SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS
THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
NEWS: Let’s get this right now: Our 50th Anniversary celebration for Shepherd of The Valley Lutheran Church is just around the corner. It’s on Sunday, JULY 16 after our church service. Food, games, fun and fellowship are all on the schedule, as well as a guest preacher, Dr. Rev. Mike Gibson, p-resident of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Pacific Southwest district. We pray all will plan to attend on this very special day for Shepherd of The Valley
PRAYERS: Today we remember Daria Roth in our prayers. Birthday prayers and blessings for Chris Roth as he celebrates another year of life today! In our Summer of Prayer, we pray that God’s name would be hallowed (would be made and kept holy) by the people of Oceanside.
READINGS: Jeremiah 25:15-38; Psalm 148; Acts 15:1-21
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Say What?”
Matthew 10:40-42 – [Jesus said] “Whoever receives you receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
This is one of those things Jesus says that makes my jaw drop in disbelief. That’s all you have to do to get a righteous person’s reward—to receive the righteous person himself? To get a prophet’s reward, just receive the prophet? It sounds too good to be true.
So I think to myself, fine. What does it mean to “receive” someone? Maybe that’s the catch. Maybe it’s some huge undertaking, some major sacrifice that means you really deserve that great reward. But then Jesus blows up that theory by saying, “Whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” What! A cup of cold water? God considers something that minor to be “receiving” the disciple—and God rewards it? Wow!
Clearly nobody’s actually earning the reward in all these scenarios. The action is too tiny, and the reward is too great. No, these rewards come as gifts—as amazing generosity, running over and flooding the receiver’s life. What is going on?
The key is in the first sentence: “Whoever receives you, My disciples, receives Me, Jesus. And whoever receives Me, also receives God who sent Me.” Whether he knows it or not, a man or woman who opens the door to a Christian believer out of hospitality also opens the door to Jesus who sent him—and therefore to God the Father, who sent Jesus to be the Savior of the world. To open the door to God’s messenger is to open the door to God’s message—that God has come into our world as the Man Jesus Christ, who has given His life to rescue us from the power of evil and make us beloved, forgiven children of God. And what is the reward of receiving Him? Endless joy, healing and mercy, and everlasting life.
This passage also gives me hope for the non-Christians in my life whom I love. I have seen them welcome me—and I pray that this grows, whether they know it or not, into a welcome to Jesus their Savior, and God who sent Him. Because God is both generous and sneaky, and He will use any pretext to get the Gospel into someone’s life—to make them His beloved children.
WE PRAY: Dear Lord, I pray for those I love who don’t know You yet. Give them the same gift You have given me—salvation and life and joy in Jesus Your Son. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. Give an example of a time when you got more than you bargained for.
2. Do you think these people who are receiving Jesus’ disciples know what they are in for? Why or why not?
3. In what way is it okay to say that God is “sneaky”? Is sneakiness always bad? Why or why not?
Today’s Bible Readings: Ecclesiastes 4-6 Acts 9:23-43
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 Thursday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel, pastor@svlcchurch.org
