SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2022
NEWS: We will be celebrating All Saints Day in worship this coming Sunday. Look for more details in Saturday’s devotional email.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Keith Neblett. I, Allen, also give thanks to the Lord that I was washe clean through Holy Baptism on this day in 1962. I am also grateful that my and my brothers’ parents gave us a Lutheran education in grade school and high school.
READINGS: Psalm 110; Psalm 108; Jeremiah 5:1-19; Matthew 22:23-46
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Barefoot Saints”
Exodus 3:1-6 – Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
This devotion pairs with this weekend’s Lutheran Hour sermon, which can be found at lutheranhour.org.
At the front of our house is a shrub with the formal name, Euonymus Alatus (“Winged Euonymus”), and otherwise known simply as a Burning Bush. The shrub can reach eight feet tall or more. Its appeal is in its fire-engine red foliage every fall. It blazes over every other planting on our landscape, demanding attention and wowing its onlookers by its beauty.
As bright and beautiful as the Winged Euonymus shrub can be, it cannot compare with the original burning bush that got the attention of Moses when he was eighty years old. He came to the burning bush at the age of 80 with two chapters of his life complete, first as a prince, then as a shepherd in Midian. There can be moments of adventure in shepherding sheep, but not many. It was pretty much “same old, same old” every day.
I think we know about that, a life, let’s say, that is less than adventurous. Sometimes I think that our generation must look like disengaged people in a waiting room, killing time with their phones in hand. At least Moses turned to see the burning bush. Were such a bush to come to us, we may not look up long enough to notice it.
Nineteenth-century Danish theologian and philosopher Soren Kierkegaard was 30 years old when he wrote his master work, Either/Or. He wrote extensively about his personal struggle with boredom. He called boredom “the root of all evil.” He saw a society tamed and bored. He saw the church of his day tamed and bored. For Kierkegaard, boredom was not life without stimulation but life without meaning. He would find his adventure and his meaning in his Christian faith. We can do the same.
At Mount Horeb, Moses moved from shepherding a herd of sheep to leading millions of slaves to freedom. It was a God-interrupted moment. Moses objected at first but then met his holy calling. It would become the adventure of his lifetime. He would lead his people to the edge of the Promised Land!
The God who called Moses to take off his sandals and pick up a mission is the same God who meets us in all the “burning bushes” of our lives. These are those beautiful moments that spur us on in our walk of faith. God comes to us hidden in the wise, challenging words of a Christian friend, in the reading of a Scripture text, in the meal of bread and wine, in the remembrance of our Baptism.
Jesus Christ, who is our life, did not come to give us a boring life. He lived, and died, and came to life again to give us an abundant life, filled with meaning and adventure. So listen for His voice, and when you hear it, turn to it, and, by all means, take off your shoes. In humility let God’s words sink in. Give it time. Then, put your shoes on and live.
WE PRAY: Lord, rescue me from a boredom that drains my life of meaning. Speak to me. Humble me. Get through to me. Turn me outside myself to a mission that I can fulfill as Your servant. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Dean Nadasdy
Reflection Questions:
1. What keeps you from a deeper relationship with the Lord?
2. What events in your past qualify as burning-bush-take-off-your-shoes moments?
3. Where do you see opportunities for adventure in your walk as a follower of Jesus Christ?
Today’s Bible Readings: Jeremiah 34, 37-38 Hebrews 10:1
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 Friday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
