SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2023
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
NEWS: In our return to God’s house tomorrow we will be celebrating the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Our day begins with Bible study at 9 AM and Pastor Joel will continue to guide us through the book of Genesis. In our 10 AM worship, the title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “Thank You God For Not Doing Things My Way.” It’s based on the Gospel, taken from Matthew 16:21-28 Our Old Testament reading is Jeremiah 15:15-21 The Psalmody is taken from Psalm 26 Our Epistle lesson is Romans 12:9-21 After we have celebrated Holy Communion and our service is complete, please join us for fellowship time with coffee and goodies. Then fellowship continues with lunch. We’ll meet at “Great Wok of China” (4635 Frazee Rd) – they have great lunch specials, or next door is Rancho Viejo Mexican (4645 Frazee) or if you like dessert for lunch, there’s Cold Stone also next door. They are in the same shopping center as “In ‘N Out” but on the other side near 24 Hour Fitness.
PRAYERS: Today we remember the Luckemeyer family in our prayers: Amy, Pastor Joel, Jeremy and Lucy Joy. We especially pray that Pastor and Amy can get some needed rest. We continue to keep the Woodward family in our prayers, especially Eric. We also pray for Alba Reilly, recovering from surgery. In our Summer of Prayer series, we pray for the United States of America and that we would see that freedom comes with a responsibility to be a moral nation. We ask the Lord to grant our country wisdom to see what is truly moral comes from Him.
READINGS: Esther 9; Psalm 61; 1 Thessalonians 5
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Blessed Are the Eyes of Faith”
John 20:25-29 – So the other disciples told him [Thomas], “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into His side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, His disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put your hand, and place it in My side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
O Thomas—talk about not being in the right place at the right time. When Jesus first appeared to the disciples who were hiding behind locked doors after His resurrection, Thomas wasn’t there. When he heard the disciples’ claims of having seen the risen Christ, Thomas didn’t believe, in fact, he wouldn’t believe unless he could physically see and touch and confirm for himself that it was the risen Jesus standing before him.
Well, fortunate for Thomas Jesus did appear to him eight days later. And Jesus’ reply to Thomas’ skeptical heart, “Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus appeared to Thomas and revealed something Thomas had never seen before: a dead man who is alive and who brings peace and certainty to people. Jesus didn’t put Thomas down because Thomas had relied upon his sight.
What Jesus did was reveal to Thomas that the meaning of life is more than what we can feel certain about based on what our senses may or may not tell us. That’s because our physical senses only go so far. They can’t discern the ultimate truth of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ.
God’s love is shown to us in the One who died on the cross for our sins, so that God and man might be reconciled. Jesus, both God and Man, the One who was crucified for our sins—is now alive! And it is this same Jesus, the Father’s only Son, who shows Himself alive to Thomas, saying, “Peace be with you, Thomas.” To this, Thomas famously exclaims, through the eyes of faith, “My Lord and my God!”
Now if the truth of Jesus’ living and reigning after His resurrection was true for Thomas, it is most certainly true for us. What Jesus said to Thomas, He says to you and me: “Don’t go on doubting, but believe.” And then there are these words from John, reminding us of why he wrote his Gospel in the first place: “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His Name” (John 20:30-31).
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, please revive our doubting hearts with Your radiant presence. Amen.
From “Seeing Is Believing,” a sermon excerpt from Rev. Dr. Dale Meyer, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Reflection Questions:
1. Can you tell, usually, if someone is telling the truth?
2. Why might Thomas have been set against believing that Jesus had actually risen from the dead?
3. Does Jesus showing Himself to Thomas impact your faith in any way?
Today’s Bible Readings: 2 Chronicles 19-20 2 Corinthians 7
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 Saturday and weekend to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel, pastor@svlcchurch.org
