SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023
Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised! Psalm 113:2-3 ESV
NEWS: We had a blessed day in the house of the Lord yesterday as we celebrated Reformation Sunday. Thanks to all who joined us in person and online. Thank you to all who served before, during and after our service. A hugh THANK YOU to Pastor Joel for teaching our Bible study, leading our service and for his sermon message. We are very blessed to have him as our Pastor!
Tomorrow evening the Tuesday Bible study takes place at the home of Debbie and Allen Kolkman. It runs from 6:30 to around 8 PM and the topic is, “Jesus Says: A Study of the Sermon on The Mount.” It starts with a short devotion, followed by the study material. Then fellowship time takes place, with coffee and goodies. All are invited to attend! The Kolkman’s address is 710 Fredericks Ave., Oceanside.
PRAYERS: Today we remember Kathy Andrews in our prayers.
READINGS: Ezra 7:11-28; Psalm 113; James 5
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Well-Dressed”
Psalm 149:4 – For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He adorns the humble with salvation.
People are often advised to “dress for success,” to dress appropriately for the occasion, perhaps for an important business meeting or a job interview. Some charitable organizations provide donated business-style clothing to people in need, giving them a better chance at success in job interviews and new employment. Appropriate clothing may allow a job candidate to make a good first impression and may also provide a little extra confidence.
Jesus’ parable of the wedding feast ends with the downfall of a guest who may have been confident but was not dressed properly for the occasion (see Matthew 22:1-14). In the parable, a king holds a wedding feast for his son. The king punishes the invited guests when they rudely reject his invitation and murder his servants. There is still a wedding to be celebrated, so other servants are then sent out to gather everyone they can find to fill the king’s hall with guests to share in the joyful and generous feast. During the celebration, the king notices that one man has entered the celebration without the required festive wedding garment (which the king himself would have been happy to provide). Unable to answer for his fashion faux pas, the guest is thrown out.
God is the King who invites everyone to the wedding feast of His Son, the eternal “marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9b). Only by God’s grace, through faith in Jesus, are we appropriately dressed for that wonderful occasion. Baptized, we have “put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27b). In the words of the prophet Isaiah, we rejoice in the Lord, who has clothed us “with the garments of salvation” and covered us “with the robe of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10b). Our own ragged and very inappropriate dress, that is, our efforts to impress God with our own works and attempted holiness, will always fall short. It is God Himself who “adorns the humble with salvation.” In humility we repent of our sins and receive the forgiveness that Jesus won for us at the cross. God graciously clothed us in the shining robe of Jesus’ righteousness.
Now, in the sight of God, we are dressed for success, but we are not clothed in our own achievements. We are dressed in the success of our Lord, the success of His suffering and death and His victorious resurrection. With robes washed in the blood of the Lamb, now and forever we praise God our King, who is pleased with us because He is pleased with His Son, who adorns the humble with salvation. At the eternal wedding feast, with all the well-dressed guests we will cry out in praise: “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:10b).
WE PRAY: Lord and God, thank You for clothing me in Jesus’ righteousness. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. How do you dress for success when going to a job interview?
2. How do Christians “put on Christ” in their lives, and how should this look to others?
3. Why it is impossible to impress God?
Today’s Bible Readings: Jeremiah 27-29 Hebrews 5
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
