SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2022
NEWS: Please refer to the Shepherd of The Valley Weekly Church Newsletter, sent through email, by Allen Kolkman yesterday.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for the Woodward family: Carole, Bruce and Eric.
READINGS: Psalm 22:1-5, 12-26; Jeremiah 37:1-21; Matthew 27:33-56
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Where It All Comes Together”
Colossians 1:19-20 – For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross. This devotion pairs with this weekend’s Lutheran Hour sermon, which can be found at lutheranhour.org. St. Paul composes these words for a specific purpose, to address the false teaching about Jesus. “For in Jesus Christ all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.”
The young church at Colossi didn’t possess this peace. They were on the brink of a break-up because some false teachers called Gnostics were teaching that there was a higher spiritual world and a lower material world. These Gnostics also denied that Jesus, the Jesus who walked on this earth, the Jesus who died on a cross, that this Jesus was fully divine, fully God. It is not Gospel Good News if Jesus is just a half-god, or just a holy role model.
You see, the Jesus you see in the Bible is human, totally human, but He is also not only a man; He is totally God, the fullness of God. So, when we look upon Jesus, it is the image of God our eyes behold, when we listen to the Words of Jesus, it is the voice of God our ears hear. Jesus is God begotten from the substance of the Father before all ages. And Jesus is Man, born from the substance of His mother the virgin Mary in this age. It’s takes the One “in whom all things hold together” to bring reconciliation and peace on earth.
Jack Preus was one my most encouraging mentors. He died several month ago. In his book, Just Words, he writes, “Reconciliation signals the solution to the separation between people. Peace calls attention to the resolution to the friction between and within people.” And how we desperately need both: reconciliation and peace.
When you think about our culture how divided we are, when you think about the extent to which the pieces are not coming together for so many of us, the friction that afflicts us needs more than just a mere man to fix. It took the fullness of God dwelling in the Person of Jesus to do the work of saving us. It took the One who fully took on our human nature, yet was without sin.
That’s whom we have in Jesus.
WE PRAY: We thank You Lord Jesus for all of the ways that You have become for us the reconciliation we need in life. For all of the ways You bring peace to all of the brokenness in our world. We pray, Lord, that You might inspire us by Your Spirit that we might become reconcilers and peace-makers for the sake of You, the Light of the world. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. John Nunes.
Reflection Questions:
1. Though some may see it as just a doctrinal detail, why does it absolutely matter that Jesus was fully God and fully Man?
2. What are some of the cultural divisions that we need Jesus to help us overcome?
3. Think of a time you felt spiritually fractured. How did God become a healing, reconciling, provider of peace?
Today’s Bible Readings: Ezekiel 8-10 1 Timothy 5
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 Friday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
