SVLC DEVOTION SUNDAY, JANUARY 21, 2024

by | Jan 20, 2024 | Daily Devotions

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS AND PRAYERS

SUNDAY, JANUARY 21, 2024

 I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord! Psalm 122:1

NEWS: It’s the Third Sunday after Epiphany today and our time in God’s house begins with a new Bible study at 9 AM. Pastor Joel is leading and it’s titled, “Praying God’s Will.” At 10 our weekly worship service takes place. The title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “The Kingdom of God is at Hand – Repent and Believe in the Gospel.” It’s based on Mark 1:14-20 (emphasis on verse 15.) That’s our Gospel reading for the day. The Old Testament lesson is Jonah 3:1-5, 10 The Psalmody is taken from Psalm 62 Our Epistle comes from 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

We pray all can join us for part of their Sunday but for those unable to worship in person, we stream our service live. The link is here: www.facebook.com/shepherdofthevalleyoceanside  Click on that, then click on the More dropdown arrow, then click Live. If you have a moment, please “Like” us and leave a brief comment about your online worship experience. Thank you! Also serving the Lord and our congregation today are:

Techies:  Ian Andrews, Victor Dille

Reader:  Margaret Paton

Acolyte:  Josephine Neemia

Greeter:  Rick Adams

Ushers:   Terry Reilly, OPEN

Flowers:  David & Melissa Carlisle

Fellowship:  POTLUCK MEAL IN THE COMMUNITY BUILDING

PRAYERS: Today we remember Gunti and Barb Galleisky in our prayers.

 COLLECT OF THE DAY: Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities and stretch forth the hand of Your majesty to heal and defend us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  

 READINGS: Joel 1; Romans 10

 Alleluia. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. Alleluia.

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“What Is the World to Me?”

January 21, 2024

 

“What is the world to me with all its vaunted pleasure, When You, and You alone, Lord Jesus, are my Treasure! You only, dearest Lord, my soul’s delight shall be; You are my peace, my rest. What is the world to me!

“The world seeks to be praised and honored by the mighty, Yet never once reflects that they are frail and flighty. But what I truly prize above all things is He, My Jesus, He alone. What is the world to me!”

In Scripture “the world” and its people are described as God’s creation, loved and sustained by His care: “The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1). Yet Scripture also refers to “the world” as a place at war with its Creator, as the home of those who oppose God’s will and hate Jesus and His followers. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18).

God loves the world and the people He created. He sent His Son to be the world’s Savior. Jesus, the One by whom and for whom all things were made, came to live in the world He created. He treated people with care and compassion, yet He also spoke against the evil of this world. Jesus endured hatred and rejection and, when the time was right, He carried the sins of the world in His own body on the cross. He suffered the penalty of death for the world’s evil, dying to reconcile the world to its Creator and rising to life in victory over sin, death, and the devil. As He told His disciples, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b).

By God’s grace through faith in Jesus, we are reconciled to God. As children of God, we reject the sin and evil of this world and rightly exclaim, “What is the world to me!” We are to be managers, or caretakers, of God’s creation (see Genesis 1:28). At the same time, we are warned against the world’s temptations: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). We resist the world’s evil and its “vaunted pleasure” because Jesus alone is our Treasure and soul’s delight. Like our Lord we seek to treat others with care and compassion as He sends us into a world lost in sin. We have Good News to proclaim, the message of repentance and forgiveness in His Name. Jesus, the Treasure we “prize above all things,” is a Treasure to be shared!

WE PRAY: Jesus, You are my Treasure and my soul’s delight. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “What Is the World to Me?” which is number 730 in the Lutheran Service Book.

Reflection Questions:

1. Why is the world at war with God, its Creator?

2. What has God done to set us free from the world and its luring temptations?

3. How do you keep your eyes on Jesus to combat the world and your sinful desires?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Job 32-33; Matthew 14:1-21

 

WE HAVE TWO LIBRARIES AT CHURCH! One of them is in the back of our sanctuary. That has many books, DVD’s and (I believe) CD’s that are available to check out and return on the honor system. We also have our “Little Library” just inside the driveway to our parking lot. Please feel free to take a book or leave a book. The main focus is childrens or Christian material, but other, appropriate for a church setting, is acceptable.

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 you 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.”

Now you can 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/

 Here is the website for Lutherans for Life: https://lutheransforlife.org/

A very blessed Lord’s Day and Sunday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us.

 Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org