SVLC DEVOTION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023

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

 NEWS: This Sunday we have our monthly Potluck right after church! You are welcome to bring a main dish, side dish, appetizer, dessert or drinks to share with everyone. Just proceed to the Community building right after our service.

 PRAYERS: Today we remember Kyle Ross in our prayers.

 READINGS: Ezekiel 46; Psalm 105:23-45; Hebrews 12:1-6

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Looking at Faces, Looking at Hearts” October 19, 2023

 

Matthew 22:15-22 – Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle Him in His words. And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and You do not care about anyone’s opinion, for You are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what You think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put Me to the test, you hypocrites? Show Me the coin for the tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard it, they marveled. And they left Him and went away. I found something really strange in the footnotes of this story today. The bit where Jesus’ enemies say “You are not swayed by appearances”? The Greek wording for this is literally “You don’t look at people’s faces.” It’s true, I looked it up. Naturally the translators had to rephrase that—if they said it exactly that way in English, people would get the idea that Jesus kept His eyes on the ground all the time, or something like that! But there’s another way that “faces” are being used in this story, and that has to do with coins. Jesus tells them to bring Him a denarius coin. The denarius has two sides, the face side and the other side—the one we call “tails.” The face side is the one we tend to look at first, because it’s clearer and easier to read, so it doesn’t take long to figure out how much the coin is worth. And so Jesus asks them: “Whose face is this on the coin?” He goes on to say, more or less, “If his face is on it, give it to him.” It’s not that Jesus is extremely concerned for Caesar and his taxes. But He is very concerned for us—every human being—because we bear the likeness and the image of God who made us. If we were coins, it would be God’s face that was stamped on us! And that gives us our worth. So in this sense, yes, Jesus does look at faces! He looks at the face of God, which is stamped on all the people He has made; and He thinks, if it has God’s image, it belongs to God, right? Jesus died and rose to bring all of us image-bearers back to God, back to the One we belong to—forever. WE PRAY: Dear Lord, bring me safely back to the Father, to belong to You forever. Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo. Reflection Questions: 1. When you look at the people around you, do you see God’s image? 2. If you did, how would that change the way you deal with them? 3. How can you get in the habit of seeing that face more clearly in your neighbors?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Jeremiah 3-5; Acts 27:1-26

 

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