SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
DEVOTION, READINGS AND PRAYERS
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2023
I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord! Psalm 122:1
NEWS: Today is the Twenty first Sunday after Pentecost as we return to God’s house. Bible study takes place at 9 AM and Pastor Joel continues to lead our 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 Holy Communion is celebrated and our service closes, 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.
We pray all can join us for part of their Sunday but for those unable to worship in person, we stream our service live. The link is here: www.facebook.com/shepherdofthevalleyoceanside Click on that, then click on the More dropdown arrow, then click Live. If you have a moment, please “Like” us and leave a brief comment about your online worship experience. Thank you! Also serving the Lord and our congregation today 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 Charlene Simpson in our prayers.
COLLECT OF THE DAY: O God, Your divine wisdom sets in order all things in heaven and on earth. Put away from us all things hurtful and give us those things that are beneficial for us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.
READINGS: Ezra 1; Psalm 107:1-22; Hebrews 13:1-16
Alleluia. With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all thiongs are possible with God. Alleluia.
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Praise the Almighty”
“Trust not in rulers; they are but mortal; earthborn they are and soon decay. Vain are their counsels at life’s last portal, when the dark grave engulfs its prey. Since mortals can no help afford, place all your trust in Christ our Lord. Alleluia, alleluia!”
In His Word, God instructs us concerning our response to governing authorities. We owe much to those who rule over us, but our trust is not included in that list. Scripture speaks of faithful believers who, even at great risk to themselves, placed their trust firmly in the Lord instead of trusting earthly rulers.
When King Hezekiah of Judah failed to pay the tribute required of him, the king of Assyria sent his army to Jerusalem. The Assyrian commander mocked Hezekiah’s reliance on Egypt as a political ally and ridiculed the Israelite king for trusting in God. The commander asked, “On what do you rest this trust of yours?” (2 Kings 18:19b). When God delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace, the Babylonian king was astonished at God’s power and the rightly placed trust of the three smoke-free young men. The king praised the God of Israel, who “delivered His servants, who trusted in Him, and set aside the king’s command” (Daniel 3:28b). When the apostles were forbidden to proclaim the Good News of the risen Christ, they, like Hezekiah and the three young men in Babylon, knew in whom they must place their trust. Peter and the apostles said, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29b).
We too must answer the question asked by the Assyrian commander: “On what do you rest this trust of yours?” We know that we are often tempted to make idols of rulers and elected officials, but we must not worship them! The governing authorities “have been instituted by God” (Romans 13:1b), and we are told to be subject to them and to give them the obedience, respect, honor—and taxes—owed to them (see Romans 13:1-10, 1 Peter 2:13-17).
We give to rulers what we owe them, but we are not to put our ultimate trust in them: “It is better to take refuge in the LORD, than to trust in princes” (Psalm 118:9). Earthly rulers provide help in earthly matters, but in spiritual, eternal matters, their counsels are vain and useless. Only Jesus can help us “at life’s last portal” because He crossed that portal Himself, suffering death and rising to life to overcome sin, death, and Satan, the powers of evil that sought to rule over us. No earthly ruler has done that for us! On what—or whom—does our trust rest? Our hymn gives us the answer: “Since mortals can no help afford, place all your trust in Christ our Lord!”
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, I want to be a good citizen, but I place my trust in You in life and death. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn “Praise the Almighty,” which is number 797 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. Do you find it hard to trust God in difficult situations? If so, why?
2. How can our faithfulness to God impact the attitudes of those who don’t believe in Him?
3. How can obeying “God rather than men” simplify our lives?
Today’s Bible Readings: Jeremiah 9-10 Colossians 1
WE HAVE TWO LIBRARIES AT CHURCH! One of them is in the back of our sanctuary. That has many books,m DVD’s and (I believe) CD’s that are available to check out and return on the honor system. We also have our “Little Library” just inside the driveway to our parking lot. Please feel free to take a book or leave a book. The main focus is childrens or Christian material, but other, appropriate for a church setting, is acceptable.
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 you 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.”
Now you can 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 Lutheran Hour Ministries: https://www.lhm.org/
Here is the website for Lutherans for Life: https://lutheransforlife.org/
A very blessed Lord’s Day and Sunday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us.
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
