SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 2023
Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
who greatly delights in his commandments! Psalm 112:1 ESV
NEWS: A blessed Wednesday to all!
PRAYERS: Today we raise up Barb and Gunti Galleisky in prayer.
READINGS: 2 Chronicles 36; Psalm 112; Luke 19:1-10
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Spiritual Milk”
1 Peter 2:2-3 – Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
I remember the days when I was nursing my newborn son. It seemed like a miracle—somehow my ordinary body was able to produce the food he needed to grow and become strong. I watched him putting on weight and getting cute and chubby the way babies do, and I marveled. How was this possible?
I knew that the milk was coming from my own body—my own substance. And this is true also for the picture that Peter is painting for us of the Lord. Like newborn infants, we long for the spiritual milk God gives us; and that milk doesn’t come from the supermarket! No, it comes from the body and blood of our own dear Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
This always amazes me—that God would want to be so intimately and lovingly related to us. Anyone who has nursed a child knows that the child is almost like another limb, a part of your own body. This is not something you can do in four or five minutes, or at a distance. No, you spend hours every day holding that baby in your arms and loving him or her. It is a major commitment. Maybe this is why Peter uses the image of a nursing mother and child to describe the way God sustains us.
Because, of course, Jesus’ loving commitment to us goes past that of any mother or father. It was for us that He lay down His life on the cross, and for us that He rose from the dead. Jesus is our life and forgiveness and salvation. And He has become the Source of our nourishment in the faith, day after day—because He loves us.
WE PRAY: Dear Lord, feed me and cause me to grow strong in You. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. Have you ever cared for a very young child? If so, how much of a commitment did it require from you?
2. Why were you willing to provide that care? What does that say about God’s commitment to you?
3. Does it surprise you that God would choose such a humble and intimate image to show the way he cares for us? Why or why not?
Today’s Bible Readings: Psalms 52 Psalms 57 Psalms 142 Luke 22:24-46
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 Wednesday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel, pastor@svlcchurch.org
