a love that will last through eternity. The apostle Paul prays that we, “being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:17b-19a). Rooted and growing in that love, we pray that through our works of service and words of witness, the Holy Spirit will lead others to believe that God does deal with them according to their sins. They too will come to know the steadfast love of God.
WE PRAY: Lord God, keep me from seeking revenge. Teach me to deal with others in love and forgiveness, as You have dealt with me. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. Why is it so hard to resist the knee-jerk response of paying someone back for what they’ve done to us?
2. Why is it a good thing that God does not deal with us “according to our sins”?
3. How does Jesus’ love toward the world give us an example of how we should respond to others?
Today’s Bible Readings: 2 Chronicles 29-30 Acts 19:21-41
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
