Daily Devotion, June 30, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Matthew 25:31-45.

Following Jesus is not just about “me, me, me.” The scriptures many times challenge us to spend our lives helping others. Jesus parallels serving others with serving God. Frequently our lives become dominated by our own plans and lives. Our schedules may be taken up with important, good things to do. Yet we often only focus on our own lives and miss out on the opportunities God gives us to make room for others.

Matthew repeatedly emphasizes that if we love God, we will naturally begin to love others. Love in action is not just for the people closest to us but also for people who are invisible, marginalized, suffering, and in need. So often they are the messy people that take time and effort to help. But when we care for such people, we are actually showing our love for Jesus. For many of us, showing hospitality tends to be shared time with friends and family. But do we consider hospitality as an active expression of our faith? The Bible calls us to welcome the stranger and practice hospitality. Hospitality calls for Christians to be ready for the unexpected, even when it is not convenient or easy. While our deeds of compassion and mercy are not the means by which we enter God’s kingdom, they show that we are part of God’s family, and it is a great way to witness our love.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord, help us to see and act on the opportunities you give us to care for others. Give us compassion to care for others and help us be generous with our time and resources. Amen.

Daily Devotion, June 29, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Luke 9:23-26.

Our church’s mission is “learning to live the way of Jesus Christ and inviting all to follow him.” Today’s scripture reveals Jesus’ own understanding of what his way is. “Deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow him,” is what Jesus is teaching his disciples.

It often appears throughout scripture that Jesus’ disciples thought that Jesus had been sent to be an earthly king to restore Israel to its power. Jesus’ disciples wanted to share in that earthly power. But Jesus saw through their motives and continually had to remind them that faithful discipleship called for self-sacrifice and a willingness to share in the suffering for the sake of others.

Jesus asked them the profound question which goes straight to the heart, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?”

Jesus' words are still true for today’s disciples. We have pledged to follow the One who calls us to deny our self and take up the way of sacrifice. Daily, with the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit, we must examine our motives and our ways. Are our motives for selfish gains for power and wealth or are we genuinely seeking to follow the way of Jesus Christ by denying self, with a willingness to suffer for the sake of Christ and others?

Personal Worship Option:

Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:21 that “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Gracious God, help me to take an honest look at my footsteps in following Christ. How am I spending my time, my money, my energy and my talents? Am I building up treasures on earth for selfish gain or am I following Christ's way of self-sacrifice for your Kingdom’s eternal work? Amen.

Daily Devotion, June 28, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Matthew 18:21-35.

Jesus teaches that we are to always forgive and offers a parable that reminds us why. The parable of the unmerciful servant illustrates this idea very clearly. Jesus tells the story of a servant with a tremendous debt who begs his master for patience. The master forgives the servant’s debt, but the servant turns around and demands repayment for a small debt owed to him. When the debtor couldn’t pay, the servant had that man thrown in jail. We don’t necessarily like the ending of the story: In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. (Matthew 18:34)

Jesus gives a further warning when he adds, “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” (Matthew 18:35) Jesus is warning us that if we don’t forgive, we will be tortured by unforgiven sins, both ours and the sins of others against us. The unmerciful servant was turned over to the jailers to be tortured. Who are our “jailers?” I would say we are “bound” by the sins of others when we refuse to forgive them. We can say sins are the jailers holding us captive until we forgive.

Forgiveness can be very hard. C.S. Lewis wrote: “Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive”. But when I fail to forgive, I am shackled to the evil which has been done to me. We each must ask, “Am I free or am I tied to resentments?

If we must be prepared to forgive seventy-seven times, then we must also be ready to ask for forgiveness – and believe we are forgiven – seventy-seven times.” Does your life demonstrate the back-and-forth flow of forgiveness or is it rare? As the people of Christ, we have pledged to learn and live the way of forgiveness.

Personal Worship Option:

Thank you, Lord, for forgiving me seventy-seven times and more. Give me the grace to forgive someone today.

Daily Devotion, June 27, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Exodus 20:1-3.

This is the first of the Ten Commandments, “You shall have no other gods before me.” For the Children of Israel, monotheism (the belief in one and only one god) would make them unique among all the other people with whom they would become neighbors. When they were in Egypt, they had heard of the multiple gods worshiped there. When the Israelites arrived in their Promised Land, they would find the pagan inhabitants there worshiping Baal and Asherah. When David’s son Solomon became king, he married the daughters of many foreign kings to solidify his power, he let them bring their foreign gods into his palace, and Solomon even worshiped those other gods himself.

You and I would not sacrifice to or carve an idol to worship a pagan god, but more subtly and even more dangerous, we may let the desire for certain things become our gods…wealth, power, fame, popularity, and so on. Even good things can become idols or other gods when they become the things we devote our time, energy, and lives to. It is good to remember the first commandment that God alone is to be our ultimate allegiance.

Personal Worship Option:

Think about how you spend your time and what you think about most. What do you love most in life? Are there things that are creeping in, stealing your focus and pushing God aside? Resolve to put God first, and you will be surprised how abundant your life can and will be.

Daily Devotion, June 26, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read John 1:40-42a.

This week (and in our worship time today) we have been focusing on key connections we need in our life as Christians: with God, with other Christians and with those who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus. That is one way you can assess your Christian journey at any given time, to ask yourself “How am I doing in each of those categories of connection?”

 

In our Bible verses for today, we are in the middle of a story from the time when Jesus was just beginning his ministry. It was a transition time from the ministry of John the Baptist to Jesus. John is pointing his followers toward Jesus. In this case, Andrew was one who followed the advice of John and made that transition to Jesus. I love what verse 41 tells us: “The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him…” about Jesus. It’s just one example of someone who knew about Jesus telling someone who didn’t know him.

That is our calling as well. It is so very important for us to be intentional about connecting with non-Christians and developing relationships with them. Those relationships will all be different; each person or family is unique and the relationship with them will be as well. So, we look to the Holy Spirit to guide us in how to best help each one come to know Christ. But first, we have to get connected to them.

Personal Worship Option:

With how many non-Christians do you have more than a casual relationship? Pray each day for a deeper desire to connect with people outside the Church, then for opportunities to make those connections.

Daily Devotion, June 25, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read 1 Corinthians 12:27.

From reading his letters to Christians in the first century, it is obvious that the Apostle Paul’s favorite metaphor for describing the Church was the human body. The imagery of all the different body parts, each unique in their function, being connected with each other so as to form the whole body was a perfect picture of what it means for the church to function at its best. Every member has their unique gifts, talents and interests to offer, and it takes all the parts working together for the body to be the best it can be.

 

Another metaphor that is equally fitting is that of a team. I have played and watched sports all of my life. I love being part of a team. I love watching a good team work together to be the best they can be. You have probably seen teams who have one or more individuals who just want to show what they can do. They have little interest in what is best for the team; only in what is best for them.

One of the most important keys to being a good team is to practice together. No matter the sport or game, the best teams are going to be those who have practiced and played together the most. That is certainly also true in the Church. It is vital that we stay connected with each other as the people of Christ. Remember, our relationship with Jesus is never meant to be just one-on-one with him. He invites us into a relationship with other followers to form and function as his body. Be sure you are staying connected and doing your part so that we can more fully be the Body of Christ.

Personal Worship Option:

In what area of our life together do you need to increase your connection (worship, small group, service, something else)? Is there someone you know that you can help get reconnected or more deeply connected in the life of the church?

Daily Devotion, June 24, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read John 15:4-5.

Jesus uses the image of a vine and the branches to compare the importance of us staying connected to him. Jesus expects his followers to produce fruit. What fruit does God want? Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23) These are the fruits of the Spirit, and this is what God longs to see in us. Like a careful gardener, he will clip and cut away anything that interferes. But most of all, he is a Good Gardener who cares for his “branches”. All that He does to clear, remove, and weed out of our lives is done for our good and His glory. What fruit do you see in your life? Do you see how God may be pruning you so that you can bear more and better fruit?

Personal Worship Option:

Spend some quiet/alone time with God - yield to Him and allow Him to do anything in your life if it will lead to bearing more fruit.

Daily Devotion, June 23, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Ephesians 4:1-6, 15-16.

In this scripture Paul is emphatic about the unity of the body of Christ. He talks about the diversity of gifts given to the members of Christ’s body. Through the Holy Spirit, each of us are given gifts that add a uniqueness to the body and its ministry. Not only are we supposed to be connected to Christ, but we are also to be connected to each other. We need each other so that we can share our strengths with each other in what we do. Diversity is always a plus. The church is supposed to be comprised of every tribe, tongue, and nation. Oftentimes, we try to limit the differences and maximize the similarities, which weakens the whole.

Paul says that the tension between similarity and diversity needs to be carefully maintained in order for the church to be truly whole and connected both to God and each other. The bond of peace that is ours in Christ binds us together as we fully use the diverse gifts we have received. When we put all these diverse gifts together, we can create the unity of a whole body, bound together in love, and completely able to serve our God.

Personal Worship Option:

What’s your place in the body of Christ? Does using your unique gifts serve the church’s oneness? Dear God, we celebrate our diversity, giving thanks for our gifts, and we ask that you bind us together. In the name of our Lord Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Daily Devotion, June 22, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Ruth 1:11-18.

Ruth’s story of her love and loyalty for her mother-in-law, Naomi, is well known throughout both the Hebrew and Christian communities. In many ways, they are a most unlikely pair. Ruth was from the country of Moab. The people from Moab were looked upon with disdain by the Israelite people of their time.  According to Deuteronomy 23:3, Ruth would have never been allowed entrance into the assembly of the Lord. And then in 23:6, it says, “Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them as long as you live.” So Naomi could have turned her back on Ruth.

But Naomi lived faithfully in her covenant unto God and in God’s covenant with her. She lived her life loving others in such ways that when it came time for Naomi’s daughters-in-law to return to their own families, Ruth said the words which are still familiar today.

“But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.’” Ruth 1:16-17.

Ruth wanted to not only be connected to the God of Naomi, but also to Naomi. Ruth remained faithful to Naomi in the midst of all of their sorrow in the loss of their husbands. Ruth accompanied her back to Bethlehem for them to make their home there.

The people of Bethlehem had to overcome their own pre-judgments and remember the passage from Leviticus 19:34. “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”

Matthew 1 tells us the rest of the story. Ruth was King David’s great-grandmother, and she is part of Jesus’ lineage.  From a lineage which was not from just one group of people, Jesus came to be the Savior for all.

Are we living our lives loving others such that others would also say, “your people will be my people and your God my God.”?

Personal Worship Option:

Dear God, help us extend welcome, acceptance, your love and your grace to individuals in our communities, who might feel like Ruth did when she arrived in Bethlehem. Amen.

Daily Devotion, June 21, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Romans 15:18-21.

Paul writes to the church in Rome to encourage them to share the Gospel. He encourages them by sharing what he has done as an ambassador. He says his ambition was to share the Gospel wherever it hadn’t been shared. He was single-minded in his focus, boldly fulfilling his God-given purpose. Instead of looking out for himself and working hard for personal advancement, he was passionate in his service of God.

We see Paul as a pioneer choosing “to preach the gospel where Christ was not known.” He was a trailblazer preaching the Message of Jesus all the way from Jerusalem far into northwestern Greece. He is quick to give God credit for all that he accomplished. Paul writes of all that Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit did through Paul in order to reach the Gentiles for Christ.

Paul makes the point that while he has fulfilled his evangelizing work in those areas, there is still work to be done by the new Christians resident in each place. God’s work continues when each Christian continues the good work that those who’ve gone before us do.

We too are called to spread the Gospel of Jesus using our own passions and gifts. It is also our calling to connect with those who do not know Christ, so that we can share his good news with them. Might it be our time to get out of our comfort zone in order to reach the lost for Christ? Let’s ask God for the passion and courage to become pioneers for him as we cut a new trail reaching out to non-Christians. How might that look in your world? Do you have unsaved neighbors, co-workers, friends, or family members who need to hear God’s message of forgiveness, love, and hope? Pray for opportunities to share with them God’s goodness. Consider inviting them to worship with you, attend your small group, or be part of one of the many special events we host at Christ Church. Let’s begin to consider ourselves as Christ’s ambassadors as we reach out to the lost.

Personal Worship Option:

Paul understood his purpose and used his passions to fulfill it. What are your passions for God? Are you living in your purpose? Ask God for a holy and passionate calling and the strength and courage to fulfill it.

Daily Devotion, June 20, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Psalm 51:10-17.

King David had committed adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, one of David’s loyal fighting men who was away fighting for David. With Bathsheba pregnant and David unable to cover up his sin, he cruelly had Uriah killed in battle and took Bathsheba as his wife. David was unrepentant until his prophet Nathan came to him and confronted him with the terrible nature of his actions. This is the backstory to Psalm 51.

Hopefully neither you nor I have committed such grievous sins, but all of us sin and fall short. David speaks for all of us in those situations in which we realize we have missed the mark and have sinned. We feel a separation from God, and we fear that God will cast us aside. We long for the joy of salvation that we had known before. In the agony of these times, we want to be restored and to connect again with God. Like David, we may make promises to serve God and to help prevent others from making the mistakes we have made. Having struggled with the agony of our realized guilt, we can be assured that God will restore our broken heart and rekindle God’s spirit in us.

Personal Worship Option:

Spend some of your prayer time today in confession, reflecting on things you did but should not have done or things you should have done yet failed to do. Read the passage again as if you are saying the words instead of David. Pray for forgiveness and reconnection with God.

Daily Devotion, June 19, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Matthew 7:9-12.

This is one of two times when Jesus gave a simple teaching and said “all the Law and Prophets” are summed up in it. (The other was when he taught that we were to love God with everything we are and our neighbor as ourself - Matthew 22:37-40.) In our passage for today, he changes the focus of a lot of teaching of his time, which emphasized what not to do. After all, the commandments often said “Do not kill….Do not steal…Do not…” 

 

Still today, we can be content with what we have not done: “I haven’t killed anybody. I haven’t done anything to be put in jail. I haven’t committed this sin or that sin.” Jesus invites us to change our focus to emphasize what we can be doing to positively impact the lives of people around us and change the world in which we live. When you see someone in need or going through a “valley” of any kind, think about what you would hope someone would do for you if you were in that situation, then do that very thing for them.

Yesterday, I mentioned the General Rules that John Wesley established for the early Methodists and that are still part of our teaching: Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God. Jesus’ teaching from this passage in Matthew focuses on that second rule. Let it be your focus as well: Do good.

Personal Worship Option:

Here is a quote from Wesley that expanded on that second rule:

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

Daily Devotion, June 18, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Matthew 6:2-6, 16-18.

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Movement in England in the 18th century, developed three rules for those early Methodists as they met in their “small groups.” They are still known as the “General Rules” of our church and were summed up several years ago by Bishop Reuben Job this way: “Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God.” That last rule is our focus for today. It encourages the followers of Jesus Christ to practice regular spiritual disciplines in their life that will nourish and guide their relationship with God. Those would include practices like prayer, Bible reading and worship with other Christians.  

In this Scripture passage for today, Jesus teaches on three of those practices: giving, praying and fasting. Notice that he assumes a person devoted to God will be doing these things. His focus is to present some words of caution and guidance about how to do them. These particular practices are focused on our personal relationship with God. So we should not be using them to impress other people, but only to deepen our relationship with our Lord.

I commend to you these rules to live your life by: Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God.

Personal Worship Option:

What spiritual discipline do you need to increase in your daily life so you can deepen your love for God?

Daily Devotion, June 17, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Exodus 20:1-17.

God gave his people a core list of commandments to follow so that their relationship with Him and with others would be healthy and strong. Yet at times, we can perceive that the “rules” are too burdensome. It reminds me of a children’s book: “If Everybody Did” by Jo Ann Stover. Everybody did their own thing and this book demonstrated the hilarious and terrible consequences of everyone doing his own thing. If we didn’t have rules and guidelines the world would be crazy! God promises to show “love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments” (vs 6). As we obey God’s commands we open the door for God’s favor and to develop strong relationships with others.

Personal Worship Option:

In which area of your life can you obey God more fully? Ask God to reveal what commandments you should work on, and ask his Spirit to empower you to obey. Share your goals with a trusted friend for accountability.

Daily Devotion, June 16, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read 2 Timothy 3:14-17.

In this passage of scripture, the apostle Paul tells Timothy, a young pastor, that God expresses himself in Scripture to show us eternal life and to teach us how to live with him today. The Bible is unique because it is God’s own plan from beginning to end. It is through Scripture that God reveals his salvation plan for us. The Bible, says the apostle Paul, is divinely inspired. The term that Paul uses to describe this inspiration can be simply and profoundly referred to as “God-breathed.”

God through the Holy Spirit has spoken truth throughout history in all kinds of circumstances. Despite a vast array of personalities with all of their individual gifts, quirks, strengths, and shortcomings, the Holy Spirit has spoken in and through the many writers of the Bible to his people in the past as well as today. Since the words of the Bible are inspired, they are wholly trustworthy, giving us all we need for faith and for living a life that pleases God. Are you a student of the word? If not, let it become a part of your daily life, nourishing, challenging, and leading you to live for God. As Methodists, John Wesley strongly voiced the need for all of us to know the scriptures.

Personal Worship Option:

Thank you, Lord, for your inspired Word. As I read it each day, guide me to the truths that will equip me with all I need to live faithfully for you. Amen.

Daily Devotion, June 15, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read 2 Corinthians 12:7b-10. (NRSVUE)

“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” This is from the Lord to the Apostle Paul when Paul was pleading for his “thorn in the flesh” to leave him. The Greek word “sufficient” is “arkeo”; used only 8 times in the New Testament. “Sufficient” is probably the best translation, but others translations are: “content”, “strong enough” and “to be strong enough to ward off.”

One of John Wesley’s core teachings is that God’s gift of grace is given to us throughout our lifetime. Dr. James Harnish in “A Disciple’s Path” writes, “This is the role of God in bringing us back to our created purpose. John Wesley believed that God’s grace is a movement, which is a lifelong journey that begins at the moment of birth. He described it as three different types or stages of grace and illustrated these types with his famous house metaphor.”

The first stage, prevenient grace, or the grace which goes before, invites us and prepares us for the next stages of grace. John Wesley called this “the front porch.” It means God meets us where we are and extends unconditional love to us.

The second is justifying grace which John Wesley describes as “the doorway of the house.” This is the gift of grace through God’s initiative in sending Christ to offer us forgiveness, salvation and restoration to a right relationship with God.

The third is sanctifying grace which Wesley calls “the inside of the house.” This gift of grace is transforming for us and helps us make the daily choices to, as Wesley writes in his three simple rules, “do no harm, do good, and stay in love with God.” Our response in this stage is, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to live lives of thanksgiving for God’s marvelous grace we have been given.

God’s grace is sufficient, is strong enough to ward off (and live through) earthly trials and tribulations, and allows us to be content and free to serve God and others.

Personal Worship Option:

A prayer verse from the hymn “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” by Charles Wesley, 1747:

“Finish, then, Thy new creation;

Pure and spotless let us be;

Let us see Thy great salvation

Perfectly restored in Thee;

Changed from glory into glory,

Till in Heav’n we take our place,

Till we cast our crowns before Thee,

Lost in wonder, love, and praise.” Amen.

Daily Devotion, June 14, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Luke 9:51-56.

The first rule taught in John Wesley’s “small groups” was “Do no harm.” In this scene from Luke’s Gospel, James and John had apparently not learned that basic lesson from Jesus.

This passage indicates the hostility between Jews and Samaritans, which was strong in Jesus' time. James and John were furious when they were not received in the village of the Samaritans and wanted revenge. They were ready to call a bolt of lightning down out of the sky and incinerate the Samaritans. I suppose it took all the self-restraint Jesus had when he rebuked them. Jesus called these brothers “Sons of Thunder” for a reason! The disciples are supposed to follow Jesus’ example of love and grace and mercy, but they want to rain fire down from heaven.

Can anyone relate? Do you get fired up when someone is mistreating a loved one? When injustice is happening, do you want to spout out in anger? The Sons of Thunder wanted to do that. Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village. The Greek term “rebuke” is quite a strong word in Greek; the term basically means, “Stop it! Don’t you do that!” Jesus was determined to go to Jerusalem. He was on a mission, and James and John were taking Jesus’ eyes off his goal, so he basically says to the disciples, “Let’s not take our eye off the goal. Let’s just go to another village.” Let’s remember the basic lesson from Jesus, “Do no harm.”

Personal Worship Option:

When feelings of revenge, anger, and judgment enter your heart, place those feelings before the Lord and pray to become more like Christ in your attitudes.

Daily Devotion, June 13, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Matthew 5:43-48.

This teaching comes in Matthew’s collection of teachings that we know as the “sermon on the mount.” As do several of Jesus’ teachings, this one begins with “You have heard that it was said…” This always introduces a commandment or teaching, often from the Hebrew Scripture we know of as the Old Testament. Jesus follows that with a more difficult teaching that goes beyond the first. In our passage today, Jesus starts with the common understanding that we love our neighbors while hating our enemies. Jesus tells us instead to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us! Whoever said following the teachings of Jesus is easy?

Jesus ends this passage with what seems to be an impossible charge…the be perfect, as God is perfect. This sounds impossible, and it indeed would be impossible for us if Jesus, by “perfect,” meant “being without flaw, error, defect, or mistake,” as we commonly think of perfect. The Greek word he used for perfect is better understood as “mature” or “complete.” Consistent with this understanding, John Wesley emphasized that we as believers are to go on to perfection, becoming fully grown and mature in our faith.

Personal Worship Option:

Gracious God, you know that I am not perfect in the sense of being without flaw. You have saved me, a sinner. Now help me to grow in my faith and in my love for you and for people in order that I can become mature, grown up, and complete as a follower of Christ. Amen. 

Daily Devotion, June 12, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Psalm 8.

In our worship today, we are following up on what our children focused on in Vacation Bible School this week. Their theme was “Monumental: Celebrating God’s Greatness.” Our devotions have intentionally reflected on some of the praise Psalms, which have that same kind of emphasis. The first and last verse of this Psalm sum up our focus this day: “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” As with the Psalm we looked at yesterday, the heading for this one also says “For the director of music.” I’m writing this a couple of weeks ahead of time, but I can imagine the children singing during Bible School. They tend to sing with a sense of wonder and amazement that we often lose as we “grow up.” May this be a note of encouragement to all of us to sing our praises to God as if we really are in awe.

The Psalmist is humbled by how small we seem when compared to the vastness of the heavens, yet is also affirmed by the place of honor and responsibility we have been given to take care of the world of nature. I like that balance the writer is seeking for how we are to see ourselves. However, the focus is still on God, whose majesty is evident all over the earth!

Personal Worship Option:

Sing or listen to your favorite song of praise to God. (For those who are singing, please report to the music director for choir practice!)

Daily Devotion, June 11, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Psalm 66.

This is one of many Psalms of praise to God. The heading in my Bible says “For the director of music. A song.” I can just see and hear several members of the orchestra being included in this one as the choir or praise team belts out these lines.  

The Psalmist invites “all the earth” to join in singing this song. There is a reminder of what God has done in the past (vs. 6), inviting us all to reflect on how God has seen us through many situations in our life. There have been times of testing (v. 10) but God brought us through those as well. There is renewal of vows to worship and serve God. It’s easy to forget what we promised God at various times in our life. The Psalm ends with a climactic celebration of God’s love.

I invite you to write your own Psalm of praise. What will you include in it? Will it just focus on what God has done for you and your family? How have you seen God at work in the lives of other people, close by and even around the world? What scenes of nature might you include in your Psalm? Most of all, you will want to include what God has done for you and all of us through Jesus Christ.

“Shout for joy to God, all the earth!”

Personal Worship Option:

The Doxology is another great chorus you can use to praise God most anytime: "Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Praise him all creatures here below! Praise him above you heavenly hosts! Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost! Amen!”

Daily Devotion, June 10, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Psalm 46.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Safe in the assurance that he is God, we can wait on him even amid chaos. He is still on his throne. You may be in limbo, or in between jobs, or in search of health, help, a house, or any number of other things. Are you in God’s waiting room? If so, here’s the wonderful truth: while you wait, God works!

The evidence of this is found in the stories of Joseph (Genesis 40), and Moses (Exodus) and Mary (Matthew/Mark/Luke) and countless others. God was working as they waited and you’ll get through this waiting season as well. Pay close attention and you will experience a special presence of God as you are still and waiting. Stillness before God requires practice, not inactivity. It is attentiveness, mindfulness, and acknowledging His presence and work in your life above all else. Are you in a season of waiting? Can’t see God working in your life? Get still before the Lord.

Personal Worship Option:

Reflect on how the LORD has worked in your life - journal a prayer telling him how you feel. Ask him to help you trust that he’s working on your behalf.

Daily Devotion, June 9, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Psalm 33.

Most people hope for a long life, lasting relationships, good health, and happiness. Yet we know that in a blink of an eye life can be turned upside down and inside out, and it can feel like our hopes are squashed.

But for the people of God, hope comes from a deeper place. As the psalmist explains, we cannot rely on our own armies and horses, our own resources, to deliver us. The beautiful image is that of the God whose eyes are fixed on us, whose love never fails, who is our help and shield. God gives a positive picture of our forever future.

When our hope and trust are firmly connected to our unchangeable God, we know deep in our souls that God’s love will carry us through this life and into eternity. This means that even if our struggles return, our hope in God remains. This kind of hope can be contagious. Maybe you know someone who needs to hear these words of hope today: the Lord knows you, loves you, and will carry you.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord, sometimes our hope falters as we face trials and heartaches. Renew our hope, strengthen our trust, and help us to embrace your unfailing love and share it with others. Amen.

Daily Devotion, June 8, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Psalm 29.

"Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.” Psalm 29:2 reminds me of hearing the choir singing these words as a “Call to Worship” at the beginning of most Sunday mornings during my early years. They might have never won music awards, but they were faithful, sincere, and genuine with a willingness to give away anything for anyone in need and they gave a song of worship into our young hearts.

 

During those years, I thought the beauty of God’s holiness was limited to God’s house; particularly the sanctuary complete with beautiful stained-glass windows which portrayed the Bible stories. But the Psalmist helps us to realize that the beauty of God’s holiness surrounds who God is; God’s greatness, power and glory and all of God’s creation!

Sometimes we lose sight of how great God is! When our children were much younger, we walked through “A Bug’s Life” world in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. We were all so very small compared to the plants, ants, and grasshoppers! The Psalmist is reminding us how small we are in comparison to the greatness of God! If we only read through verse 10, then it might cause us to be filled with fear. Yet, from God’s greatness and generosity, the Psalmist offers a confident prayer for strength and peace for the people.

Yes, God is great and powerful. God’s voice is powerful as it is emphasized seven times within verses 3-9. This Psalmist’s perspective helps us remember that God is God and we are not god. Jesus came to help us see and understand that God is great not only in power and strength, but also in love, mercy, forgiveness, kindness and peace. Psalm 8:4 says it so well, “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” This is grace. Jesus came to teach us and to demonstrate God’s love and grace to us.

Personal Worship Option:

Sometime when you are outside today, pause and give God thanksgiving for all of creation. And pause and remember that God, who created the mountains, hillsides, tall trees and beautiful flowers, is also mindful of you, cares about you and is listening to the prayers from your heart. Amen.