SVLC DEVOTION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2023

by | Oct 25, 2023 | Daily Devotions

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2023

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

 NEWS: FROM LAST WEEKS SVLC CHURCH NEWSLETTER: Some “Evangelical” Protestants and their Wrong Spin on the Israeli War.   Almost 200 years ago, some Adventists Protestants here in the USA invented a new idea called Millennialism (sometimes joined with another of their inventions, Dispensationalism).  In the USA during the past 75 years or so, this has been combined with some new, unique spins on prophecy and that has been combined here in the US with a strange focus on the political state of Israel created in 1948.  The current conflict in the Near East has been used to promote these new, unbiblical teachings.   Here is a link to a discussion of this:  https://issuesetc.org/2023/10/13/2862-this-week-in-pop-christianity-evangelical-takes-on-the-israel-hamas-war-pr-chris-rosebrough-10-13-23/  It’s an hour long and only audio but very helpful.  In MY (Allen Kolkman) opinion, supporting Israel is good for political and humanitarian reasons, but this has nothing to do with biblical prophecy or with a certain new political state with the chosen moniker of “Israel.”    

 PRAYERS: Today we remember Tom Morofski in our prayers.

 READINGS: Ezra 4:17-5:5; Psalm 109:21-31; James 2:1-13

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Believers?”
October 26, 2023

 

John 8:31-33, 59 – So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My Word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered Him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?” … So they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.

John 8 bothers me. In verse 31, it calls Jesus’ audience “the Jews who had believed Him.” But less than 30 verses later, these same people are picking up stones to kill Him. How can you believe Jesus and then turn around and try to kill Him half an hour later?

It looks like there are two kinds of belief—and only one of them touches the heart. We all know people who say they are Christians—who can even recite the Creed for you if you ask them to—and yet, when it comes to their behavior, you’d never recognize them as people who belong to Jesus. They gossip; they say spiteful things about other people; they break promises; they put money and power first in their lives—they do an excellent job of blending in with the rest of the world. Are they Christians? On paper, maybe.

I’m not saying that they know they are hypocrites. In fact, I’m worried because I think these people mostly don’t notice the difference between what they say they believe and what they actually do. I think they really, truly think they are believers in Jesus. Somehow they manage to overlook the huge disconnect between the faith they claim and the life they live.

And of course, it worries me most of all that I might be one of them.

How can we guard against this sort of thing? How can we make absolutely sure that John 8 isn’t a picture of us, at some level?

I don’t think we can. But the Holy Spirit can. And that’s why every day we ask the Lord to be with us—to protect us from the power of the devil and all his deceptions.

Jesus is totally familiar with this problem. After all, He faced off with the devil’s temptations throughout His life. Even on the cross, He had to deal with the temptation to do a self-serving miracle—to come down off the cross—and justify it by saying, “Then they will believe in Me. I’m doing God’s work!” No, the same Lord who saw through that deception and stood firm will also hold us firmly in the true faith forever. He who rose from the dead will bring us safely to Himself, not by our work, but by His.

We believe in Jesus—not by our own power or wisdom, but because God has given us such a great gift. And now we lay our hearts in Jesus’ hands, saying, “Lord, keep me safe, just as You kept Your disciples. Let me be Yours forever, just as You planned.” He can do it, and He will do it—because He loves us.

WE PRAY: Dear Savior, hold on to me and keep me in Your true faith. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Reflection Questions:

1. Do you ever worry about this problem? Why or why not?

2. What do you do when you hear friends or neighbors complaining about the hypocritical Christians they know?

3. How do you find peace in Jesus when you are worried?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Jeremiah 25, 45-46; Hebrews 1

 

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