SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
THURSDAY, JUNE 23
NEWS: No news that I have been made aware of as of this writing. I did come across a rather interesting article from a Lutheran publication called The Wittenberg Trail. Here is the link: https://medium.com/@Brandon.PeltonCox/the-wittenberg-trail-from-atheist-to-confessional-lutheran-199620f7d8a1
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Amy Terrill plus Abby, Lot and Asha.
READINGS: Psalm 139:14-18, 23-24; Psalm 16; Proverbs 27:1-24; John 20:1-18
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Loss and Gain”
Luke 9:57-62 – As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” To another He said, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow You, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
It hurts to read this part of Luke’s Gospel. Three people say they are going to follow Jesus. Good news, right? But look at how Jesus answers them—it’s nothing but negatives!
So what’s going on here? Jesus wants to make it crystal clear that those who follow Him will pay a price. It won’t be the same for everybody. Everyone has their own challenges. So He warns the first person that it’s going to be an uncomfortable, homeless life. Is he sure he wants to follow Jesus under those circumstances?
What about the second man? Most likely his dad wasn’t newly dead, or why would he be out in public at such a time? No, what he means is probably, “Let me wait until my father dies and I have a comfortable little nest egg, and then I’ll be ready to follow You.”
But Jesus won’t allow this. Money, safety, security—none of these things should get between us and Jesus.
And then there’s the third person. We don’t know what was going on in that person’s family life, whether they came from a clingy, dysfunctional family, or what. One thing we can be sure of, though—Jesus wants no halfhearted followers. If the family at home is likely to get between us and Jesus, we will have to make a choice.
Ouch! But it’s true, isn’t it? Following Jesus means walking a difficult and painful path sometimes. And Jesus wants us to go into it with our eyes open.
But there’s much more to being a Christian. If following Jesus was only pain and loss, who would do it? But no matter what we lose, we gain Jesus Himself.
This is the God of the universe, who made you inside your mother’s womb, before anyone else laid eyes on you. This is the One who loved you and called you from the beginning, who knows all your days. This is the One who knew that you would fall into sin, would be troubled and broken and guilty and ashamed—and refused to let that be the end of your story. He would give His life to prevent it.
Jesus looked down the road to see the price that He would pay for loving you. He saw the thorns and the nails and the cross. He knew that He would walk through darkness into death for your sake—and then rise again. Jesus looked at the price He would pay to have you, and He rubbed His hands together and said, “That’s good. Let’s do it.” And He was glad.
For such a loving God and Savior, what would you be willing to suffer?
WE PRAY: Dear Lord Jesus, I’m glad that I belong to You. Help me when I suffer for Your sake. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. Do you find this passage difficult? Why or why not?
2. Tell about a time when you had trouble because you follow Jesus.
3. What specifically do you think of when you are tempted to give up? How does God help you?
Today’s Bible Readings: Song 4-5 Acts 7:1-21
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:
Our church website is: https://www.svlchurch.org/
Below is our Facebook page:
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 Thursday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
