Daily Devotion, November 30, 2019

Devotion:

Read Matthew 26:26-28.

  Sin: it is pervasive in our lives and in our world. It is both personal and collective. It is a disease which we all have.  The individual sins we commit are just symptoms of the disease. Through our sin, we hurt ourselves, we hurt other people, we hurt God.

  The basic meaning of the word from the Scriptures is “to miss the mark.” It comes from the world of archery. God has a design for our lives, but by the way we choose to live our lives, we often miss the mark of that design.

  And even our best efforts often come up short. Isaiah 64:6 says “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” We simply cannot overcome our disease of sin or symptoms of sins on our own.

  When Jesus ate with his disciples the night before he died, he took elements of that meal and transformed them into a sacrament whereby he asked them, and us, to remember him. As he sent the cup around the table, he let them know that what he was going to do was “for the forgiveness of sins.” He came to this earth for that mission and when he gave his life on the cross, he fulfilled that mission.

Personal Worship Option:

Give thanks that through Jesus Christ, both your disease of sin and your individual sins that are symptoms of that disease are forgiven.

Daily Devotion, November 29, 2019

Devotion:

Read Exodus 3:4-8b.

God never breaks a promise. Look at Genesis 50:24-25. Egypt was not their home and God did not intend for them to remain in that country. However, things took a turn for the worse after Joseph’s death when the Israelites were enslaved by the Egyptians. But God was not blind to their plight. In fact, scripture says that God had seen their misery and their cries for help and is concerned about their suffering and will deliver them to the land He had promised Abraham so long ago.

Some of God’s promises are immediate and others take the long view, but both types of promises will be kept by God. Believing and holding on to those promises of deliverance and protection is FAITH. The secret of that kind of faith and belief is a lifetime of trusting God. Your faith is like a muscle. It grows with exercise, gaining strength over time. Have you experienced God’s promise of salvation, of love, of His presence? Reach out for His promise today. He stands ready to fulfill that in your life.

Personal Worship Option:

Reflect on the many promises of God. Which ones are you waiting to receive? Which ones have you embraced? Spend some time in thankful praise for God’s work in your life.

Daily Devotion, November 28, 2019

Devotion:

Read Isaiah 53:5.

This Old Testament text foretells the brutality of what would happen to Jesus after having put on flesh and coming to earth to live among humanity. We are reminded in this text of His purpose for coming. He came to suffer and die for us, not for any sins of His own, but for the world and you and I who continue to sin against God. God in His love and mercy for humanity, sent His Son Jesus to earth to take our place on the cross at Calvary by shedding His blood as full payment for our sins. Jesus' suffering and death brought about our healing and reconciliation back to God the Father. Jesus, in the shedding of His blood, brought about life for all of humanity. Romans 5:18 confirms the prediction of Isaiah 53:5 in saying “through the righteous act of Jesus came the justification of life for all of humanity.”

This scripture is such a connection to the Advent story as the new life in the birth of Jesus gives life to the world. The forgiveness through the life and death of Jesus has allowed life for all of the centuries down through the ages. We cannot fathom the love of God who would send his Son to suffer on our behalf, but God did it.  He did it just for us and all of humanity.

Personal Worship Option:

Read or say the following sentence three times. Just for me - Jesus came, lived, and died just for me! As we go through Advent and wait for the arrival of the celebration day, remember that statement.

Daily Devotion, November 27, 2019

Devotion:

Read Isaiah 9:2-7.

 Our toddler would often gaze with a wistful eye at the older preschoolers playing their version of football in the apartment’s front grassy knoll. With the preschoolers a friendly game could turn quickly into a tussle with words of, “That’s mine!” or “I was first!” Other parents were standing nearby who would bring peace to the situation. Without the parents’ peaceful interventions things could have gone downhill quickly.

 

According to Dr. Stephen Boyd, “Isaiah writes at a time when things were about as bad as they could get for the kingdom of Judah. Assyria was threatening Judah with the same fate as their take-over of Israel and Samaria.” There was no peace.

Into the midst of this darkness, Isaiah proclaims God’s light of hope. “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Left to ourselves, like preschoolers in the front yard, we think the key to peace is to fight fire with fire or to meet power with power. But the peace which God brings is not as the world brings. Jesus spoke of God’s kind of peace in John 14:27. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Jesus spoke this peace into the waves of the storm, “Peace, be still.” 

 God’s peace is an intervention into our human situation which helps us hear ourselves say in so many ways, “That’s mine!” and “I was first”. God’s peace helps us see the ways we are destroying each other. God’s peace restores justice, mercy and love to our ways with each other. God’s peace helps us to put aside our fears and frees us to love and serve others. I John 4:18 says, “Perfect love casts out all fear.”

Personal Worship Option:

God’s love is perfect. We can trust and rest in God’s peace. Read these words several times, “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.” As you pray, ponder God’s nature and presence. God can be trusted with your troubles and our world’s troubles today.

Daily Devotion, November 26, 2019

Devotion:

Read Genesis 3:21-24.

The Garden of Eden was a beautiful place for Adam and Eve to live and have fellowship with God. However, after they sinned, they had to leave. God banished them from the Garden of Eden. The banishment from the Garden was actually an act of God's mercy. In mercy, God protected Adam and Eve from the horrible fate of having to live forever as sinners. In removing them from the Garden he prevented them from eating from the tree of life. His punishment was a protection. When God disciplines us, he is doing it for our own good. He is trying to save us from our sinful ways. God went further to protect Adam and Eve by providing cherubim to guard the garden. This is the first biblical mention of the cherubim. The cherubim are spiritual beings whose form is unknown. The cherubim kept the couple from eating from the tree of life after they had sinned. God’s punishment gave Adam and Eve a second chance to live in fellowship with him. Let’s be thankful we serve a God of second chances.

Personal Worship Option:

Praise God today for his mercy. Give thanks to our God who doesn’t give us what we deserve but pours out his grace and mercy each day.

Daily Devotion, November 25, 2019

Devotion:

Read John 3:16-17.

John 3:16 is perhaps the best known verse in all of Scripture. For many of us the words “whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (NIV) jump out as the most beautiful promise, the most gracious gift in the world. And why did God send God’s Son into the world? Because God so loved the world! That is almost unbelievable love. When God provided clothing to cover Adam and Eve’s sin, when God made a special covenant with the Children of Israel, gave us the law, sent prophets...throughout time since the beginning, God has reached out to have relationships with humans and ultimately to save us.

Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures we call the Old Testament, God reached out to save us. God gave us free will, and we often exercise our free will to make choices for things other than God. We are incapable of saving ourselves. So, at just the right time, while we were still sinners, God sent Christ into the world that we might know God more fully and receive this gift of eternal life. God had every reason to judge and condemn the world, but as verse 17 assures us, that is not why the Son came. Christ came to save us. And that is the gift of Advent and Christmas!

Personal Worship Option:

We look forward this Sunday to the first Sunday in the season of Advent, a time of preparation for the coming of Christ. Begin your preparation by giving thanks for God’s love, love that is unearned and undeserved...love we know and receive as grace!

Daily Devotion, November 24, 2019

Devotion:

Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-8.

  Paul is “taking up an offering.” He is collecting offerings from the churches of his missionary journeys which will go to the Christians in need in Jerusalem. He has been bragging on the churches of Macedonia for the extremely generous gift they gave, emphasizing that they gave it of their own free will and not under any hint of compulsion. He is now encouraging the Christians of Corinth to do the same, again emphasizing that they should give “not reluctantly or under compulsion…” Then comes the phrase I have heard quoted for many years: “...for God loves a cheerful giver.” In other words, it is just as important to God “in what spirit” we give as is what we give.

 

  Over the years of being in worship services, I have often seen a parent hand their small child a few coins or a dollar bill to put in the offering plate. Most of the time, the child has had a cheerful expression on their face as they gave the money that had been given to them. But every once in awhile, I could tell that it was a reluctant, if not painful, gesture! Each time, it causes me to reflect on my own attitude with which I give, whether I am giving money, time or service of some kind.

  The core of this lesson goes back to how we view what we have. Do we see it (our life, health, money, “stuff”) as our own or do we see it as belonging to God, who gave it to us to oversee and distribute some to others? If we see it only as our own, we will usually be reluctant to give much away. But if we see it as belonging to God, we become thankful for the opportunity to use all we have to bless others.

Personal Worship Option:

Give some thought and prayer to why you give what you give. 

Daily Devotion, November 23, 2019

Devotion:

Read Luke 6:38.

  According to Luke, Jesus has just taught that we are to “Love your enemies” and includes in the follow-up comments to those words about giving and lending. Also includes (at verse 31) is the Golden Rule: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Then he offers the succinct lesson “Do not judge” and includes in his follow-up comments teaching about giving. It all seems to be connected to having a spirit of generosity toward others, seeking to bless them and hopefully transform them.

 

  This teaching comes from the God who has shown us overwhelming amounts of generosity. Life itself is an unearned gift of generosity and grace. And when we failed (and fail) God, often giving only from any “extra” we might have, God gave us the gift of his one and only Son as a sacrifice to forgive us of our sin.

  So, in our practice of giving, no matter what it is or to whom we are giving it, we are called to reflect the generosity of our God. Do the people around you get to know God through the way in which you give?

Personal Worship Option:

List the different ways you give of yourself to others. What one step could you take with each one to grow in generosity?

Daily Devotion, November 22, 2019

Devotion:

Read Luke 17:11-19.

Not only is the spirit with which we give important; so is the spirit with which we receive. These 10 men responded in faith and as they did - they were healed. They had gone from hopelessness to wholeness - all because of the words Jesus’ spoke. Yet the one man - the Samaritan, returned to the giver of life to express a heart full of gratitude. Now, I’m sure the other nine men made the appropriate offerings and sacrifices at the Temple but they missed expanding their own heart with praise and gratitude. Before we become too judgemental, when was the last time you expressed gratitude to others, to God?

A good daily exercise is to alphabetize your blessings. Start with A and work your way down the alphabet, thanking God as you go. Gratitude flushes the soul from the burdens and grumpies of life. So have you said your ABC’s today?

Personal Worship Option:

A prayer for the day: Dear Father, I know you are bigger and greater than I could ever understand. Give me reminders to be grateful today. Don’t allow me to miss the small or big blessing around me. Fill my heart with gratitude.

Daily Devotion, November 21, 2019

Devotion:

Read Matthew 6:2-4.

Jesus is explaining to His disciples that there are those who can play the part of being a Christian and yet their hearts are disconnected from truly wanting to serve Christ. Their desire lies mostly in what others will think of them when they do things to help serve the church and others in need. They want to be known as one who truly has a desire to serve God, yet on the inside, their motive is to seek praise for it. Christ clearly says that we do not earn any favor from God when we serve Him with the goal of seeking praise.

Giving to the needy has always been a hallmark of God's people. But the goal of helping others is to bring honor to the name of the Lord, not to develop a name for ourselves. We are to let our light shine so God is glorified, not us. We are blessed with what we have because God wants us to share with those in need. We are here to be conduits of his blessings. Our sharing should be such an everyday part of life that we don't even think about it, much less think about others noticing that we did it.  Living for God is something that our hearts should yearn to do, not because that is what will gain us spiritual points with others or with God, but because we find joy in looking to bring Glory to God with our lives.

Personal Worship Option:

Dear giving God, you are so generous with us. Please help us to be more generous with those in need and share with others. Make us instruments of your love and teach us to happily give resources, time, understanding, and love. Amen.

Daily Devotion, November 20, 2019

Devotion:

Read Genesis 14:17-20.

Genesis 14 is full of details which make for interesting research. Briefly stated, there were five kings fighting against four kings, (presumed to be kings of cities). The four kings defeated the five kings. The four kings took Abram’s nephew Lot and his family as their prisoners and all of Lot’s possessions. Word came to Abram about this and Abram took his 318 trained men to rescue Lot. Abram divided his men to attack the enemies in the night. He rescued Lot and his family. He also recovered not only Lot’s possessions but also the goods which had been stolen in the earlier battles.

Upon Abram’s return, he was greeted by two kings. The first king (part of the five) is the King of Sodom who wants to make a deal with Abram. The King of Sodom asks Abram for his people and that he (Abram) can keep the goods of war for himself. The second king is the King of Salem, (wasn’t in the battle) Melchizedek, who is also known as the great high priest. Melchizedek gave Abram bread and wine and the blessing in verses 19-20.

After the blessing from Melchizedek, Abram gave him a tenth of everything. But to the King of Sodom, Abram declared that he would not accept anything and leaves the other ninety percent with him. Abram didn’t want to be indebted to the King of Sodom for anything. Does our pride cause us to be indebted in ways which will eventually destroy us?

At first glance this is a simple lesson. Ten percent of what we have belongs to God. If we ponder this more deeply, we begin to realize that all we have has come from God and belongs to God. We must ask ourselves, “What are we doing with the one hundred percent of what we have?”

Abram gave not to receive a blessing but because he had been blessed. He gave out of a grateful heart to the Lord, God most High.

Personal Worship Option:

“Do I genuinely give out of a grateful heart? And am I being a good steward of the other 90% which God has given? Thank you, God, for all of your blessings. Amen”.

Daily Devotion, November 19, 2019

Devotion:

Read 1 Samuel 1:24-28.

We learn earlier in this chapter that Hannah had suffered for years from barrenness. In her misery and pain she turned to God in prayer. She fervently prayed for a child and told God if he looked kindly on her sorrow, she would give the child back to God to use as he saw fit. Devout Israelite parents were expected to commit their firstborn son to the Lord, but in her prayer Hannah went even further. She vowed no razor would ever be used on his head. While she didn’t use the word Nazirite, she made a vow to dedicate the entire life of her anticipated son for service to the Lord when she made this Nazirite pledge.

After weaning Samuel, Hannah was faithful to her pledge and took him to the house of the Lord to be brought up by Eli the priest. As unbearably hard as this must have been, she gave her son with an attitude of worship. We read in 1 Samuel 2 Hannah’s prayer of praise to God who delivered her from pain and sorrow. Hannah demonstrated a spirit of gratitude for a gracious God.

Personal Worship Option:

Hannah’s story is one of great sacrifice and great gratitude to God. What is the biggest sacrifice you’ve made in service to God? Prayerfully consider making a greater sacrifice of your time, talents, and gifts in service to him and doing so filled with gratitude and praise for our gracious God.

Daily Devotion, November 18, 2019

Devotion:

Read Luke 19:1-9.

If you grew up in church, you likely sang about Zacchaeus (“and a wee little man was he…”). His story is a wonderful one of a lost person being found. Tax collectors extorted as much money as they could from their fellow Jewish inhabitants of Palestine and sent the amount of the actual required tax to the emperor, keeping the difference for themselves and their superiors. As a chief tax collector, Zacchaeus would have received a cut from all the tax collectors working for him, and Jericho was a wealthy town. No wonder he was wealthy!

Zacchaeus was likely lonely, since tax collectors were despised and shunned by the people. He may have felt an emptiness that could not be filled by gaining more and more wealth. Perhaps it was just curiosity, but it was more likely a hunger to be accepted and loved by this wandering rabbi named Jesus that drove Zacchaeus to climb a tree in order to see Jesus. And when he received Jesus’ salvation, Zacchaeus was overwhelmed with gratitude. Giving half to the poor went way beyond the tithe, and giving four-fold to any he had cheated was twice what the law required. Zacchaeus teaches all of us to give with gratitude for our own salvation and God’s gift of grace to us.

Personal Worship Option:

Reflect today on the spirit with which you give to others. Is it in a spirit of gratitude for God’s blessings to you, or is there a hint of begrudging, a sense of duty, or even sacrifice? Those are human tendencies that we must resist. Be thankful for and pray for a joyous spirit of generosity that comes from gratitude.

Daily Devotion, November 17, 2019

Devotion:

Read Psalm 100.

  I associate this Psalm with the season of Thanksgiving. That’s when I usually heard it read as I grew up in the church. “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise…”

  Today in worship, we will share in the sacrament of Holy Communion. As we share in the words and actions that are part of this meal and we receive the elements through which we encounter Jesus again, we are reminded of the primary reasons we have to give thanks. Both of those reasons have to do with the grace of our Lord. First, he sacrificed his life to open the door for everyone to have a personal relationship with God. That is justifying grace, the free gift that puts us right with God. But he also meets us again in this meal, assuring us of his continuing presence to guide and shape us to be more like him. That is sanctifying grace which says that God loves us enough not to leave us as we are.

  So we gather at the table of Jesus to give thanks for this grace in which we live. However you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, don’t forget to include that on your list of things for which to be thankful. “...give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues to all generations.”

Personal Worship Option:

In your life with Christ, what experience or setting of Communion was most meaningful to you? Where was it? Who was involved? Give thanks to God for that experience.

Daily Devotion, November 16, 2019

Devotion:

Read Romans 7:21-25a.

  I knew better. It’s not how I wanted to act, but there I was doing it again. I was at a football game for my favorite team. Over the years, I have tended to be rather passionate about my team and have sometimes had somewhat strong opinions about the calls that referees make that went against my team. Before this game, I had reminded myself that it was more important for me to set a good example by simply cheering for my team and not hollering at referees. And besides, as my brother-in-law once told me right before a game started as we sat in the upper deck “Remember, they can’t hear you down there!” However, with the score close and at a key moment, a call was made that went against my team, there I was, standing up and loudly sharing my opinion with the referees.

  Then I looked over beside me to see a small boy with the family sitting next to me. He had this frightened look on his face. No, I wasn’t using any bad words to share my opinion, but the anger in my voice had scared him. He was leaning over on his mother. I was deeply troubled, quickly sat down and thought “What am I doing?” After a while, I leaned over to his mother and apologized for my behavior. She was very gracious, but I was still ashamed of the example I had set for this boy.

  I resonate with the Apostle Paul writing “What a wretched man I am!” at times. Just a few verses before these, he wrote “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” But as he also wrote, “Thanks be to God…” for rescuing me and all of us “...through Jesus Christ our Lord!” I am thankful that God has overcome my sin to give me eternal life, but is also still working on me to teach me how to live and set a better example for others. How about you?

Personal Worship Option:

Give some thought to areas of misbehavior about which “you knew better” that God has guided you to overcome. What areas are you still needing to work on? Give thanks for this Holy Spirit that can grow you beyond any of those areas.

Daily Devotion, November 15, 2019

Devotion:

Read 1 Corinthians 11:23-25.

We share this meal to remember what Jesus did for us. And when we remember, we give thanks. Gratitude should overwhelm us as we contemplate the sacrifice that Christ did for us regardless of our response to him. This is the beginning of our covenant relationship with Christ.

Knowing our beginnings, where we come from, has always been important.

Today there are multiple organizations that can provide that information regarding genetics. However, our spiritual beginnings are also important. It doesn’t take a test from a box to determine those beginnings. All we need to do is remember. In remembering we can trace God’s story in our lives. So remember and give thanks!

Personal Worship Option:

Take the opportunity today to share your faith story and encourage someone in their journey.

Daily Devotion, November 14, 2019

Devotion:

Read Luke 24:28-31.

Emmaus is about seven miles from Jerusalem. This means these two men, now three with Jesus, have likely been walking and talking for a couple of hours. By the time they get to their home, it’s evening, and so Cleopas and his companion urge Jesus to stay with them because it’s not safe to be on the roads at night. They still don’t recognize Jesus, but they are grateful for his insight and companionship. They had enjoyed his explanation of some of the scriptures which revealed light to them of the bigger God story. Jesus stays with them.

And then comes the familiar part that we know. As they sat at the table, Luke writes, Jesus “took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.” Do you remember where you heard these words before? They are nearly identical to Luke’s description of the Last Supper and are the words that now comprise a part of our celebration of communion. And all of a sudden, as Jesus again presides over the breaking of bread with them, the eyes of Cleopas and his companion are opened, they recognize Jesus, and then he vanishes. These two men needed to see God's plan of redemption. Before we are Christians, the events surrounding Jesus' life are mere historical facts with no real implication or impact. But when we became Christians, these things take a different meaning and light, and become meaningful.

Personal Worship Option:

This Sunday as we celebrate Holy Communion in our worship services, reflect on the disciples seeing Jesus alive after the resurrection and how we remember Jesus’ sacrifice for us as we partake in the Lord’s Supper.

Daily Devotion, November 13, 2019

Devotion:

Read Psalm 23:5a.

In his book, A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23, Phillip Keller writes, “In thinking about this statement it is well to bear in mind that the sheep are approaching the high mountain country of the summer ranges. These are known as alplands or tablelands so much sought after by shepherds.”  Keller continues describing all the preparations a good shepherd would do to prepare the tablelands for the sheep to safely graze.

The preparations include making a survey trip before springtime and a second trip to take salt and minerals to distribute over the range at strategic spots for the sheep. The good shepherd will also find the best places for the camps to be and will locate all the vegetation which will nourish the sheep.

The good shepherd will also find any poisonous plants and eradicate them. This is a tedious task, but necessary for the health of the sheep. Keller writes that another task the attentive shepherd takes on is to keep an eye out for predators such as wolves, coyotes, cougars and bears. Only the alertness of the shepherd who tends the flock in full view of possible enemies can prevent them from the predators.

From the sheep’s perspective, they have the full assurance that the shepherd has gone before them, and remains with them. Therefore, they can eat and sleep in perfect peace.

The Psalmist, David, was a shepherd prior to being King. David knows the extent to which a good shepherd would take care of the sheep. David’s psalm speaks confidently of God’s care for him as only a Good Shepherd would. Psalm 100 adds that people are the sheep of God’s pasture. We can be confident of God’s care for us as well.

Jesus describes Himself as “the Good Shepherd who will lay down His life for his sheep.” Phillip Keller asks, “When I come to the Lord’s Table and partake of the communion service which is a feast of thanksgiving for His love and care, do I fully appreciate what it has cost Him to prepare this table for me?”

Personal Worship Option:

Jesus also calls us to “higher ground” when He asks us to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). For the people of the Middle East, to share a meal is to no longer be enemies. As we experience forgiveness at our Lord’s meal, so we are invited to offer forgiveness to others, even our enemies. Who is God leading us to forgive today?

Daily Devotion, November 12, 2019

Devotion:

Read Luke 22:14-20.

At the Last Supper Jesus shared a meal with his disciples and then led them in the ancient observance of the Passover. The Passover meal celebrated God’s deliverance of the Israelites out of Egypt. Jesus gave his disciples bread as a symbol of his body and wine as a symbol of his blood. These became symbols of his new covenant. This evening Jesus built on the old covenant and the Old Testament by inaugurating the new covenant and the New Testament. He went from Passover – the last legitimate Passover – to the Lord’s table, the first new memorial feast.

He charged his disciples to “do this in remembrance of me,” meaning Jesus’ followers were to partake of bread and wine and remember him. Jesus’ Last Supper is the foundation for the Christian tradition of taking communion. Just as the disciples sat and fellowshipped with him, Jesus invites us to fellowship with him and remember the great sacrifice he made. His body was broken and his blood poured out for our healing and wholeness. We want to remember and celebrate!

Personal Worship Option:

Spend time now thanking God for his sacrifice on the cross and praising him for the resurrection. Confess any sin you have, ask him for forgiveness, and spend time worshipping him.

Daily Devotion, November 11, 2019

Devotion:

Read Exodus 12:14-17.

Exodus 11 tells about the final plague upon the Egyptians -- the death of the firstborn in all the land. Chapter 12 gives instructions to the Israelites to ensure they are protected from this horrible plague. They are to slaughter lambs and place some of the blood on their door frames. The death angel will see that they are Israelites and will “pass over” their homes and spare them. Special instructions are given for preparing and eating the evening meal of roasted lamb, and this meal begins a week in which no yeast will be used, meaning the Children of Israel were to eat unleavened bread. This event was transformative for Israel; and they would celebrate it, as instructed, from that time on. More than any other event to that time, this demonstrates God’s love and care for them as grace.

From this beginning and background of the Passover meal and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Jesus chose to change forever the symbolism of the meal. He would replace the lamb as the perfect sacrifice, and no other sacrifice would ever need to be made. And the elements of bread and wine from his last Passover meal with his apostles would forever carry with them the spiritual presence of his body and blood as we celebrate Holy Communion.

Personal Worship Option:

Simply give thanks today that God loves you and was willing to sacrifice God’s Son in order to demonstrate that great love. Accept God’s love as grace, which is unearned and unmerited by anyone. We will celebrate Holy Communion in all our worship services this Sunday. Come and celebrate this means of grace for all!

Daily Devotion, November 10, 2019

Devotion:

Read 1 John 4:9-12.

  This passage connects very effectively with what we read yesterday from Psalm 103. Since the love of God causes God to not treat us as our sins warrant us to be treated, we who are the representatives of this God are called to let this love more and more grow in us so that we do not treat others as their sins deserve.

  So this writer of the letters of John is encouraging that very thing: “let us love one another, for love comes from God.” This God overcame our sin by sending his Son into the world to save us and allow us to “live through him.” In other words, God sacrificed a part of God’s self to overcome the many ways that we hurt and go against God. Why? Because of a love that is just that deep and high and wide.

  Is it hard to love in this way? Definitely. When people do and say things that hurt you, sometimes very deeply, it is hard to forgive them. It is hard to love them. That’s why we need divine help. We cannot do this on our own.

  In the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray, he included a request to “forgive us….as we forgive (others).” Would we dare pray “love us as we love others”? Maybe that one needs to be “help us love others as you love us.”

Personal Worship Option:

Offer a prayer that expresses your desire to grow in God’s love in your relationships with other people. You might even want to name one or two of those “other people.” 

Daily Devotion, November 9, 2019

Devotion:

Read Psalm 103:6-10.

  Many years ago, this became my favorite Psalm, especially the first fourteen verses. I call it a “gospel Psalm” because it has good news in it. In earlier verses, we are reminded of some of the “benefits” of being in covenant with this God: One who “forgives all your sins” and “redeems your life” and “crowns you with love and compassion…” Verse ten is the height of this good news: “...he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.”

 

  That is certainly not to say that the Lord has not had reasons to be angry with us. Our condition of sin and the sins we commit as a symptom of that condition cause much grief and anger for God. This love that God has for us is given while mindful of many challenges we present to God in the relationship. Forgiveness becomes necessary because we all do and say things, and fail to do and say things, by which we hurt ourselves and other people, as well as God.

  But that is what this love of God is all about. It overcomes challenges. God refuses to “treat us as our sins deserve.” You are invited to receive that good news, then celebrate and give thanks for it. And just as importantly, you are invited to let this love of God more and more live in you, so that you do not treat others as their sins deserve.

Personal Worship Option:

Offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God for his love that overcomes your sin.

Daily Devotion, November 8, 2019

Devotion:

Read John 3:16-17.

God loved, and still loves, a world that did not love him back. However that didn’t deter God’s act of love. God’s love reaches out and draws others to himself. This is a true pattern of love-the basis of all love relationships. When you love someone dearly you are willing to give freely and sacrificially. God paid the highest price for a relationship with us regardless of our response. God loves no matter what!

How do we love? Do we love regardless of response? Do we love freely and sacrificially? Who can you surprise with a demonstrate of love today?

Personal Worship Option:

Prayer for today: Dear Father, I thank you that there are no limits to your love. Help me to focus the eyes of my heart on you today and see opportunities to share your love with others. Amen.

Daily Devotion, November 7, 2019

Devotion:

Read John 1:10-14.

There are sad words in today’s reading: “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” People locked their doors to shut him out. Little has changed since John wrote those words in his gospel. Today millions of people are without Christ in their hearts. They say they are doing just fine without Him.  In The Message, a paraphrase of the Bible, Eugene Peterson articulates John 1:14 this way: “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.” Max Lucado, in one of his books, refers to Jesus as “a next door Savior.” Others have said that Jesus “tented” among us. That’s what happened when Jesus came: the eternal Son of God moved into our neighborhood and set up camp.

And when he did come, he became one of us. He came within our reach, he identified with us, and he came to trade places with us. He came close enough so that even shepherds who were looked down on were able to see and touch him. He grew up in an ordinary home, in a small, commonplace village. Later, throughout his teaching ministry he moved among ordinary people, touching lepers, healing the sick, and showing God’s love to all kinds of sinners. Jesus wants to be in our neighborhoods, touching and changing lives. And as you follow Him, remember that Jesus wants to move into your neighborhood. He desires to be part of your life. 

Personal Worship Option:

Thank you God, for taking on our flesh and blood. You know us. Remind us that you are still in our neighborhood, and help us to live our lives for you. Let this be our prayer.

Daily Devotion, November 6, 2019

Devotion:

Read Exodus 32:9-14.

“All that glitters is not gold” is an old saying worth remembering. Fools’ gold or pyrite looks like gold, but pyrite is brittle and will break whereas gold will bend.

Often in our lives, just like the Hebrews in the wilderness, when God doesn’t respond on our timeline, we will attempt to make our own “new and improved god”. We become impatient with God. But God remains patient with us.

The problem with gods we can make is that we have fooled ourselves into believing that we are god enough to make a god! We forget how finite we are. Any god we might try to make would be like fools’ gold.

Aaron and the people made a golden-calf god. The glittering golden calf could not hear the cries of the people or respond to the needs of people. The glittering golden calf could never give the gift of life. It was a god whom they could see, but could never see them. A fool’s god.

This scripture in Exodus tells of the time when God’s own heart was broken. The people in covenant with the true God had left their first love. They left to worship a glittering golden calf. God’s patience was tested. But out of God’s great love for the people, God restored the relationship with them. God gave Moses for a second time the laws of the covenant relationship for the people.

We see how foolish the people were, but how often do we also chase after fools’ gods which consume our lives and take us away from our first love. Instead, we need to return to the God who made us, who is able to breathe the very breath of life into our lives with each brand new day!

Personal Worship Option:

Let us ask ourselves, “Am I impatient with God today?” Know beyond measure that God is patient and compassionate with us. God is hearing our prayers. God is seeing our wilderness situation. God is giving the gift of new life to us this very day. God is keeping the covenant relationship. “Patient and loving God, forgive us for thinking we can make our own gods. Bring us back to You. Amen.”