SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
MONDAY, AUGUST 22
NEWS: It was a wonderful day in God’s house yesterday with Bible study and our worship service. There were 42 in attendance, and we are grateful for Pastor Joel and all who helped serve. We also give thanks for everyone who helped with and brought food for our Potluck!
PRAYERS: Today we pray for Leonard and Suzette Prokopin. We especially pray for Suzettes sister in Indiana, battling stage 4 cancer.
READINGS: Psalm 97; 1 Kings 2:1-27; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Like a Child”
Psalm 131:1-2 – O LORD, my heart is not lifted up: my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.
Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew 18:1b). Apparently, it was an issue of great interest to them and more than once was the subject of their quarrels. Perhaps the disciples hoped that Jesus would mention one of their names as “the greatest.” He did not.
Jesus gave His disciples a lesson in greatness, but our Lord does not measure greatness as the world does. He did not point to a military leader to illustrate greatness. He did not discuss the Roman emperor or well-known Pharisees as examples of greatness. Jesus did not even point to Himself, but to a child: “Calling to Him a child, He put him in the midst of them and said, ‘Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven'” (Matthew 18:2-3). If Jesus’ followers do not become like children, they will not even enter the kingdom. Those who humble themselves like that child would be greatest in the kingdom. It is a difficult lesson. In our fallen selfishness, we do not really want to humble ourselves to become like children. We may instead try to elevate ourselves over others as we seek to satisfy our own desires.
Jesus, the greatest of all, the Son of God, humbled Himself to born among us. He became a child, the infant born in Bethlehem, a little child who knew what it was to feel calm and quiet in His mother’s arms. Jesus grew to adulthood, humbly serving, teaching, and healing, reaching out to people with mercy and compassion. In humility He took up His cross and died for our sins, including our sinful, self-seeking attempts to enjoy the highest place at the expense of others.
In the power of the Holy Spirit, we have been born anew. Baptized as infants, as older children, or as adults, we are born again in the water and the Word. Through no effort or achievements of our own, like humble children we are brought into the kingdom of God. Like children, who depend on adults for help and care, we depend on our Savior for salvation. As the psalmist says, our “eyes are not raised too high.” With the help of the Holy Spirit, we do not lift our hearts high in sinful pride, but humbly count others as more important than ourselves. We look not only to our own interests, but like our Savior, put the interests of others ahead of our own. In the face of the world’s constant and anxious search for greatness, we calm and quiet our souls with trust in Christ alone.
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, help me to trust You in childlike faith and to serve others, as You did, with humble compassion. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. Have you ever dealt with someone who thought they were better than you?
2. Why do you think Jesus wants us to be like children before God the Father?
3. Do you seek out quiet times and places to gather your thoughts and reflect on life? How do you do this?
Today’s Bible Readings: 1 Chronicles 20-22 1 Corinthians 14:1-20
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 Monday and new week to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
