Daily Devotion, March 31, 2020

Devotion:

Read Romans 12:1-2.

Sacrifice was important in the Old Testament, but God made it clear that obedience from the heart was much more important. He wants us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices – daily laying aside our own desires to follow him. The Message version of this verse says it so well, “Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.” God has a good, pleasing and perfect plan for each of us. He wants us to be in fellowship with him every day. He has given us a body, soul, and spirit and wants us to use those for his glory. He has given us our body that serves as a temple. He has created us with a soul where our mind, will and emotions live. And he has given us a spirit that is designed to connect with God’s Holy Spirit. When we allow God’s Spirit to guide the choices we make with our body and soul, we are living in his good, pleasing, and perfect plan. We are living a life that honors him when we obey him, and that is the way to worship him.

Personal Worship Option:

Giving up our own desires and becoming a living sacrifice begins with how we think. Let this be your prayer today: “God, transform me into a new person by changing the way I think.”

Daily Devotion, March 30, 2020

Devotion:

Read 2 Samuel 24:21-24.

In our modern society and in our economic system of capitalism, it is hard to imagine owning a piece of land, having the king come to purchase our land, and immediately offering to make a gift of the land to the king. Perhaps David’s subject Araunah simply loved and respected King David so much that he could not think of taking money from him. Or perhaps Araunah was willing to give him the land in order to facilitate the lifting of the dreaded plague. Araunah went beyond offering the land and also offered his oxen as the animals of sacrifice and wooden implements for the fire. David could have done his “sacrifice” totally at someone else’s expense.

David had sinned, the plague on the people was his punishment, and this sacrifice was to atone for his sin. David made it clear that he would not sacrifice to the Lord burnt offerings that had cost him nothing! Sacrifice always costs us. It is supposed to! As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to lives of sacrifice. Sometimes, this means not buying something we want for ourselves in order to tithe. Sometimes it means giving of our time when our schedules are already packed. But our costly sacrifices, given in love of God and our neighbor, will be blessed.

Personal Worship Option:

Reflect on whether your life today involves sacrifice for the Kingdom. Sometimes we find it easier to sacrifice for our families, our careers, and our financial well-being than for Christ. How might you make a sacrifice of time or money or service this week? Remember, sacrifices cost us!

Daily Devotion, March 29, 2020

Devotion:

Read Matthew 14:22-33.

  Walking on water is supposed to be impossible. (You may have heard various jokes about this that have a punchline something about knowing where the tree stumps or rocks are.) It goes against the laws of physics and gravity! Humans can float on water, but not walk on it.

  But Jesus did; and he invites us to. Jesus regularly showed his disciples that what looked impossible to them was very possible with God. One of those is in the verses just prior to this story, when he fed well over 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish. Peter had apparently caught enough of that vision and calling that he was willing to follow Jesus, even out on the water. But while he made it a few steps, the fear of the wind and waves got to him. Still, you have to admire him for even giving it a try. 

  Jesus still invites any of us willing to do so to get out of the boat, to step out into seemingly impossible situations simply because God has invited us. It takes courage. It takes faith. And both are available if you are willing to take that first step.

  I do not know what water-walking scenario God will call you to. It will be different for each of us. Whatever it is, be reminded from this story that if you step out in faith, even if you begin to sink, God will be there to catch you. 

Personal Worship Option:

One of the old hymns I grew up singing in the church is “Trust and Obey.” Here are the words to the first verse, written by John Sammis:

When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word,

what a glory he sheds on our way!

While we do his good will, he abides with us still, 

and with all who will trust and obey.

Daily Devotion, March 28, 2020

Devotion:

Read Matthew 16:21-23.

  Long before it was time to go to Jerusalem, Jesus began to let his disciples know what was going to happen there. He would be brought before the Jewish leaders and would suffer and die. (I wonder if they even heard the last part of what he said: “...and on the third day be raised to life.”) I am guessing that Peter was not the only one who resisted that forecast. He was just the one who voiced that resistance. As they continued along the journey and Jesus continued to tell them about this, it took a lot of faith and courage to keep following him. It took a lot of faith to believe in him and his mission, even though it was going to end that way. And it took a lot of courage, because being his disciples would most likely put them in danger as well.

 

  Sometimes we may sense the Spirit leading us toward situations that look impossible, because the end of getting involved in them looks like it can only be negative. It does not appear to have a good ending, no matter what we do. But our Easter faith tells us that even when something comes to an end, no matter how that happened, God can still bring new life from it. So when you are tempted to say “Lord, I’m not getting involved there because it cannot have a good ending,” remember that God always has the final say in what might come from any assumed ending.

Personal Worship Option:

List three seemingly impossible situations into which God might call you to go. Which one would you most be willing to try?

Daily Devotion, March 27, 2020

Devotion:

Read 2 Corinthians 5:7.

It’s just one short verse, but it is one way of summing up who we are as the people of God: “We live by faith, not by sight.” We are often guided by what we feel and what we see. We look at how much money we have, how we feel when we wake up, or what we see going on around us. We allow these things to determine how we live our life, our decisions, and ultimately our happiness.

But this verse challenges us to live differently. We are to live our lives guided by our faith in Jesus. When we let what Jesus says about who we are, what priorities should be in our lives, and how following his leadership can give us stability and peace regardless of what is going on around us.  Regardless of what you see around you, choose to believe that God is working on your situation. He is present in your life and desires good for you.

Personal Worship Option:

Reflect on the goodness of God. Commit this day to His leadership.

Daily Devotion, March 26, 2020

Devotion:

Read Acts 5:17-21a, 40b-42.

The Jewish leaders rose up against the apostles, putting them in prison. But the Lord sent an angel to deliver them, and in so doing shows us the theme of this scripture: “Go your way, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of the life through Jesus." That command was sure to get them into big trouble! They had just been arrested, but now they are to go right back into the most conspicuous place of all, the temple, and continue proclaiming the gospel. They didn’t question the command. They obeyed, leading to their arrest again. When the high priest confronted them for disobeying their earlier commands about not filling Jerusalem with their teaching, Peter states “We must obey God rather than men.”

God wants to instill the same kind of obedience, no matter what, into His children, including each of us.  Sometimes obeying God will not bring us into a place of safety, but rather into danger, being uncomfortable, and harm. But, as believers of the cross, we must be ready and willing to obey our God without complaint. Let’s be bold with proclaiming our faith.

Personal Worship Option:

Think and assess how you live out and talk about your faith. Are you afraid of what others will think of you if you are bold about standing up for Jesus? Let us be excited to share the good news.

Daily Devotion, March 25, 2020

Devotion:

Read Daniel 6:6-10.

Daniel displayed wisdom, discernment, trustworthiness and courage at all times. I believe Daniel knew those characteristics could only come from God and from time spent in prayer with God.

Daniel 6:3 says, “Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.” Daniel’s leadership skills were not only evident to King Darius, but also to the other administrators and satraps.

But the administrators and satraps were jealous of Daniel and they went to the King to devise a plan to destroy Daniel. A satrap’s main duty was to be sure the King would not suffer loss. But these administrators’ and satraps’ motives were self-seeking, rather than for protecting the King.

Daniel could have followed that crowd’s way of thinking, which was looking out for self. But through Daniel’s time in prayer, he knew his identity and purpose. He was given gifts of discernment and wisdom. Daniel knew he could trust God.

A friend’s Mom once said to her son, as she was dropping him off for his summer to be spent at the Governor’s Honors School in Georgia, “Don’t lose your head in a group situation.” I believe Daniel’s Mom may have said the same to him before he was taken into Babylonian exile.

When King Darius made a decree that any person who did not pray to him would be thrown into a lions’ den, Daniel knew he could not follow the crowd for this decree. He knew he must remain faithful unto God. We don’t usually think of praying as being dangerous, but in this situation, it would be.

Daniel courageously continued praying to God and the King had to follow through on his decree. When the King went the next morning to see if Daniel’s God had indeed delivered him from the lions, he was overjoyed! Daniel 6:21 says, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O King.”

Personal Worship Option:

What crowds are we following today? Would we be brave enough to defy King Darius’ decree and be found faithful in praying to God? May God grant us wisdom and discernment to be found trustworthy and courageous at all times.

Daily Devotion, March 24, 2020

Devotion:

Read Joshua 3:6-17.

The Israelites had been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. They had the Promised Land in sight but there was one problem: the Jordan River lay in their path. It was flooding season, and the waters were deep and turbulent. They most certainly felt anxious as they looked out over the swollen river and also considered the fortified cities that surrounded them. The Israelites had a spiritual obstacle to overcome; they needed to pass through troubled waters.

God did not make the rivers subside, but he gave Joshua a set of orders. The priests were to pick up the ark and then go stand in the river. This command took courage. This generation had not experienced the parting of the Red Sea like the previous one. They had wandered the desert, so the priests probably didn’t even know how to swim.

But…the priests had faith that as soon as their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. The priests stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan River while the Israelites passed on to dry land. God stopped the river from flowing AFTER the priests put their feet in the water. The Israelites shifted their focus from their troubled waters to God and God performed miracles. They stepped out in faith right into the middle of troubled waters and God led them to the other side.

What troubled waters have your focus?

·     A financial problem

·     A troubled marriage

·     A struggling child

·     Poor self-esteem

·     A bad habit

·     A physical disability

·     A bad attitude

·     Family problems

Maybe we need to shift the focus of our prayers. Let’s quit focusing on the waters. God knows them. God wants us to step out in faith right in the middle of our troubled waters so that he can lead us to the other side.

Personal Worship Option:

Facing insurmountable obstacles can be a turning point in your life. Claim the promise in the verse today:

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)

Daily Devotion, March 23, 2020

Devotion:

Read Exodus 14:15-22.

I cannot imagine walking into a passageway on the damp bed of the Red Sea with a wall of water to my left and a wall of water to my right. My little engineer mind would be racing through the few things that I remember from my fluid dynamics classes. Fluids like water do not stack up and make walls! I would be looking for the dams that surely must have been holding back the water, and I might have even reached out a tentative hand to touch the water. No dam there...my hand would get wet! I would have been amazed at what God, through Moses, had done. But then, all kinds of doubts would begin to creep in. What guarantee was there that the walls of water would not come crashing in upon me and my fellow Children of Israel?

This is not a question of fluid dynamics or physics. Nor is it a matter that demands a guarantee. It is, however, something that requires faith. I have never faced the literal situation described in today’s passage. But I have and will continue to face situations that require faith in order to go forward. Sometimes our situations seem impossible, but God goes before, beside, and behind us. We must step out in faith!

Personal Worship Option:

What are you facing now that seems daunting, perhaps even impossible? We all face those times. Pray today for courage and faith, knowing that God is with you, and nothing is impossible for our God! 

Daily Devotion, March 22, 2020

Devotion:

Read Matthew 14:1-14.

  For me, this is a scene that tells me a lot about Jesus and what he came to teach us. As Luke tells us in the early chapters of his Gospel, John is a relative of Jesus. Maybe they were cousins; we don’t know for sure. But they are family.

  Here, we are given the report of when John was beheaded while in prison. It was bad enough that this innocent, faithful servant of God was killed like this, but then to hear why that came about makes it even worse. He was the pawn in a silly game; a victim of someone who hated him and someone who was tricked into having him killed. It was enough to make anyone furious.

  “Then they went and told Jesus.” Wonder what Jesus will do? Surely this will cause him to use his power in some way to bring Herod down, maybe kill him. What would you do? After all, this is family! “When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place…..When Jesus...saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” What?! Jesus, shouldn’t you do something to Herod? Shouldn’t you seek some level of revenge for what was done to your family member?

  This story may be the best example of Jesus living by what he taught. Most people would say he had a good reason to seek revenge here. How many of us, in the same situation and having the same kind of power he had, would use that power to get revenge? Jesus did not. He continues to want to teach us how to walk that same path.

Personal Worship Option:

Pray for wisdom and courage to follow Jesus on the path of non-violence.

Daily Devotion, March 21, 2020

Devotion:

Read 2 Corinthians 5:18-21.

  This is part of a larger passage of Scripture that reminds us of the “big picture” of what God did for all of us and everybody else through Jesus Christ. We are all part of a sinful world that has and continues to make a mess out of things. The Psalmist says it well in Psalm 130:3-4: “If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness…” The writer here in this letter to the Corinthians also says that God does not count our sins against us, instead focusing on providing a way to be reconciled to us.

  God had (and has) every reason to seek revenge on the whole world for the ways we have messed up his Creation and especially for what we did to his Son. But knowing how his Son would be treated, he sent him anyway. And Jesus was most willing to come anyway, knowing how he would be treated. After this resurrection, he too had all kinds of reasons to seek revenge for what had been done to him. Yet he chose to be reconciled to the very disciples who had failed him at his most trying hour and again send them back out into the world to continue his mission.  

  It has been God’s mission from the very beginning: to redeem the whole creation. Rather than seeking revenge, God seeks reconciliation. And as verses 19-20 put it “...he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” Go share that message. Go represent this Christ.

Personal Worship Option:

Where might God be leading you to be involved in this “ministry of reconciliation”? Who do you know that needs to be reconciled to God, to know of God’s desire to be in relationship with them?

Daily Devotion, March 20, 2020

Devotion:

Read Genesis 33:1-10.

Esau had long sought vengeance against his brother Jacob for taking his birthright from him. But when he finally saw his brother again, he embraced him. (I wonder if what “uncle Esau” did had an impact on Joseph later forgiving his brothers for what they did to him?) Esau’s change of heart is wonderful to see. The bitterness over all the deception seems gone. Instead Esau was content with what he had and glad to see his brother again.

Life can be difficult. There are times we may feel cheated and wronged, but we don’t have to hang on to the bitterness. We can remove bitterness from our lives with forgiveness and contentment. It is not easy! God is ready to hear our hearts and hurts and walk with us in the journey toward forgiveness.

Personal Worship Option:

Are there hurts and bitterness you need to expel from your life? Start an open and honest conversation with God. Choose to forgive.

Daily Devotion, March 19, 2020

Devotion:

Read Matthew 5:10-12.

The scripture for today is the last beatitude. As we read it today, millions of Christians around the world are being persecuted for their faith. Some will lose their jobs or face government wrath. Some will be locked up in prison cells. Some will be tortured or even killed because of their faith in Jesus. Many of us will not face difficulties like that for our belief in Christ, but we might hear taunting from coworkers or neighbors who laugh at us when we state and live out our beliefs. We might have to put up with people who accuse us of thinking we’re “so much better than everyone else”. Family members might be angry with us for our faith if it doesn’t line up with their day to day living. If we take our calling seriously as followers of Jesus, we will probably face insults, false accusations, or some kind of persecution, even if it is just verbal.

Remarkably, Jesus tells us to rejoice! God uses hardships to refine and mature us as his children. He also shows us that as we suffer for our faith, we participate in the life Jesus lived. When the world saw Jesus in all his perfection, they killed him. We must include ourselves among those who persecuted Jesus: it was our sin that put him on the cross. Yet Jesus loved and prayed for all who persecuted him. When we face the hatred of a sinful world, we will enjoy the blessing of God’s presence.

Personal Worship Option:

God, thank you for reminding us that the first goal in our lives is not to be protected, but to be used to share your story of the Good News. Help us to know that being persecuted for doing what is right is following in the steps of Jesus. Give us the courage to help lead others to the wonderful discovery of you. Amen.

Daily Devotion, March 18, 2020

Devotion:

Read Genesis 45:3-7.

This story could have ended so differently. If anybody had a right to act out of revenge for what his brothers did to him, it was Joseph. If Joseph had acted out of revenge, what would it have really accomplished? He chose not to do so.

Dr. Terence E. Fretheim writes, “Joseph doesn’t require sorrow or regret from his brothers. Rather, he confesses that God has been at work in all these events to preserve life, and this is the decisive reality in this moment. The word for the brothers, thus serves as a straightforward gospel word spoken by the one who has experienced it deep within his own life: God has acted so that life, rather than death, now abounds.”

Revenge begets revenge and creates lives lived out in fear. Life’s energy is given to planning revenge. The opposite of revenge is forgiveness. Then we experience God giving new life and new beginnings of reconciled and restored relationships.

I pondered the words “vengeance” and “revenge” for a few moments. Joseph could have said, “I am your brother whom you discounted, but look at me now!” He could have said, “Let me show you what it feels like to be thrown in a ditch, to be left for dead, and then sold to be a slave!”

Would it have really healed Joseph’s wounds from his earlier years to have said those words and done those actions?

Instead, the story ends with life-giving power and the reconciliation and restoration of relationships. Jesus knew this story well. When he was in the garden with the disciples before his crucifixion, one of the disciples with a sword cut off the ear of one of the soldiers. Jesus said in Matthew 26:52, “Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.”

Personal Worship Option:

Are there areas in your life in which you ponder seeking revenge for past hurts and insults? Pray for God to help you re-write your new life story to offer forgiveness instead of revenge. God has re-written our life story and offers forgiveness to us. “Dear God, please help us not to live by the sword, but by your ways of forgiveness. Amen.”

Daily Devotion, March 17, 2020

Devotion:

Read John 21:12-17.

Peter had committed a serious sin when he denied Christ. We can imagine the agony and regret Peter must have felt. We read in our passage today that Jesus asked the question Peter most dreaded but most needed to hear: “Simon, son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” Jesus exposed the sin by confronting him directly. Jesus loved Peter too much to let him live his life bitter and broken. Notice that Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” After Peter answered Jesus’ questions, Jesus gave him a missional command. He said, “Feed my lambs. Take care of my sheep. Feed my sheep.” Peter was not just forgiven, but he was also restored as a leader and apostle. Jesus wanted Peter to move beyond his sin and return to the work of the Lord. Jesus encouraged him to continue the mission. When we receive God’s forgiveness from our sins, he wants us to do the same. He wants us to do his work in the world to share God’s love.

Personal Worship Option:

What work is Jesus asking you to do today? How do you plan to follow his missional command: “Feed my lambs. Take care of my sheep. Feed my sheep?”

Daily Devotion, March 16, 2020

Devotion:

Read Romans 12:17-21.

These verses come at the end of a chapter in which Paul encourages us to be living sacrifices for Christ, to put our spiritual gifts to work serving others, and to sincerely love others...even those who persecute us. Now, in this passage, he tells us not to take revenge. This is a hard lesson, because when we are harmed or hurt or slandered by someone, our most basic human instinct is to strike back, to hurt the other party, and to find justice for ourselves.

We are in the midst of a campaign year for the Presidency. We knew it was going to be a difficult year, and it is living up to and exceeding our expectations. When a candidate makes an accusation that is harmful to another candidate, the response is almost always swift and sure, and it looks a lot like revenge. A few candidates in the primary elections as well as in the general election will try to focus on the issues and avoid revengeful, personal responses. But few will be successful in doing this, as their supporters will push them to get even, strike back, and score points against their opponent. Perhaps we can learn from this bad behavior, refuse to take revenge, and overcome evil with good.

Personal Worship Option:

As you pray today, think about times you may have taken revenge to get even for a slight or harm done to you. Are you considering striking back even now? Pray for the discipline to do the very hard thing and let God deal with it instead. Others will expect you to take revenge, and refusing to do so will be a real witness to them.

Daily Devotion, March 15, 2020

Devotion:

Read Matthew 9:35-38.

  As you read the stories of the life and ministry of Jesus, it is obvious that he was willing to be with anybody and everybody. He did not discriminate. He crossed barriers and boundaries. Nobody was off limits for Jesus.

  Why? I think it is best summed up in verse 36 of this passage: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” His compassion, his love is what compelled him to come to earth in the first place. That same love fueled his ministry throughout his life.

  He leads his followers to have that same love and relate to other people because of it. When someone is in need, help them; it doesn’t matter who they are, what group they represent, what they have done. When you encounter someone who does not have a relationship with Christ, build a relationship with them; no matter what kind of reputation they may have.

  

  Why? Because of the love that has been given so freely to you. Jesus still seeks to walk among anybody and everybody, and he does that through those who seek to represent him. Can he count on you to go with him?

Personal Worship Option:

Who do you know who does this well? Who is that Christian who is willing to be among anybody and everybody? Consider asking them if you could spend some time with them every week, just to experience how they go about connecting with others.

Daily Devotion, March 14, 2020

Devotion:

Read Luke 7:36-48.

  It is one of those real-life dilemmas for Christians. The people of God also struggled with it in Bible times. We are supposed to be separating ourselves from sin. So should we also separate ourselves from sinful people?  

  Some of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day had determined that they needed to live their lives separated from people who had a bad reputation. In order to set a good example for everyone, they believed they should not in any way be connected to such people. So the leader in this story is perplexed that Jesus would allow this woman with a bad reputation to be in his presence, not to mention allowing her to touch him.  

  But Jesus did not share this man’s belief. He was not concerned about his reputation, but about helping this woman know that her sins were forgiven and her faith in him had saved her.  

  None of us can totally separate ourselves from sin, because we all are sinners. Jesus frees us and leads us to be willing to connect with anyone. The key is keeping close to him while we are doing so, in order to be able to have an influence on that person, such that they come to know of Christ’s love and forgiveness for themselves. There may be times when your reputation suffers, but if it suffers for the cause of Christ, then be assured you are following his example and doing his will.

Personal Worship Option:

Who is that person who you are afraid to connect with because of what it might do to your reputation, yet you sense God is leading you to make that connection? Write down their name and pray for them and for guidance on how to connect with them.

Daily Devotion, March 13, 2020

Devotion:

Read Isaiah 49:5-6.

The prophet Isaiah shares God’s desire for his people to be “a light to the nations.” Everything we do for God and His Kingdom has far-reaching consequences. The prophet’s work was not just for reconciling Israel back to God but it would point the way for salvation for everyone. The end of verse 6 echoes the words of Jesus to the disciples in Acts 1:8, “You will be my witnesses . . . to the ends of the earth.” We are also to be a light to those around us. What we do and say does make a difference. Nothing is too small or too great to be used by God in making an eternal impact.

Personal Worship Option:

What does God have for you to do today? Look for ways to show love, kindness, compassion, and joy and then trust God with the consequences.

Daily Devotion, March 12, 2020

Devotion:

Read Ephesians 2:13-20.

Jesus made it possible for us to have peace with God, because He is the peace who reconciled us and broke the barriers. Those who could never come to God can now be in right relationship with Him. Jesus Christ did for us and for the Father by being the once and for all sacrifice to pay our debt of sin, satisfying the law. Thus, when we are in Christ, we are no longer separated in our relationship with God. In Christ, we have the power to build healthy relationships with God and others. So, we are a new person because of the cross which bridges the gap for access to God. We are even called His citizens and children--people of God, for God--built from the foundation of what Christ has done. This is the Truth and was told by the apostles and the prophets who came before them. We are His new holy temples. Christ is our Cornerstone, so we are also His dwelling for the Holy Spirit.

Because of His Love that we receive, we should pay it forward. We have the responsibility to act on Christ’s example; we need to help break down barriers and go where Jesus directs us to go. It might be unlikely places and circumstances that we are called to, just as Jesus did in His life.

Personal Worship Option:

How can we bridge gaps and help break down barriers in our lives and culture. Do we try to understand others and their lives? Let’s learn from how Jesus associated with the unlikely.

Daily Devotion, March 11, 2020

Devotion:

Read Matthew 9:9-13.

Having a “holier than thou” attitude and having been frightened to my core as a child watching “The Wizard of Oz”, the Christmas gift ticket to see a musical titled “Wicked” was not at first, well received. “Wicked” tells the story of two unlikely friends, Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Galinda (the Good Witch). 

The Pharisees with their “holier than thou” attitude were not pleased at all that Jesus welcomed and ate with tax collectors and sinners. They were blind to Jesus’ compassion and his power to forgive sins. Their focus was on keeping the rules and maintaining their own righteousness and purity. 

 

Jesus meets and calls Matthew, a most unlikely future disciple to “follow him” and to be a part of his inner circle. Matthew was a tax collector who was considered a social outcast of biblical times. 

 

There is so much grace throughout Matthew 9! First, Jesus has the power and compassion to heal and forgive sins! Yes, even our sins! Second, Jesus calls a most unlikely person to be one of his disciples! Yes, Jesus has called us to be disciples as well! Third, we are also called to go forth into the world with eyes and hearts of compassion to invite others into life with Christ.

Perhaps we feel as if we are today’s social outcasts. Jesus doesn’t see us that way. Jesus' invitation is for all of us! Perhaps Jesus is calling us to serve an unlikely people group who feel they are today’s social outcasts. 

 

Perhaps there are lessons we can learn from the lyrics of “For Good” the last song in the musical, “Wicked”.  “I’ve heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn and we are led to those who help us most to grow if we let them and we help them in return…..because I knew you, I have been changed for good.”

Personal Worship Option:

How has your life with Christ changed you? Who has been an unlikely friend along the way in your journey with Christ, who has changed you “for good”? Thank God throughout the day for this person and ask God to open your eyes to have compassion for all people.

Daily Devotion, March 10, 2020

Devotion:

Read Genesis 12:1-3.

God made a covenant with Abram telling him that he would found a great nation. Not only would this nation be blessed, but the other nations of the earth would be blessed also through Abram’s descendants. God gave him one condition: Abram needed to obey God. He obeyed God, left his home, and even through great testing, he remained faithful to God. God's original design in creation was for us to experience fulfillment and peace, but that design was ruined when sin entered the world. Through Abram’s family tree, Jesus Christ was born to save humanity. It is through Christ that we can have a personal relationship with God and receive all the blessings he has in store for us. Since God is the giver of all good gifts, we are the recipients of countless acts of favor and goodness, but the ultimate blessing that God has given is the new life and forgiveness that comes through faith in his Son, Jesus Christ. Like Abram, let’s commit to a life of faithfulness and obedience.

Personal Worship Option:

Take time today to count your blessings and give God the thanks for all of his goodness. Meditate on the words to the hymn “Count Your Blessings,” written by Johnson Oatman, Jr.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God has done!

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your many blessings, see what God has done.

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Daily Devotion, March 9, 2020

Devotion:

Read Matthew 8:5-13.

We should never become so accustomed to Bible passages that we fail to be shocked or at least surprised by their meaning in the original setting or context. Roman centurions are usually seen in a positive light in the New Testament, but the Jewish people would have resented or even hated them. Centurions commanded one hundred soldiers and were the backbone of the Roman army, which occupied and controlled Palestine in the time of Christ. And to make matters worse for Jews, Romans were considered to be unclean Gentiles.

Clearly, Jesus saw some notable things in this centurion, who seemed to have pity and compassion for his paralyzed and suffering slave. Upon seeing this compassion and with no regard for their cultural and political differences, Jesus offered to go to the centurion’s house and heal the servant. The centurion reacted with both cultural sensitivity and faith. A Jew entering the home of a Gentile would become unclean, and the centurion wished to protect Jesus from this. Pointing to his own power of rank, he showed tremendous faith by declaring that Jesus’ power was such that he could heal the slave from a distance. Faith is faith, even in supposed enemies, and Jesus healed the servant. 

Personal Worship Option:

Reflect on our passage for today and what it might mean for us today. Are there people you or the church are not walking among? Pray for courage to walk with those who are considered to be off limits, asking Christ to walk with you.

Daily Devotion, March 8, 2020

Devotion:

Read Matthew 8:28-34.

  This is one graveyard nobody went near! Everybody knew about the two demon-possessed men who hung out there. They were violent and they were scary. Everybody knew to stay away; except Jesus. It wasn’t that he didn’t know about them. But he wasn’t going to let their scary reputation prevent him for going to where they were. And he brought healing to them.

  Who is it that scares you? Who do you stay away from? What has caused you to be scared of them? Sometimes we have experiences with certain individuals that prompts our fear. Sometimes we hear or read about the experiences of others and accept their fear for ourselves. Sometimes we fear someone or some group just because they are different from us.

  Jesus was constantly crossing that separating line of fear. He was so connected to his heavenly Father and completely trusted God to be with him, no matter where he went or who he encountered. He still leads those who will follow him into places and with people who might be scary to us. Again, it is an issue of trust in the power of God to overcome any situation of fear. Pray for wisdom and courage to grow in that trust.

Personal Worship Option:

Louisa Stead wrote these words 138 years ago:

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him! How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er!

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust him more!

Daily Devotion, March 7, 2020

Devotion:

Read Genesis 12:1-5.

  “Leave what you know. Leave what you are familiar with. Go to a new place.” It is an unsettling call for any of us. We tend to want to stay where we are. We tend to want to continue our routines. We tend to want to stick with what is familiar.

  It must have been a scary assignment for Abram when God said, “Go to a land that I will show you.” Initially, God does not give the destination; just a calling to go. There is the promise of being made a great nation, to be blessed and an opportunity to serve this God in blessing the whole world. Still, it is risky. Abram does not yet know this God. It is an invitation to trust in the One who is calling. He decides to take the risk, trust this God and strike out on this journey of faith.

  Throughout the Bible, God calls people into scary situations. God still makes those calls. As you stay connected to God and pay attention to the leading of this Holy Spirit, be assured that you too will be called into scary situations. And it all comes down to a decision on whether to trust this God. Be assured that God is worthy of your trust and will not call you to go anywhere without also promising to go with you.

Personal Worship Option:

When is the last time you did something for God that was scary?