SVLC DEVOTION MONDAY, MAY 15, 2023

by | May 14, 2023 | Daily Devotions

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

MONDAY, MAY 15, 2023

 I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,and I will meditate on your statutes. Psalm 119:48 ESV

 NEWS: The marine layer cleared enough for a beautiful morning in God’s house yesterday. We had 36 who worshipped in person, with more joining us online. Thank you to all who served our congregation. Thank you also to Pastor Joel for leading our Bible study and worship service. We thank the Lord that we have him as our pastor!

Tomorrow the Tuesday evening Bible study takes place at the home of Debbie and Allen Kolkman. The study title is, “Life in Year One: the Holy Lands.” It starts at 6:30 PM with a short devotion. Then everyone dives into the study itself. Afterwards, fellowship time takes place with coffee and goodies. Things wrap up around 8. All are invited to attend! The Kolkman’s address is 710 Fredricks Ave., Oceanside.

 PRAYERS: Today we raise up the Neemia family in prayer: Fale, Mike, Easter, Penny, JoJo and Jeremiah.

 READINGS: Habakkuk 2:8-15; Psalm 119:41-48; Luke 22:39-53

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Proclaiming the Message”

May 15, 2023

 

Psalm 68:1-2 – God shall arise, His enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate Him shall flee before Him! As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God!

The psalms sometimes contrast the difference between the righteous and the wicked. For example, “The LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish” (Psalm 1:6). Even though the Scripture often warns that the wicked will perish eternally, we may not spend a lot of time thinking about that topic. The thought of God’s wrath against the wicked may make us uncomfortable, as when the psalmist prays that God would “break the teeth of the wicked” and let the wicked “be like the snail that dissolves into slime” (Psalm 58:6b, 8b). Is that what God wants?

Jesus tells us, “This is the will of My Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:40). That is what God wants. It is what He has done! He sent His Son into the world as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the wicked and, apart from Christ, we were all in that category—wicked, unrighteous sinners, deserving God’s wrath and eternal condemnation. God did not wait for us to become righteous before He acted in saving power. As the apostle Paul reminds us, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8b).

Wherever the Good News of Jesus is proclaimed, the Holy Spirit is at work in the Word, calling people to repent and believe. Yet there are people who choose to reject the Lordship of Jesus and to follow instead the way of wickedness. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, some of the Pharisees who opposed the Savior refused to receive John’s baptism of forgiveness and so “rejected the purpose of God for themselves” (Luke 7:30b). The apostle John writes of terrible disasters that people would experience. Yet even then they “did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols” (Revelation 9:20b). The wicked so often mentioned in the psalms are those who choose, in sinful stubbornness, to reject God’s gracious invitation.
We are not called to speculate on which people might be saved or decide who is “worthy” of salvation. We were not worthy, but by grace God brought us into the kingdom of His Son. Now we are called to share the hope that is ours in Jesus: “In Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19). The message of repentance, forgiveness, and peace through faith in Jesus Christ is the message that we proclaim to the world. That is what God wants.

WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, lead us to true repentance and help us to be bold witnesses for You. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.

Reflection Questions:

1. How important is repentance in the life of a Christian?

2. Can you think of Old Testament examples of God intervening on behalf of Israel as they fought their enemies?

3. How can we speak to others about God’s judgment and still be loving toward them?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: 2 Samuel 15; Psalms 3, 69; John 4:27-54

 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, pastor@svlcchurch.org