SVLC DEVOTION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2023

by | Oct 20, 2023 | Daily Devotions

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2023

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

 NEWS: It’s the Twentyfirst Sunday after Pentecost tomorrow and we are back in the Lord’s house. At 9 AM Bible study takes place as Pastor Joel continues to lead a study in the book of Genesis. Our worship service takes place at 10 and the title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “Trusting in God More Than You Hate Taxes.” The text for the sermon is our Gospel reading, Matthew 22:15-22 The Old Testament reading is Isaiah 45:1-7 The Psalmody is taken from Psalm 96 The Epistle comes from 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

After we have taken the Eucharist and our service is complete, please proceed to the Community building for our monthly Potluck Meal! Feel free not bring a main dish, side dish, appetizer, dessert dish or drinks to share. This is a great time for fellowship and we hope all will participate.

Also serving our Lord and congregation tomorrow are:

Techies:  Ian Andrews, Bruce Woodward

Reader:  Allen Kolkman

Acolyte:  Josephine Neemia

Greeter:  Carole Woodward

Ushers:   Victor Dille, Kieth Neblett

Flowers:  The Neemia family

Fellowship:  Potluck

 PRAYERS: Today we remember Daria Roth in our prayers.

 READINGS: Ezekiel 48; Psalm 106:24-48; Hebrews 12:18-29

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Awaiting Your Return”
October 21, 2023

 

Malachi 3:7 – [The Lord said] “From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?'”

Trouble-filled days had dawned on Israel when God spoke these words. The nation was corrupt; its religious worship was dishonest; its home life was a mess. Nevertheless, despite their thanklessness and self-absorbed ways, the Lord had not altogether cast off His people. His undying love and mercy prompted Him—who has no pleasure in the death of a sinner (see Ezekiel 33:11)—to plead to the delinquent nation, “Return to Me!”

Sadly, in bold unbelief the people who had been closest to God spurned His call to repentance and smugly demanded, “How shall we return?” This, as if to say, “What could possibly be wrong with us? We, of all nations, are Jehovah’s. Here in Jerusalem, of all cities, is the holy temple.” Truly, they were deceiving themselves—and with a courage that God’s messengers often displayed in the face of just such an affront—Malachi publicly denounced their unrepentance, their haughty hypocrisy, and their deep-seated animosity toward God and His Word.

“How shall we return?” they asked. This is first done by acknowledging that they—and we—owe everything to God, the Lord of Scripture, the One who redeems and sanctifies us unto eternal life.

“How shall we return?” Many of our churches need to come back to God, to the steadfast truths of the Bible, to the plain fact of mankind’s utter sinfulness, and to the living Christ of the Gospels.

“How shall we return?” So much begins at home where we nurture each other in love, cultivate and communicate our faith, and raise our children in the fear and love of God. How important this is to the life and health of our nation!

For the glorious assurance that God will come to us with His blessing; for the promise that we, despite our sins, sorrows, doubts, and weaknesses, can hear the Almighty say, “I will return to you,” we must return to Him, not with feeble claims of goodness and virtue, but with a sober contrition born from penitent hearts. We must cling to—and this is the most vital truth ever proclaimed—the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

Even as Malachi had this Christ-centered hope, we, too, must fall at the feet of the crucified and risen Christ, the eternal Son of God, who alone offers the boundless mercy of forgiven sins as the pure gift of His infinite grace.

This is how God came to us—through Jesus! Praise be to God for His unending mercy! For it was when Jesus suffered on the cross, when “He was pierced for our transgressions” and “crushed for our iniquities” that peace between God and man was made possible (see Isaiah 53:5-8). By His dying, the death which gives us eternal life has removed the sins separating us from God. Jesus paid the full price demanded for our pardon.

This is how we shall return to God; this is how we must return: humbly seeking His grace, repentantly asking for His forgiveness, and faithfully surrendering our lives to Jesus, our risen Lord and Savior.

WE PRAY: Heavenly Father, keep us close to You and never let us go. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

From “America, Return to God!” a sermon excerpt from Rev. Dr. Walter A. Maier, the first Speaker of The Lutheran Hour

Reflection Questions:

1. What motives would Israel have to claim it was doing the right things in the eyes of God?

2. How does Jesus’ death and resurrection give us a full pardon before God?

3. How do we know that God will accept us when we repent and return to Him?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Jeremiah 7-8, 26; Acts 28

 

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/

 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 Saturday and weekend to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us

 Pastor Joel, pastor@svlcchurch.org  OR  Allen and Margie Latall: aalatall@gmail.com OR mjlatall62@gmail.com