SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
TUESDAY, JULY 26
NEWS: No new events or happenings as of this writing. Included is a small section from Luther’s Small Catechism:
8. Why can we be confident that the Bible is the authoritative and inerrant Word of God?
In the Gospel, the central message of the Bible, God promises us new life on the basis of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. God’s promises alone create faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself, whom we trust, declares that all the Scriptures are God’s own words, completely dependable in all they teach, and without error.
- Jesus uses the Old Testament Scriptures as God’s Word. He continually affirms Scripture as authoritative with phrases such as “It is written” and “Have you not read?” (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10; Matthew 19:4). He assures us that “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35).
- Jesus claims the same authority for Himself, saying, for example, “I say to you” (Matthew 5:22, 28, 32), or “Truly, truly, I say” (John 6:47;see also John 5:47), or explicitly claiming His words to be “spirit and life” (John 6:63; see also John 8:31–32).
- Just as God called and authorized prophets in the Old Testament, put His words in their mouths, and fulfilled their prophecies, so also Jesus called and authorized His apostolic witnesses to speak His Word, guided by His Spirit (Luke 10:16; John 14:26; Acts 1:8; 2 Peter 1:16–21; 1 John 1:1-4).
Note: We believe the Word of God has the power in itself to convince the reader or hearer of its authority. Because it is God’s Word, it is self-authenticating. The Word of God does what it says. Read Isaiah 55:10-11.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Amy Terrill plus Abby, Lot and Asha. We pray for her mom, Charlotte Simpson, as she tends to family in Missouri who are ill. We also pray for Margaret Paton’s friend, Veronica, recovering from shoulder surgery.
READINGS: Psalm 69:30-35; Psalm 70; 1 Samuel 10:1-27; Acts 22:17-29
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Lasting Value”
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-19, 22-23 – Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. … I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. … I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. … What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.
It might seem odd, but Ecclesiastes is one of my favorite books. I think that’s because the author gives us such a clear, uncompromising picture of what life is like apart from the grace of God. He focuses like a laser on life “under the sun”—the ordinary round of activities that everyone can see, and see the result of, whether they believe in God or not.
And it’s not a very happy picture. The author is wise and powerful, a king in Jerusalem. He has money, fame, power. He works hard on any number of projects, but he can never get it out of his head that someday he will die. And when that happens, who will get it all?
The writer of Ecclesiastes is traditionally believed to be King Solomon. If this is true, Solomon was right to worry. His son Rehoboam was the next king—and he was a man so foolish that he split his country in two.
There’s a problem with being very smart. It makes it very difficult to lie to yourself. Oh, you can start the lie, but before it’s properly out of your mouth, you can see that it’s not true. Your wisdom leads to great unhappiness. And so it is with the author of Ecclesiastes.
After several chapters of searching for meaning in everything under the sun, the author of Ecclesiastes is forced to look above the sun—to God. He is the only One who can give our lives real meaning, because He is the only One who lasts forever. If our work matters to God—if we matter to God—then we have value. If not, it is all a waste.
We are more fortunate than the author of Ecclesiastes, because we know what he did not—that God has valued us so much that He sent His own Son Jesus into this world to rescue us from our meaningless lives. If we belong to Jesus our Savior, who lived and died and rose again to make us God’s children, then our lives have value. If the Holy Spirit is working through us, even our failures turn to blessings.
That is where we find our permanence and our meaning—in the God who made us, redeemed us, and will value us forever.
WE PRAY: Lord Holy Spirit, when I am tempted to despair, give me hope and trust in You. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. When are you most tempted to declare life meaningless?
2. What is one of your failures that God has brought good out of?
3. Is the cross an example of failure or success? Why do you think so?
Today’s Bible Readings: Psalms 96-98 Acts 17:1-15
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 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 Tuesday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
