Daily Devotion, September 30, 2019

Devotion:

Read Psalm 22:1-5.

We begin our series on the “Seasons of the Soul” with the season of winter. In this season of the year, the beautiful foliage of the fall has fallen to the ground, leaving the bare limbs of trees to stand out in the cold wind. The days are shorter, so more of our waking hours are spent in the dark. The grass is brown and dormant on the often frozen ground. On the coldest of days, we dress as warmly as we can but lean into the biting wind. Without the signs and sounds of life so evident in the other seasons, we can feel alone and depressed.

The psalmist is in a terrible winter of his soul. His sense of helplessness and loneliness are evident in his cry to God, “Why have you forsaken me?” The psalmist speaks for us in our winters of despair when he anguishes over the fact that he has prayed (cried out) to God for rest and rescue. His pain is made worse by his sure knowledge that God is real, God is all powerful, and God saved his ancestors when they put their trust in him. It was this Psalm that Jesus remembered in his anguished winter on the cross. In our times of distress, we long for rescue and answers and relief, but sometimes we must simply hang on and remember that others have faced winters and continued to trust God.

Personal Worship Option:

Have you experienced a time in which you felt alone and abandoned by God? Are you feeling that way now? These times are like the seasons of the year -- they come, and they go. God is with you, even when you do not sense God’s presence. Hang on and pray that your perseverance will make your faith stronger.

Daily Devotion, September 29, 2019

Devotion:

Read Ephesians 6:10-18a.

  Many scholars believe that Paul wrote this letter from prison. Armed guards may have been nearby. Whether that was the case or not, he had certainly seen the armor and weapons of a Roman soldier many times. So he uses that imagery to write about how we need to protect and arm ourselves for the spiritual battle in which we engage every day.

  

  “What does this spiritual battle look like?” you might ask. When someone is offering words of hatred toward an individual or group of people, you have to decide whether you will join that side of the fight or instead be a part of the Spirit of love and reconciliation. When out-of-control anger is being expressed, will you only add to it? When greed and hoarding is being exhibited by others, will you offer acts of generosity and hospitality? When despair is popular, will you stand against it with a word of hope? Every day, we battle “the spiritual forces of evil.” 

  In warfare, one needs weapons of offense and attack, as well as defensive protection when the enemy is on the attack. With Paul’s focus on armor here, most of what he describes is for protection: breastplate, shield, helmet. Yes, it is important to constantly seek the truth, to do what is right, to pursue the gospel of peace and to know of our salvation through faith in God’s grace. He offers only one offensive weapon: “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” I am reminded here that we do not fight our battles alone, but that the Holy Spirit fights alongside us and for us. And the primary weapon by which the Spirit guides us in battle is knowing the Word of God, both the written Word of the Scriptures and the One who is the Word, Jesus Christ.

  You are in a spiritual battle every day. Be sure you are armed and ready and fighting for the right army. 

Personal Worship Option:

What do you need to do to be better prepared to fight your spiritual battles as a soldier in God’s army? (Remember, Satan says destroy enemies; Jesus says love them. Are you prepared?)

Daily Devotion, September 28, 2019

Devotion:

Read Psalm 23.

  Let’s try something “off the wall” that may help reinforce our appreciation for this Psalm. Try writing the opposite of what it shares. That might go something like this:

Satan is my shepherd; I’m always wanting something.

He never lets me rest, is always pushing me to do more.

He has me in a raging river all the time; my soul in a constant uproar.

He’s always tempting me down the wrong path.

When I go through tough times, I feel like I am all alone;

you’re certainly no help.

With you, I’m hungry all the time and live in constant fear.  

You anoint my head with a crown of thorns; my cup is always empty.

Surely despair and hatred will follow and fill me all the days of my life

and I will never find a home.

Personal Worship Option:

With that jarring alternative in mind, offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God for the affirmation that Psalm 23 provides. 

Daily Devotion, September 27, 2019

Devotion:

Read Luke 18:18-25.

A rich man who is faithful in following all the commandments finds out that he still is lacking spiritually because he can’t give up his wealth to follow Jesus. This man’s wealth made his life comfortable and gave him power and prestige. When Jesus told him to sell everything he owned, Jesus was touching the very basis of his security and identity. The man didn’t understand that what Jesus offered was so much more.

Jesus doesn’t ask all believers to sell everything they have, although this may be true for some. He does ask us all to get rid of anything that has become more important than God. If your basis for security has shifted from God to what you own, it would be better for you to get rid of those possessions.

Personal Worship Option:

What is most important to you? What would Jesus say to you today?

Daily Devotion, September 26, 2019

Devotion:

Read Galatians 5:16-25.

In the New Testament, “the flesh” is a summary term that refers to everything in our lives that is unpleasing or hostile to God. The flesh is the natural condition of every person. In his book Baptism and Fullness, John Stott puts it this way: “The works of the flesh are the deeds we do naturally when left to our own resources, while the fruit of the Spirit consists of the Spirit working in us supernaturally.” Acts are what we do, and fruit is what the Spirit produces.

It surprises me how often the Bible uses the imagery of gardening or fruitfulness to describe believers in Christ. The Old Testament prophets and the Psalms describe God’s people as a garden or vineyard. Growing up on a farm, one important task of a farmer is to watch the crop to make sure it is developing well. Drought, flood, cold, heat, disease—any of these can take a toll on the maturing crop and affect the yield at harvest time. In the same way, we are responsible to watch for symptoms of wrongful acts and diagnose the growth and maturity of our souls. The Spirit’s work in us is a process of budding, blossoming, ripening, growing, maturing like that of a fruit tree. Once we belong to Jesus by faith, the Spirit begins a lifelong process of spiritual growth within us!

Personal Worship Option:

Dear God, Shape our hearts so that the Holy Spirit will be able to help us to become fruitful. Weed out the acts of the flesh that challenge our hearts, so that our lives may produce an abundant harvest for you. Amen.

Daily Devotion, September 25, 2019

Devotion:

Read John 8:42-47.

Okay, so reams of paper have been written (from volumes of commentaries) and still could be written on this powerful passage. And my thoughts also traveled to the 1980’s Star Wars Movie, the Empire Strikes Back when Vader announces to Luke saying, “I am your Father.”

But for the brevity of today’s devotional, I want to emphasize Jesus’ words to the leaders within the synagogue that day---“Because you are unable to hear what I say.” In our very busy and noisy world, there’s a lot which clamors for our attention. And often the attention-seeking messages which the world sends are born out of selfish motives. Studies have shown what it takes to capture our attention. And the people and corporations who want our attention follow the advice of those studies. And like the leaders in Jesus’ day, our attention has been captured.

So how do we open our ears to hear again Jesus’ truth? It begins with truly seeking God’s ways, a humble spirit, our soul’s sincere longing to hear God’s voice again, and to have ears tuned to hear the cries of those in need.

With God’s gracious help, it requires an honest inventory of how we are living our lives. Three places to begin might be to look at our family’s budget, the ways we spend the 168 hours of our week, and an honest look at our “wants” list. Then in prayer, we can ask God to reset our priorities, re-arrange our lives such that God is the One who receives our greatest attention and we join with God in helping others. We will also hear in prayer God’s compassionate truth to us that we are each one God’s own beloved child.

Personal Worship Option:

Dear God, Open my ears to hear your truths of love and life. Help me realize what is capturing my attention. Open my eyes to take an honest and humble look at my life. Open my heart to re-prioritize my life in the ways you are leading. Sincerely, your child. Amen.

Daily Devotion, September 24, 2019

Devotion:

Read Romans 7:15-25a.

Paul reveals that we have a dual nature. To some extent we are all a bit of Jekyll and a bit of Hyde. We want to do right, but we also are drawn to doing things that are wrong. I see this with my toddler grandson. When he heads to the forbidden cookie jar before dinner, he always turns to look at me. Then he looks at the cookie jar and then back at me. He wants the cookie and yet he knows he can’t have it yet. I can see the dilemma! I experience it also! We all deal with an internal conflict as we want to serve God yet we often end up serving ourselves. The dark side of our nature leads us to give in to temptation, but as Christians we have a supernatural power, the Holy Spirit, that helps us to stay strong against temptation. Our struggle with sin will continue throughout life on earth. The difference for Christians is that there is hope in Christ. The verses that follow our reading remind us that we can set our minds on what God’s Spirit desires for us and as a result we will experience the peace and joy only he can give.

Personal Worship Option:

What is the war going on inside you? Are you struggling with pleasing God and pleasing yourself? With the first awareness of your temptation, be strong. Know that God has set you free from the bondage of sin and has given you the power of the Holy Spirit to withstand any temptation. Pray that you will feel God’s constant presence in the face of temptation and give him thanks for that.

Daily Devotion, September 23, 2019

Devotion:

Read Luke 4:1-13.

As we study this time of temptation of our Lord, we gain insights into his nature and how we are to deal with temptation. Jesus, fresh from his baptism and his Father’s anointing, had gone away into a desolate place to decide how he would use his powers; in other words, what kind of Messiah he would be. It was “tempting” to use his power to satisfy his own needs (hunger), to rule politically, or to impress with spectacle. We are only tempted by the things that have at least some amount of allure or appeal to us. If we are not drawn to them in some way, we are not tempted. This tells us that Jesus at least considered choosing each of the temptations. I picture him saying, “H’mmm!” as he thought about the advantages or benefits of each of them. Yet, at the same time, he sought his Father’s will in each temptation and found both the answer and power to respond faithfully by remembering passages of Scripture.

You and I should not be surprised that we are tempted. We have free will, and we are bombarded with choices every day. Sometimes it is easy to choose correctly. But sometimes we are really tempted because the bad choice holds some attraction for us. This passage encourages us to push back, ask what God would have us do, and choose that.

Personal Worship Option:

Remember how we pray in our Lord’s Prayer to not be led into temptation. Think about the things that may tempt you today or tomorrow. Pray for the wisdom to do as Jesus did and choose to resist that temptation. And remember that, just as Jesus’ temptations did not completely end there, ours will not either. 

Daily Devotion, September 22, 2019

Devotion:

Read Ephesians 5:21-33.

  This is one of those passages of the Bible that has often been misunderstood and misused, especially verses 22-24. Too often, those verses have been used to admonish wives to submit to their husbands, no matter how the husband treats them or behaves toward them. It is another example of not paying attention to the larger passage around one or more verses or to the bigger picture of what Jesus and the Scriptures teach.

  First of all, notice that these verses are preceded by this guidance for everyone being addressed: “Submit to one another…” There is a spirit and attitude of submission that should be part of all of our relationships in Christ.

  Second, notice how the verses after those describe how a husband is being taught to relate to their wife: with a love that is willing to give up himself for her. The writer uses the example of Jesus giving himself up. And because Jesus was willing to give himself up for me, I am more than willing to submit myself to him.

 

  In the Philippians passage from yesterday, we were reminded of the love that Jesus showed us by submitting himself to the world. In other words, love and submission go together. So verse 21 guides this whole section: “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” It could just as easily read “Love one another out of reverence for Christ.”

Personal Worship Option:

Pray to God for guidance and discernment in knowing how to show love to members of your family by being appropriately submissive.

Daily Devotion, September 21, 2019

Devotion:

Read Philippians 2:3-8.

  For me, this is one of those key passages of Scripture that sums up what it means to be a Christian. This is what love looks like. This is what the life and ministry of Jesus Christ looks like. This is what being a Christian looks like.

  It’s about being unselfish. Being self-centered is the core of what sin is. So to live a life that is the opposite of being self-centered is to live a life opposite of sin. It is to live as Jesus showed us how to live. “Don’t be focused on your own interests, but on the interests of others” writes Paul. In the verse prior to this passage, he invites Christ’s followers to be “like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” How are they to do that? By being unselfish, focusing on others.

  It’s about being humble: “consider others better than yourselves.” He goes on to write that even Jesus lived a life of humility, including his willingness to become a human in the first place, as well as submitting himself to the humiliating and excruciating experience of crucifixion.

 

  Living a life of humility, focused on other people: it is the life of love. It is what it means to be a follower of Christ. 

Personal Worship Option:

Think of the humble, unselfish people who have influenced your life. Give God thanks for their example. Meditate on how you can better follow it.

Daily Devotion, September 20, 2019

Devotion:

Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a.

Love is . . . there are numerous phrases that complete this sentence. Love is blind. Love is never having to say I’m sorry. Love is a many splendored thing. Love is something we struggle to define and to experience. However, in this passage of scripture there is no confusion as to what love is. Love is patient, kind, not jealous, boastful, prideful or rude. It does not demand its own way or keep a record of wrongs. Love isn’t happy about injustice and rejoices when truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith; it hopes and endures through every circumstance.  

These verses define the type of love that is to be the core of all relationships for followers of Christ. This is a tall order! This kind of love is directed outward toward others. It is totally unselfish! Only with the help of the Holy Spirit will we be able to set aside our own agendas to truly love the way God loves us.

Personal Worship Option:

Which of these expressions of love do you do well? Which need work? Open your heart to the Spirit’s leading as you commit to grow in love.

Daily Devotion, September 19, 2019

Devotion:

Read 1 John 3:16-18.

Today’s Scripture teaches that love without action is not love at all. In these three verses, we see love modeled and defined for us. John uses Christ as the great example of love. His love was demonstrated by His sacrificial death on the cross. He died, not for His sins, but for our sins. His sacrificial love was so great that words cannot express it. John urges us to lay down our life for our brothers, and our sisters, and even our enemies. It is pure love when we die to our own desires and needs, to give to others. To say I love you and then give nothing of yourself, is not just an empty comment, it is deception and is meaningless.

This leads directly to its definition. Love is self-sacrifice. Following the example of Jesus, it is understood literally to give your life. But self-sacrifice can also be understood metaphorically, as a mindset that places the interests of others before one’s own. If anyone has material possessions and sees brothers or sisters in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in them? Helping the least of these is not the only application of self-sacrificial love, but it is an especially clear one. The time, talent, and treasure you would otherwise give to yourself is being sacrificially given to others. If we fail to love the poor, then God’s love has not permeated our being, and our love for Him is incomplete.

Personal Worship Option:

Dear God, let us not love only with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. What the world needs from we Christians is not more talk about love, but simply more love. Help us to love. Amen.

Daily Devotion, September 18, 2019

Devotion:

Read Colossians 3:15-21.

I love the beginning of Colossians 3 in The Message “ So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it..”

Let love be your identifying characteristic as followers of Christ, Paul writes. Paul asks for peace to keep them “ in tune with each other” and says in verse 17 “Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.”

Verses 18-21 are Paul’s teaching on the ways of living life as families. This was perhaps a radical new teaching as husbands were admonished in several of Paul’s letters to love their wives. In Ephesians 5, Paul says for husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave His life for it. 

In recent years, a lot of arguments have surrounded Paul’s teaching for wives to submit to their husbands. This was written in a different time as to the roles of women. But I believe we are to see the whole message here that our families are to love one another in all the ways Christ calls us to love.

“They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love”, a song written in 1966 by a Roman Catholic Priest Peter R. Sholtes, during his time as a Parish Priest on the south side of Chicago, was a call for all Christians to be mindful of our witness.

Similarly, I believe the Apostle Paul was calling the people of the church at Colossae to understand their witness for Christ included more than just words.  Resurrection life with Christ is different! Our witness includes the ways we treat others, including our families.

Personal Worship Option:

Family life together is not always easy. Sometimes we are “out of tune” with each other. Dear God, re-teach us your ways of love for our families. Grant us your peace, tune our hearts with your heart, and help us to always be thankful. Help us to love each other in sacrificial and unselfish ways. Amen.

Daily Devotion, September 17, 2019

Devotion:

Read James 4:6-10.

James is writing to Christians who were quarreling; committing murder and adultery; living by lust, greed, and envy. They were struggling to uphold their Christian faith and weren’t submitting to either Christ or their fellow Christians. The Greek word for submission is hupotasso which means to get under and lift up, or to put in order. When we submit to Christ, we “get under” or “lift up” his mission of grace, mercy, and love. Like the early Christians, we also struggle to uphold our Christian faith and submit to Christ and each other. Submission means we let go of our pride and humbly surrender to God’s will. We find good news in the first part of our passage today. “ But he gives us more grace.” God gives us his grace even when we sin. God gives us grace even when we disappoint him. God continually forgives us and gives us more and more grace. Why would we not submit to such a gracious, grace-giving God? This passage reminds us that when we draw near to him and humble ourselves, he will lift us up. He lifts us up by giving us spiritual blessings and peace that passes our own understanding. God models for us what he expects us to do for others: extend grace to others and lift them up.

Personal Worship Option:

Who do you need to lift up today? Is there someone you need to humbly submit to? Ask God to guide you as you extend grace and mercy to someone today.

Daily Devotion, September 16, 2019

Devotion:

Read John 17:20-26.

The first thing that strikes me in this passage is that Jesus is praying here for you and for me -- Christians who believe, not because we were with Jesus during his time on earth, but rather because the disciples who were with Jesus faithfully passed the Good News to the next generation. Then Jesus describes the way he and the Father are in one another, building to the point that Father and Son are indeed one. If we do not pay close attention to passages like this one, we may think of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as an ordered ranking. When God the Son came to earth in human form, God voluntarily limited God’s power and knowledge in order that we might more closely identify with the fully God and fully human Jesus Christ. But God the Father and Son are one and equal in all respects.

Head hurting yet? Mine is! This is heavy lifting! But the most amazing thing about the teaching in this passage is that the Son does not wish to keep his precious, intimate relationship with the Father to himself! He prays that we will be drawn into this fellowship and that both Father and Son will be in us and we in them. Jesus prays to the Father for this for us, and I cannot imagine the Father saying “no!” Only we can keep this prayer for us from being granted.

Personal Worship Option:

Reflect on this invitation from Jesus to share in the intimacy and equality between Father and Son. If all believers have this invitation, we should feel that same love and equality between ourselves and others. Pray with me for that kind of love for others.

Daily Devotion, September 15, 2019

Devotion:

Read Ephesians 4:14-16.

In yesterday’s passage, Paul urged all of us in the church to grow and become mature. Referring to that as he continues with today’s reading, he is saying we will then be grounded and established in sound teachings so we are not like babies in the faith, shifting from one enticing but false teaching to another. This is why good, sound, in-depth Bible study is so important. Studying together helps us to learn from one another’s backgrounds and experiences, and our study groups benefit by having facilitators or teachers who are gifted and who enjoy the hard work of preparing in advance and leading our discussions.

Christians grow individually and become more mature as we read and study the Bible, pray, worship, and use our gifts to serve others in ministry. Then all the ministries work together to become the ministry of the church. Like a body made up of many different parts, the church becomes a vibrant, living, and breathing body...the body of Jesus Christ in the world. Paul reminds us that the church builds itself up in love. Everything we do individually and as the church in the name of Christ must be faithful to Christ’s teaching to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Personal Worship Option:

Think about ministries you enjoy in the church that are done or led by others. In your time of prayer, give thanks today for their gifts and commitment to the church. Make a point to thank them personally with a phone call or when you next see them in person. 

Daily Devotion, September 14, 2019

Devotion:

Read Ephesians 4:7-13.

Paul’s letters often describe the gifts we are given to serve through the church, and his Letter to the Ephesians has some of the most important teachings about the gifts. Here Paul tells us that Christ himself gave the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to the church. It is interesting that the first three of these were travelers who were sent out, often to other places and cultures to introduce the Good News of Jesus Christ to unbelievers. Pastors and teachers, on the other hand, generally served in the local church. While they certainly received and baptized new believers, their primary role was to equip the believers and then to send them out. This describes a beautiful and repeating cycle of evangelism, nurture, equipping, and sending.

The mission statement of Christ Church is to make disciples for Jesus Christ and equip them for ministry. Equipping for ministry includes helping believers learn to study and understand Scripture; identify their gifts; put their gifts to work serving in the church and in the community; and to worship together, praising God and being renewed and energized. As we grow to maturity in faith, the church grows in love and service and reaches more new people for Christ.

Personal Worship Option:

Give thanks today for Christ Church and for its ministries both inside the church and out in the community. Reflect on your gifts and the ways you serve through the church. Reflect on how your ministries serve and fit into the church’s mission statement. Plan now to come to worship tomorrow or next Thursday night to Connect.

Daily Devotion, September 13, 2019

Devotion:

Read 1 Timothy 4:11-16.

Our gifts are likely not the same ones given to young Timothy. But like Timothy, we are to grow by using our gifts to increase our own faith and that of others. Our gifts, talents, and skills are unique to each individual. No one in all of history is exactly like you. God has designed each person with their own blend of personality, ability, ancestry, and skills.

You can do something no one else can do in a way that no one else can. Many people stop short of their destiny. They settle for someone else’ story: they try to fit in, settle in, or blend in. Don’t make that mistake.

Your existence is not accidental. God has designed you with a purpose to be used for His kingdom. Explore, discover and then employ your God-given gifts, talents, and skills. People are waiting for YOU.

Personal Worship Option:

Dear Father, thank you for creating me like no one else.  Help me to write my story carefully and become the person you designed me to be.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Daily Devotion, September 12, 2019

Devotion:

Read Luke 17:1-5.

In this scripture Jesus taught about the obligations His disciples had toward other people and God. From this scripture I think there are three main points:

1.  It is a serious matter to be the cause of other people’s sin and failure. Followers of Jesus are not to cause people to sin. In this life sin cannot be eradicated; such things are bound to come. But a disciple would be better off drowning than to bring spiritual harm to people who are like children and who are helpless.

2.  We should always be ready to forgive someone else who repents. Not only are Jesus’ followers not to cause others to sin, they also are to counteract sin by forgiving others. One should hold others accountable if they sin, but if they repent, they should be forgiven even if they sin and repent over and over. The words seven times in a day denotes an unlimited number of times.

3.  Even a little faith is sufficient to draw on God’s power. The Disciples asked Jesus for faith. They desired a big bowl of spiritually fortified faith that would make their work super easy. We have to work on growing our faith by praying, reading the scriptures, and learning all of our lives. This makes our faith strong.

Personal Worship Option:

God help us to grow in our faith, trust, and understanding. Guide us through the scriptures so that we can use Jesus as our example to live a life of love, faith, and forgiveness.

Daily Devotion, September 11, 2019

Devotion:

Read Hebrews 5:11 - 6:3.

The Hebrews writer is clearly frustrated that the first audience has become stuck in the most elementary teachings.  The writer uses a great analogy comparing growth in faith to a diet of infant’s milk versus a diet of solid food. Let’s pause at the conclusion of Hebrews 5 and ask ourselves the question----what is our faith diet like? Have we progressed to solid food in our faith journey?

The writer declares, “By this time, you ought to be teachers!” In other words, your faith should have moved to an “others-centeredness”. Let’s also pause with this question---are we growing in faith for the sake of ourselves or for the sake of others? 

In Hebrews 6, the phrase “not laying again the foundation” caught my attention. I imagined a home-building contractor calling for an additional foundation to be built. I imagined the faces of all the builders hearing this request! How unnecessary this would be when there is so much work to be done to build the rest of the house!

I am continually thankful for faithful Christians who have truly grown in their faith. They let God lead them to teach, pray, write, begin new ministries and live lives reaching out to others.

They heard the Hebrews writer’s call. The Message translation says it this way, “But there’s so much more. Let’s get on with it!”

Personal Worship Option:

Yes, there is so much more to life in Christ than just the wonderful and amazing first steps of faith. Let us remain faithful and continue on the journey with Christ throughout our lifetimes. Let’s let Christ move us beyond ourselves and beyond our “comfort zones” to experience all that God has in store for us every step along the way. Let’s say “Yes!” to learn, grow and mature in our faith!

Daily Devotion, September 10, 2019

Devotion:

Read Psalm 92:12-14.

I visited the Cedars of Lebanon State Park in Wilson County, Tennessee, a few years ago, and marveled at the beautiful cedar trees. The trees reminded the early American settlers of the Biblical cedar forest found in what is now the Mediterranean. The giant trees could grow 120 feet tall and 30 feet around. David used the cedars of Lebanon in building his palace, and Solomon used them in constructing the temple. Cedar wood was especially desirable for its aromatic qualities as well as its resistance to decay. Cedars were strong and would flourish for a long time. David makes reference to this tree in this Psalm. He says the righteous will grow like cedars, will flourish, will bear fruit in old age, and will stay fresh and green. How will this happen? Followers of Christ will remain righteous by continuing to live closely connected to the one who planted us, the one who gave us life. The word “righteous” means “right living.” We want to practice each day “right living” by reading, studying, and obeying his Word. We practice “right living” by choosing to let God guide our every thought, feeling, word, and action. In doing so, we will bear fruit and become resistant to the decay of the world. We want to flourish like a healthy cedar!

Personal Worship Option:

Practice “right living” today by committing everything you think, feel, say, and do to God. Pray for God to help you to be more mindful of your thoughts, emotions, words, and actions as you continue to grow and learn.

Daily Devotion, September 9, 2019

Devotion:

Read Proverbs 1:1-5.

  Proverbs is a wonderful book of the Bible! It has a lot of what I call “bumper-sticker” or twitter statements. It is full of life lessons - guidance for how to live life at its best. It’s lessons learned from experience. If we are paying attention as we go through life, God guides us through experience on how to live life better; lessons we can then share with others. We can also learn those lessons from the experience of others.

  Two verses in this passage speak to both of those opportunities to learn. Verse two says the lessons in this book are for those who need to gain some basic lessons about life. Verse 5 says that even those who have become wise in the ways of life still have lessons they can learn: “...let the wise listen and add to their learning…” 

  This is not only true for life in general; it is certainly true in our life of faith. If we are willing to listen and pay attention and learn from others, there is wisdom from God to gain until our last days on earth. That’s why it is so important to worship together as often as possible and to study with a small group of other Christians as often as possible. We all have wisdom yet to learn from others and wisdom to give to others. Through it all, we grow as individuals and we grow as the Body of Christ, the Church.

Personal Worship Option:

Another of my favorite old hymns is fitting for this lesson from Proverbs. It was written one year earlier than the one I mentioned yesterday! In 1895 Clara Scott penned this prayer:

Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth thou hast for me; 

place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free.

Open my ears that I may hear voices of truth thou sendest clear;

and while the wave notes fall of my ear, everything false will disappear.

Open my mouth, and let me bear gladly the warm truth everywhere;

open my heart and let me prepare love with thy children thus to share.

Daily Devotion, September 8, 2019

Devotion:

Read Ephesians 3:1-12.

  At one point, Paul had been devoted to keeping the outsiders out. He believed strongly that they did not belong. They didn’t follow all the rules that had been established down through the years for those who were God’s people. Sure, if someone wanted to learn to devote themselves to all those rules, then he was open to letting them in. But only if they were willing to do that. Otherwise, keep them out!

  But then he met Jesus for himself and became a devoted follower, preacher, teacher and evangelizer. He was confident that Christ had called him to share the good news of welcome for everyone. Nobody was to be excluded.

  

  To some degree, Christ has given all of his followers that same calling. Our focus is to help those who do not know Jesus Christ come to know him, believe in him and follow him. We are to search for ways to communicate the good news with different people in all kinds of situations. Verse 12 is one way to summarize the message we are called to help everyone know for themselves: “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” 

Personal Worship Option:

H. Ernest Nichol wrote these words in 1896 for the hymn “We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations.” Adapted to our language, they are still so fitting to our calling as the people of Christ:

We’ve a message to give to the nations, that the Lord who reigns above

has sent us his Son to save us, and show us that God is love.  

What “outsider” do you know who needs to see and hear that message? Pray for wisdom and courage to share it with them.

Daily Devotion, September 7, 2019

Devotion:

Read Acts 10:34-43.

  It’s a lesson that Jesus had taught Peter and the other disciples several times. Peter knew that he had spoken to that Samaritan woman that day at the well. He had healed the Roman centurion’s servant. He invited Matthew the tax collector to be one of his disciples. He made a Samaritan the hero of one of his most memorable parables. He had healed a foreign woman’s daughter.

  Time after time, Jesus had shown his followers that his kingdom was about including those thought to be outside of a relationship with God. In this passage from Acts, we see the same Spirit of Jesus continuing to teach Peter that lesson. Through the dream he had earlier in this chapter and his encounter with Cornelius and his household, Peter finally gets it: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”

  Even though Peter had been with Jesus for three years, he still needed to fully learn this lesson and accept this truth. What lesson might the Holy Spirit who is God still be trying to teach you?

Personal Worship Option:

Spend some time in prayer and reflect on who the people are you consider outside of a relationship with God. Ask God to help you know how to connect with them and help them connect with God.

Daily Devotion, September 6, 2019

Devotion:

Read John 8:1-11.

Jesus loved people. He was not concerned with class or nationality, past sins or present accomplishments. This incident demonstrates Jesus’ love for those condemned by others. This woman was assumed to be outside of any connection with God and yet Christ loved and forgave. Christ desires to reconcile those who others have “written off”. God’s role is to judge, not ours. Our job is to show forgiveness and compassion to others, no matter what.

Personal Worship Option:

Reflect on your personal attitude toward others? Are you quick to judge? Are you distant from God? Know He longs to bring you close. Reach out to God and reach out to others.