SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2022
NEWS: We had a wonderful day in God’s house yesterday with all who attended in person and worshipped with us online. Thank you to all who signed up to serve as well. Thank you to Pastor Joel for his leading in our Bible study and worship service and his wonderful family too.
Tomorrow the Tuesday night Bible studym takes place at the home of Allen and Debbie Kolkman. It starts at 6:30 PM and the Parables of Jesus are being studied. A short devotion takes place, followed by the study material and then fellowship time. The evening wraps up around 8 PM. All are invited to attend. Their address is 710 Fredericks Ave., Oceanside.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Noah Adams.
READINGS: Psalm 114; Psalm 16; Daniel 2:1-23; Revelation 18:1-24
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Hometown”
Psalm 122:6-7 – Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you! Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!”
In our psalm verses we are called to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. The earthly city of Jerusalem—its name means “city” or “foundation of peace”—needs our prayers. The city has suffered through centuries of warfare and political and religious strife. We pray fervently for peace, not only in Jerusalem but in every city and every nation, so that people can live in safety and the Gospel might be proclaimed without fear or restraint.
There is another Jerusalem in our lives and prayers, the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of God. The apostle Paul compares the earthly Jerusalem to a life captive to sin, a life lived under the burden of the Law in a futile attempt to earn salvation through good works. Those efforts can only end in deadly failure: “For by works of the Law no human being will be justified in His sight” (Romans 3:20a). We are justified only through faith in Jesus our Savior, who carried His cross to a site of execution outside of the earthly Jerusalem. There He was crucified and suffered the penalty of death that we deserved for our sins. By God’s grace through faith in our crucified and risen Lord, our sins are forgiven and we no longer live under the condemnation of the Law.
In his comparison of the earthly and heavenly cities, Paul writes, “The Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother” (Galatians 4:26). We are baptized. We have been buried with Christ and raised to new life through faith in His Name. We have been born again and we have a new hometown. Birth and baptismal certificates will list a certain location as the place of birth, but as brothers and sisters in Christ we can now claim the heavenly Jerusalem as our home. As another psalm reports concerning the city of God, “The LORD records as He registers the peoples, ‘This one was born there'” (Psalm 87:6).
While we long and pray for peace in every earthly city, by faith we already enjoy a taste of the lasting peace that one day we will know fully in Jesus’ presence. In Him we have the peace that comes only through the forgiveness of our sins and the security of knowing that our Lord is with us at all times and in every place. While we celebrate our earthly heritage and pray for our cities, we long for the day when we will know the greater joy of the heavenly Jerusalem, our true hometown. We do not know exactly what heaven will be like, but when Jesus comes back, He will gather us to Himself and we will live forever in His presence in that holy city. We will know peace within its jeweled walls and security within its golden towers. We will be home.
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, grant peace to our earthly cities until we know eternal peace in Your presence. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. Think about the neighborhood where you grew up? How has it changed since you were a child?
2. Have you ever been to Jerusalem? Why does Jerusalem figure so prominently in the Bible?
3. What images do you get in your mind when you think of a future, heavenly Jerusalem?
Today’s Bible Readings: Ezekiel 16-17 2 Timothy 2
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 Monday and new week to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
