SVLC DEVOTION THANKSGIVING DAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023

A BLESSED, HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

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

 NEWS: Due to the holiday, the next devotional email will be for Saturday. Here’s our prayer that all have a safe, happy and enjoyable holiday!

 PRAYERS: We remember Terry and Alba Reilly in our prayers for today and Chris Roth in our prayers for tomorrow.

 READINGS: Nehemiah 3; Psalm 119:129-136; 1 John 5:13-21

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“What Comes Naturally” November 23, 2023

 

Matthew 25:31a, 32b, 34-42, 45b-46 – [Jesus said] “When the Son of Man comes in His glory … He will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. … Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed Me, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me, I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? And when did we see You a stranger and welcome You, or naked and clothe You? And when did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me.’ Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave Me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink … Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'” This is a truly terrifying parable, at least to me. Jesus is dividing people into those bound for heaven or hell, and it all rests on one question: What did you do to these, the least of My brothers? In short, it rests on what they did. So … are we Lutherans wrong? Is it works that matter, after all, and not faith in Jesus? Should we go back to the old idea of earning brownie points with God—so many points for feeding a hungry person, so many points for donating to a homeless shelter? No. Look again at the people answering Jesus. The damned are confused at what Jesus says, yes—but so are the saved. They honestly don’t remember doing these things. Why? Probably because for them, these acts flowed naturally from their believing hearts. They saw a hungry person and fed him; they didn’t stop to ask, “What should I do now?” or fix it in their memories later, figuring up how much merit they had earned. They just did it. The Holy Spirit living in them did God’s works. And so these things happened as naturally and quietly as an apple tree produces apples. In the same way, the refusal of the condemned comes from their unbelieving hearts. They saw a hungry person and ignored him. Why not? Without the Spirit living in them, they carried on doing what any ordinary self-centered human being does: nothing. Jesus can judge the nations based on their actions with absolute accuracy, because faith always shows itself in actions. Consciously or not, those who trust in Jesus will grow to behave like Jesus, because His Spirit is living within them. It comes naturally. WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, let Your Spirit produce good fruit in my life! Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo. Reflection Questions: 1. Do fruit trees work hard to produce fruit? What does that tell you about your own Christian life? 2. When have you seen a Christian quietly do something good, without thinking much about it? 3. Why does it seem easier to remember our sins than our good actions?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Ezekiel 20-21; 2 Timothy 4

 

Pastor Joel is Here for You.  If you have a pastoral need or a prayer request for Pastor Joel, please call or text him at 775-336-9680 or email him at luckemeyerj@gmail.com

 

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 Thanksgiving to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us