SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2023
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
NEWS: This Saturday we are conducting a Memorial Service for Eric Woodward, son of Bruce and Carole, sister of Denae Jerome. The time is 2:00 PM in our church. After our service, you are welcome to join us in our Community Building for food and refreshments and remembrance of our friend Eric.
PRAYERS: Today we remember Charlene Simpson in our prayers. Charlene requests prayers for family as her mother-in-law passed away yesterday.
In our Summer of Prayer series, we pray that the Lord would help us beautify and maintain our church property in order to be more welcoming to our neighbors.
READINGS: Ezekiel 11; Psalm 73; 1 Timothy 6:3-10
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Forgiving”
September 14, 2023 |
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| Matthew 18:21-35 – Then Peter came up and said to Him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also My Heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Poor Peter. He probably thought Jesus would be so impressed with him, forgiving seven times! After all, most people figured three times was plenty.
But the truth is, it really doesn’t matter whether Jesus says “seven times” or “seventy times seven.” Because we still can’t do it, can we? Forgiving somebody once is hard enough. Doing it again and again—that calls for a kind of power I don’t have.
But Jesus has that power. Jesus can manage to love and forgive people that much. We know it from looking at His whole life. I mean, any God who can live among us with all our evils and experience the worst we could do to Him, and still lay down His life for us anyway—now, that’s real love. That’s a love we can never come to the end of. And since Jesus has risen from the dead, His ability to love and forgive and save us goes on forever. We can always come to Him for mercy and healing.
But now He says to us, “Be like Me.” How is that even possible? Only if He is living inside us, doing His work. I cannot forgive—but Jesus in me can do it. And so, when I face the impossible task, I can pray, “Lord, I can’t do it. You must do it through me.” And then I can lean all my weight on Him and allow Him to carry me as I live out forgiveness to that person, minute by minute, day by day.
God does the impossible. And because the Holy Spirit lives in us, God will do the impossible through us as well. Let’s ask Him to.
WE PRAY: Dear Father, please help me to forgive the person I’m having so much trouble with right now. Show me hour by hour what You want me to do, and make it happen in me. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. Does forgiveness mean that your relationship is completely unchanged in the future? Why or why not?
2. How do you lean on Jesus when something is too hard for you?
3. Privately, think about this: When has someone forgiven you the unforgivable? Why did they do it? |
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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
