DAILY DEVOTION SUNDAY, JANUARY 30, 2022

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION

SUNDAY, JANUARY 30

THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

 

Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord!

 

NEWS: Today Pastor Eric Kaelberer is our leader, teaching our Bible study at 9:00 AM and conducting our worship service at 10. Afterwards we have our Fellowship time with coffee and goodies outside. The weather is good again…great for being in God’s house to spend an hour or so with our Lord and fellow believers. For those who can’t be there, our service is broadcast live on our Facebook page. Scroll down to where it says OTHER RESOURCES, click on our Facebook link, click on the More dropdown, then click on Live. Please “Like” us while there and add a comment on what you like/liked about our service. Thanks!

 

PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Terry and Alba Reilly.

 

COLLECT FOR TODAY: Almighty God, You know we live in the midst of so many dangers that in our frailty we cannot stand upright. Grant strength and protection to support us in all dangers and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

READINGS: Psalm 33; Zechariah 9:1-17; 2 Timothy 2:1-26

 

DIGGING DEEPER: Micah 6:1-8; Psalm 15; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12

 

Alleluia. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Alleluia.

 

DEVOTION:

“From God the Father, Virgin-Born” January 30, 2022

 

“From God the Father, virgin-born, To us the only Son came down; By death the font to consecrate, The faithful to regenerate. “Beginning from His home on high, In human flesh He came to die; Creation by His death restored, And shed new joys of life abroad.” Upon seeing a newborn baby, people may exclaim that the child is cute or looks like one parent or the other. Well-wishers might ask about the child’s name and wonder what the infant will do one day as an adult. If we had seen the Christ Child in the manger, we might have admired the baby boy or asked about the meaning of His Name. But there would have been no speculation about the holy Child’s future work. We would not need to ask, “What will He do when He grows up?” The holy infant’s future was determined before the foundation of the world. The promise of His birth and His life’s purpose were first declared to Adam and Eve in Eden. Through the centuries the prophets foretold what lay ahead for Him. This Child was born to die. When the Savior was grown, His purpose was announced by His kinsman John: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29b) The Lamb who once slept in the Bethlehem manger offered up His life as the perfect sacrifice to atone for the sins of the world. “In human flesh He came to die,” but then, on the third day after His death, Jesus rose in triumph from the grave. Through faith in our crucified and risen Savior, we have forgiveness for our sins and the gift of eternal life. Our hymn reminds us of the many gifts we receive from the virgin-born Son. By His death and resurrection, the baptismal font is consecrated, that is, set apart for a special purpose. Through Baptism we are born anew as children of God. The washing of water and the Word that we receive at the font is a “washing of regeneration and a renewal of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5b). In Baptism we are united to Jesus in His death, buried with Him and raised to new life. In Jesus, God’s plan is revealed, “a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth” (Ephesians 1:10). Each of us is now a new creation in Christ, and on the Last Day creation itself will be made new, restored according to God’s design. God sent His Son into the world, the Son who came to suffer, die, and rise. Now, having been born again at the baptismal font, we are called to “shed new joys of life abroad.” As witnesses for our Lord, the joyful news is ours to share—the promise of forgiveness and eternal life through faith in Jesus, the virgin-born Son who came in human flesh to die. THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, by Your Spirit lead me to speak boldly about the joyful news of salvation. Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn “From God the Father, Virgin-Born,” which is number 401 in the Lutheran Service Book. Reflection Questions: 1. Do you have a typical first reaction when seeing a newborn baby? 2. How hard would it have been on Mary and Joseph to realize what Jesus was going to go through? 3. How does Baptism unite us in Jesus’ death and raise us to new life?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Genesis 31-32; Matthew 20:1-16

 

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 are to go to your work 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.”

Then you are to go to sleep quickly and cheerfully.

 

OTHER RESOURCES:

 

www.svlchurch.org

www.facebook.com/shepherdofthevalleyoceanside

 

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 hours: 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 Lord’s Day and Sunday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us.