SVLC DEVOTION M ONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2023

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2023

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

 NEWS: Thank you to all who served our congregation yesterday before, during and after our worship service. Thanks also to Pastor Joel or teaching our Bible study and leading our worship service.

Tomorrow evening the Tuesday Bible study takes place at the home of Allen and Debbie Kolkman. The study title is, “Jesus Says – Discussing the Sermon on the Mount.” It starts at 6:30 PM with a short devotion, followed by the study material. Then fellowship time takes place with coffee and goodies. All are invited 

 PRAYERS: Today we remember Suzette and Leonard Prokopin in our prayers.

 READINGS: Ezekiel 43; Psalm 104:1-18; Hebrews 11:1-12

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“No Contest” October 16, 2023

 

Psalm 96:5-8 – For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His Name; bring an offering, and come into His courts! The prophet Elijah staged a competition between the idol Baal and the God of Israel (see 1 Kings 18:20-40). Unsurprisingly, Baal did nothing. God won. No contest. We confess and worship the same God, the Creator of all things. Idols are created by human hearts and hands. The prophet Isaiah mocks the idol-maker who cuts down a tree to carve an idol and then burns the rest of the same tree to warm his home and cook his dinner (see Isaiah 44:9-17). The worship of what Scripture refers to as these “so-called gods” (1 Corinthians 8:5a) has been going on for a very long time. It began in Eden, where Adam and Eve, our first parents, listened to the devil’s temptation and chose to follow their own desires, to worship self instead of their Creator. They “exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator” (Romans 1:25a). As the saying goes, the apple does not fall far from the tree. We are guilty of the same self-serving idolatry. We may not fashion idols of wood or gold or silver, but we still find no end of things to worship—money, power, politics, pleasure—whatever temporarily satisfies our selfish needs and desires. God will have none of this. He makes that clear in His First Commandment: “You shall have no others gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). He says, “I am the LORD; that is My Name; My glory I give to no other, nor My praise to carved idols” (Isaiah 42:8). As we see in the contest with Baal, our God is a God who acts, who steps into human history to save. He loves the world and the people He created and His steadfast love is expressed in self-sacrifice. Out of His love for people who refused to worship Him, who chose idols, the God to whom all glory is due laid aside His glory to take on human flesh in the Person of His Son. God the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, sacrificed Himself to atone for the sins of the world, for the sins of every idol-maker, for our sins of self-centered idolatry. Jesus rose from the death in triumph over every idol. Again, no contest! In thanks and praise, with sins forgiven, we bow down to worship the only true God. We ascribe—attribute—to Him alone “the glory due His Name.” In the words of the ancient Israelites who witnessed that one-sided contest with Baal, we call out in praise, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!” WE PRAY: Lord God, to You alone belong all glory, honor, and praise! Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. Reflection Questions: 1. What do you do to keep your heart and mind set on God? 2. Why is turning our focus from the things around us (creation) and concentrating on God (the Creator) so important—and so hard—for us to do? 3. Sometimes telling yourself, “Stop!” and pausing a minute or two will give you the breathing space you need to not do the thing you shouldn’t. Try it sometime. See if it works.

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Zephaniah 1-3; Acts 24

 

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