SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2023
O you who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Light is sown[a] for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name! Psalm 97:10-12 ESV
NEWS: It was another beautiful day in the Lord’s dwelling yesterday. There were 35 who attended worship in person and more who joined us online. Thank you to all who served our congregation before,m during ans after our service. Thank you to Suzette Prokopin for covering our fellowship treats. A big thank you also to Pastor Joel for teaching our Bible study and leading our worship service. Also for his sermon message. We are very blessed to0 have him and Pastor Al still active with us!
PRAYERS: Today we remember Margie and Allen Latall in our prayers. We ask prayers for Allen as he deals with continued eye issues. He sees an ophthalmologist for a second opinion today and takes the DMV Vision Road Test on Wednesday.
READINGS: Ezekiel 36; Psalm 97; Hebrews 8
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Welcome to the Table”
Psalm 23:5 – You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
On the night before He died on the cross, Jesus gathered with His disciples to celebrate the Passover. The Lamb of God—the One who would soon shed His blood to atone for the sins of the world—remembered the blood of lambs painted on the doorposts and lintels of Israelite homes in Egypt. It was shed blood that saved them as God destroyed the firstborn of Egypt and set His people free.
The night that Jesus celebrated in Jerusalem, His enemies, “Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,” plotted against Him (Acts 4:27b). The disciple Judas Iscariot, who would betray Jesus, was present at the table until the time of Jesus’ betrayal drew near. Earlier that same evening the Lord had called His disciples “friends” (John 15:15b), but later that same night the disciples would forget that friendship and flee from the Savior in order to save themselves. Peter would deny Jesus and swear that he did not even know his Lord. Jesus came to the table while His enemies schemed in the city. He shared a meal with His betrayer and with disciples who would abandon Him to His captors. Yet that night at the table, in the presence of enemies and friends who would soon run from Him, Jesus offered His disciples and to us the gift of His body and blood, given and shed for the forgiveness of our sins. Taking up the bread and wine, Jesus said, “This is My body … this is My blood” (Matthew 26:26b, 28a). We take Him at His Word as we receive His gift of forgiveness.
In the Sacrament of the Altar, the Lord’s Supper, a table is prepared for us in the presence of our enemies. Perhaps we have real human enemies of some kind, people who wish us harm. As Christians, we face the hostility of an unbelieving world, as Jesus warned us: “I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19b). Our enemy Satan is always on the prowl, “seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8b). We may face the “enemies” of our own thoughts, our doubts and fears, our guilt and shame, as we wonder if we are forgiven and worry that we are not worthy of the Savior’s gift.
In the presence of our enemies, Jesus welcomes us—He welcomes sinners!—to the table that He has prepared for us. He invites us to receive His body and blood, forgiving our sins, nourishing our faith and assuring us of His triumph over every enemy, His and ours. We receive, according to His Word, the cup of salvation that overflows with His grace and mercy.
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, I give You thanks and praise for the table You have prepared for me in the presence of my enemies. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions
1. How was the first Passover in Egypt a foreshadowing of what Jesus did on the cross?
2. In this psalm, God, the Shepherd-King, prepares a table for David in front of his enemies. How would this give David confidence?
3. Do you have a neighbor you can prepare a meal for? What would you make?
Today’s Bible Readings: Hosea 9-11 Romans 15:14-33
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 n ew week to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel, pastor@svlcchurch.org
