SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
SATURDAY, APRIL 30
NEWS: Please refer to the Weekly E-News sent out yesterday by Allen Kolkman for news you can use…it’s all there! Blessings to all!
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Diane Finley. She is grateful she can keep the health insurance that was at first going to be taken away. Prayers of thanks for Pastor Joel and Amy, as they closed on their new home yesterday. We also include Jeremy and Lucy. We pray that they can soon be reunited as they move into their new dwelling.
READINGS: Psalm 106:16-23; Psalm 68; Exodus 32:1-14; Luke 6:20-38
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Exalted Confession”
uke 18:9-14 – He [Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
In the Old Testament book of Lamentations, we read this: “Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD!” (Lamentations 3:40) Accordingly, by God’s grace and Holy Spirit, we are enabled to speak the words in Jesus’ parable, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” And God assures us of His forgiveness through the apostle John, when He writes, “If we confess our sins, God is indeed faithful and righteous to forgive us all our sins, and to cleanse us from all our unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
David knew well of the life-giving, soul-nourishing power of confession. “For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to You, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin” (Psalm 32:3-5).
With the psalmist’s confession is also a rejoicing in what God promises and gives to all who humbly acknowledge their sins before Him. Confession is the God-pleasing act of emptying ourselves of our self-righteousness so that our Heavenly Father can fill us up with the perfect righteousness of Jesus who was crucified and raised again for our justification.
In truth, the confession of our sins should always be near to our lips. As we recognize our guilt before God, we turn to His matchless grace and mercy for our redemption, knowing that He—and He alone—can bring restoration and peace to our lives. Today, just as in ancient times, He will do this for us. “If My people who are called by My Name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
WE PRAY: Heavenly Father, lead us by Your Holy Spirit to confess our sins and so be healed by the salvation won for us by Jesus. In His Name we pray. Amen.
From “A Wrong Comparison,” a sermon by Rev. Dr. Wallace Schulz, former Speaker of The Lutheran Hour
Reflection Questions:
1. Why is it so easy to compare ourselves—favorably—against others?
2. How can we take a more realistic view of ourselves-like the tax collector in Jesus’ parable?
3. Do you ever think of our country as humbling itself before God? How might this take place?
Today’s Bible Readings: 1 Samuel 19 Psalms 23 Psalms 59 Luke 21:1-19
To Download Devotion MP3 to your computer, right click here and select “Save Link As” or “Save Target As” or “Download Linked File As”
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:
www.facebook.com/shepherdofthevalleyoceanside
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 Saturday and weekend to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us.
