SVLC DEVOTION THURSDAY, JULY 20, 2023

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

THURSDAY, JULY 20, 2023

 This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

 NEWS: Tonight Thursday Bible study is taking place. It’s at Kay Berni’s home and the title is, “How Happiness Happens” by Max Lucado. It goes from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. For more information email Kay, kberni@aol.com  Kay’s address is 1536 Peacock Blvd, Oceanside.

 PRAYERS: Today we remember Linda Johnson in prayer. In our Summer of Prayer series, we pray that all Planned Parenthood agencies would be empty due to decreased demand for abortion.

 READINGS: Jeremiah 38:7-28; Psalm 18:31-50; Acts 22:30-23:11

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Waiting for Judgment” July 20, 2023

 

Matthew 13:24-30 – He [Jesus] put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”‘” Why doesn’t God just kill off all the evil people in the world? This is a question I’ve had after listening to some especially horrible crime report. I bet you’ve had it, too. It seems like an easy answer. Get rid of the wicked, save the good. Make the world clean and perfect right now. It’s a seductive idea. And there have been many people in history who’ve tried to act on it—who’ve set themselves up in God’s place, to judge between the good and the wicked, and to destroy the evil. Even Christians can fall for this temptation. Which might be why Jesus told this parable. God chooses to do things differently. Like the farmer in this story, He isn’t caught napping. His men miss the enemy’s mischief, but not Him. He has been awake and aware all the while. And while He never explains why He allowed the mischief to go forward, He does explain why He won’t allow His servants to correct it by weeding the whole field right now: “If you do that right now, you’re bound to pull up some of the wheat at the same time. Better to wait till harvest.” The same thing is true for our broken world, isn’t it? Evil and good grow right next to each other. Their roots are intertwined. Those who belong to God and those who belong to the devil—they live as neighbors; they marry each other; they are born into the same families. And some people live their whole lives long appearing to be one or the other, and surprising everyone in the end. No, we can’t do God’s job of judging and separating for Him. The best we can do is to obey His command: “Let both grow together until the harvest.” In the meantime we pray, we do good to all our neighbors, whatever they may look like in our opinions, and we follow Jesus—who gave His life on the cross for all of us. Because He is the only one who can transform weedy hearts into God’s true wheat, and bring God’s harvest safely home. WE PRAY: Dear Lord, help me to hold back from condemning the people around me. Use me for their good instead. Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo. Reflection Questions: 1. Did you ever mistake a good plant for a weed, or vice versa? Tell the story. 2. Have you ever been misjudged by someone else? What effect did that have on you? 3. How can you show Jesus’ love and mercy to someone who might seem like a waste of space to you right now?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: 2 Kings 24-25; Acts 16:1-21

 

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 hour  s: 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