Daily Devotion, October 31, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Psalm 40:1-8.

The psalmist writes about being in a difficult situation, which he describes as a slimy pit. Those words prompt us to imagine trying to climb out of that slippery hole, falling back each time. The psalmist describes having been stuck in mud and mire, which brings to mind a slow, difficult slogging walk, sinking deeper into the mire even as we struggle to move along. These are powerful images of life lived on our own, depending entirely on our own resources and not doing very well. Then God put the psalmist’s feet on a rock, and immediately we think of solid footing, a good foundation, and something firm and lasting on which to depend. This transformation is not just about pits, mud, and rock; but rather, it is about having God’s word and will for our lives to stand on.

I cannot imagine how people who do not have a relationship with God make it through life. It is not as if believers are somehow sheltered from loss, illness, struggles and tragedies. But we have this rock to stand on that gives us something we can count on. Isn’t it interesting that the psalmist now has a new song -– a hymn, not of petition or want, but a hymn of praise to God?

Personal Worship Option:

Think back about a time or times in your life when you struggled on your own, perhaps without leaning on God or perhaps just trying to make it on your own. Give thanks for the rock that God has placed you on, the rock of faith that assures us we are not alone in life.

Daily Devotion, October 30, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-7.

Football is probably the sport where teamwork is needed the most. Whether on offense or defense, all eleven players have to work together in order to accomplish their goals. Those who carry, throw and catch the ball are dependent on those who block for them. And no one person on defense is going to make the tackle every time. On any given play, ten players can do their job well, but if one misses their assignment, the play breaks down. Everybody has to do their job on every play in order for everybody to get the job done together.  

The Apostle Paul often used the analogy of the human body to teach the same lesson related to being the Church, the “Body of Christ.” We need each other. We have all been gifted in different ways to serve the greater good of the people of Christ. And as the people of Christ, united in ministry and mission, we can accomplish so much more than we could on our own. So, when you do your part, you are not just accomplishing something for yourself, you are helping the “team” be and do what God has called us to be and do.  

As you make decisions each day and week about how you are going to spend your time, treasures and talents, remember to consider not only how it will affect you, but what it will do for your team of Christ’s followers.

Personal Worship Option:

Offer a prayer of thanks to God for the part you get to play on the “team” of Christ’s followers you are on, as well as for your “teammates.”

Daily Devotion, October 29, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Luke 6:12-16.

Luke tells us that Jesus prayed all night before choosing the twelve who would be his inner circle of disciples. All through the Bible there is an emphasis on being the people of God. Yes, there is also teaching, and guidance related to each of us having our own personal relationship with God. We are each responsible for our own life and how we live it. We each have to choose whether we will give our life to the God who gave us life.  

I often say that Jesus did not just have a personal relationship with those twelve disciples. He taught them and related to them as a group. He showed them by example that they would grow and learn best by being with each other. And even that group had a larger group of disciples to whom they and Jesus related.  

Be assured that Jesus calls you into a personal relationship with him. But be equally assured that he calls you into a relationship with other Christians. Give yourself to both of those relationships and you can be even more assured that you will grow and mature in representing him.

Personal Worship Option:

What one thing could you do to more fully offer yourself to Christ and others who follow him?

Daily Devotion, October 28, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Ephesians 4:11-13.

Paul emphasizes that our purpose is to “build up the body of Christ,” not yourself. The Holy Spirit has given each believer special gifts for building up the church. It is crucial that each person uses their gift. Everybody gets a gift. They come in different sizes and combinations, but every Christ follower has them. It is imperative that you know how God has gifted you so you can use those gifts. If you don’t know your giftedness, search for it.

The church has been given an enormous responsibility. The church is to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). This involves teaching, preaching, healing, nurturing, giving, administration, building and many more tasks. If we are to fulfill this mandate we MUST work together. Together we can obey God more fully than any of us could alone. As the body of Christ, we can accomplish more together than we could dream possible working by ourselves. Working together, the church can express the fullness of Christ.

Personal Worship Option:

Gracious Father, you took the initiative to reach out to me - Thank you. I cannot fathom such love! You call me to open myself to You and to partner with You in your mission of love. Fill me, that I can partner with You and with others to reach the lonely, discouraged, and hopeless in this world. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Daily Devotion, October 27, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read John 17:20-23.

Jesus now starts to pray for future believers which includes us. As He begins to pray for future generations of believers, He emphasizes the importance of unity. He prayed this for the eleven and now He prays this for all future believers. He also connects unity with love in this prayer. This scripture pleads the Body to reconcile and unite as one in Christ. This is the core of John 17:20-23. Jesus prays for oneness.

The vision of this scripture is that believers be joined together in one fold and one shepherd with unity of purpose and learning through Jesus. Believers should be strong witnesses and unified about what Jesus is all about. We should give God all the glory and work to become as Christlike as possible. Just as Christ abides in us, we abide in Him. When non-believers observe and study the church today, do they see unity and the true message and mission of Jesus Christ?

Personal Worship Option:

How does it make you feel to know that Jesus was praying for you in this passage? What is the connection between love and unity in this passage? Let’s all pray that we show love to all God’s children.

Daily Devotion, October 26, 2022

 

Devotion:

The Apostle Paul uses the analogy of the human body to emphasize that we are the body of Christ, connected to each other. This is one of Paul’s most powerful images to explain both the diversity and the unity of the church. This is an analogy he also utilizes in First Corinthians, Ephesians and Colossians, each with a little bit different perspective.

It’s wonderful to hear along the faith journey the stories of Christians discovering their gifts! What a joy it is to hear reports from mission trips where all ages often discover their gifts in service! It’s great to hear someone say, “I didn’t think I had any skills in construction, but before I knew it, I was helping with repairs!” Or, we might hear someone say, “I didn’t think that I had any skills in teaching or leading; or preparing meals or washing dishes; or working in the garden; or encouraging and listening; or finances and accounting; or multi-media; or working with children and youth, or music, or making quilts or praying but I did!!!” ....And the list can go on!

There are so many more ways that God equips and gives gifts and graces to serve, and to truly be the Body of Christ to bring healing and hope in this world!

Just like there are healthy ways to take care of our bodies. There are also healthy ways to take care of the Body of Christ. As a people group, we need to remain faithful with the ways of receiving Christ’s grace through acts of devotion and acts of worship. And we need to remain faithful in the ways of giving Christ’s grace to the world through acts of compassion and acts of justice.

As the Body of Christ, the analogy of a team or a finely tuned orchestra may fit. Enabled by the Holy Spirit, we are connected and interdependent on each other. We shouldn’t think more highly of ourselves or our gifts. And neither should we think our gift is not good enough, needed or important enough. Each and every person and their gifts are needed and important for the Body of Christ to function healthily to bring Christ’s grace of healing for the world.

Personal Worship Option:

Through the years in The Body of Christ, whose gift opened your eyes to ways you can serve? Give God thanks today. Amen.

Daily Devotion, October 25, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Genesis 12:1-3.

How would you respond to a call to leave everything that is familiar and dear to you: your immediate family, your other relatives, your friends, and your land? When we meet Abram, he is seventy-five years old, living in Ur, and worshiping idols. Then God calls him to leave his homeland and go to an unnamed place. We read that Abram "went, as the Lord had told him."

God called, and Abram obeyed. He stepped out in faith, not knowing where he was going. When he arrived in Canaan, he built an altar and worshiped God. This is the pattern for the life of faith. God calls, we respond, we move out, we arrive, and we worship God when we get there. In undertaking this journey, Abram demonstrated his trust in the God who had made such wonderful promises to him, without a shred of assurance, other than God's word alone.

From this initial call to Abram, God showed his desire to create a people who will represent God’s presence and purposes in the world. This call was Abram's first step on a journey that led him to become the father of a great nation, Israel. God calls us to take steps of faith also and he promises to guide us as we represent him in the world.

Is God trying to lead you to a place of greater service and usefulness for him? Let's be careful not to let our comfort and security in our current position make us miss God's plan and blessings for us.

Personal Worship Option:

Prayer: Lord, thank you for blessing me with gifts, talents, skills, and resources of all kinds. Make me mindful today of ways to use them to represent you well in the world. Amen.

Daily Devotion, October 24, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read 1 Peter 2:9-10.

Peter wrote this to first-century Christians in churches spread out across the Roman Empire, addressing it to “exiles scattered throughout the provinces…” They were exiles because of their faith in Christ, subject to persecution and even death. There was only a loose connection between the churches of that time, as bishops led churches in each major population center and communicated with one another in an attempt to keep doctrine and practices true to Christ’s teachings. Centered in Rome, Peter was viewed as the head of all bishops. This passage invited believers in all places to feel connected as a people, a nation.

In some ways in our country today, we are driven by a sense of rugged individualism. We seek to be independent from an early age and then to achieve and accomplish things as individuals. But most of us also long to belong to something larger than us. This passage reminds us that we belong to the larger church and that we are part of a priesthood of believers. Let’s not miss the point of that — priests are bridges between people and God, so all of us are called to reach out and bring others into our circle as people of God.

Personal Worship Option:

Almighty God, help me to remember that I am joined as a people with all Christians in all denominations and in all parts of the world. Thank you for that privilege. Help me to live out my responsibility as a member of this royal priesthood. Amen!

Daily Devotion, October 23, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Matthew 12:38-42.

It’s the ones who supposedly know the Bible the best who are requesting the sign. “The Pharisees and teachers of the law” are those who have committed themselves to not only studying and knowing the Scriptures, but to living them in their everyday lives and teaching them to other people. Jesus is not fulfilling their understanding of who and what the Messiah would be and do. They have hardened their hearts and minds to any new understandings. They refuse to believe he is the One. They call him “Teacher,” the title usually used by non-believers (his disciples called him “Lord”). Jesus refers to them and others as “adulterous” not because they had broken their marriage vows, but because they were being unfaithful to God. God, the Messiah, was standing right in front of them, yet they refused to believe in him.

Matthew includes this reference from Jesus to the “sign of the prophet Jonah” because he is also aware of unbelievers in his own time (decades later). That “sign” is the resurrection of Jesus. Miraculous as it was, it still did not convince people at the time or later that Jesus was who he said he was.  

Have you ever noticed that when people have their mind made up about somebody or something, they often refuse to change their mind even when “proof” for the need to change has been given to them? Perhaps you have done that as well.

What if you and I could be a “sign” that helps other people come to believe in God and follow the way of Jesus Christ? Maybe, by our devotion to living his way, we could be just that. Yes, there will still be those who stubbornly refuse to follow this way. But that need not stop us from offering ourselves to help others know and follow our Lord.

Personal Worship Option:

What will you do today that will be a “sign” that Jesus Christ is alive and working in your life?

Daily Devotion, October 22, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Matthew 16:1-4.

Tomorrow in our worship services, we will focus on an earlier passage from Matthew’s Gospel, in which Jesus was also asked for a sign. It is somewhat amazing that this later request is made, because according to Matthew, it comes right after Jesus had just healed many people who were lame, blind, crippled and mute, as well as feeding well over four thousand people with seven loaves of bread and a few fish (Matthew 15:30-38). You would think those would be all the “signs” anyone would need to believe in him.

But notice who is asking for this sign: the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Side note: these two groups were usually antagonistic toward one another but were apparently united in their opposition to Jesus.) Those other signs they had other interpretations for (such as “he does these things by the power of Satan”). So, they come to “test” Jesus. Matthew uses the same word for test that was used in Jesus’ earlier temptations (tests) by Satan. They wanted him to perform some cosmic fireworks show to prove that he was the Messiah.

It is easy to look back at those people and question why they could not see and believe who Jesus was. But it would be good for all of us to ask ourselves what kind of “proof” we need from our Lord in order to deepen our relationship with him and more fully follow his way. There are signs all around us every day that God is at work in this world. Do you see them? Do you believe God is present and working among us?

Personal Worship Option:

Offer a prayer giving thanks for the many ways you see God being active in the world around you. Include your commitment to following the way of Jesus Christ and helping others believe in him and follow his way as well.

Daily Devotion, October 21, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Luke 2:8-14.

Yes, it is two months before we usually hear this story. But this week, as we focus on “signs” in the Bible, we are reminded that the angel gave the shepherds a sign by which they could find the baby. God still gives us signs to guide us in our everyday life. It must have seemed odd that the confirmation of the arrival of the Messiah was a “baby wrapped in cloth and lying in a manger”. There was no mistaking the sign. Once the message and “confirmation” had been delivered by the angels the shepherds immediately sought out the Messiah. There were no lengthy debates or wondering what to do next. They knew what to look for and sought it out and then boldly shared the news. Do you need some confirmation from God? It may come in an unconventional form, so be watchful.

Personal Worship Option:

God sends “remembrance signs” each day. Those things that trigger us to give a word of thanks or to remember the goodness of God or to encourage us. It might come from nature or a word from a friend. Whatever form God sends to you - be watching and respond accordingly.

Daily Devotion, October 20, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Matthew 11:2-6.

Locked up in prison, John the Baptist only received irregular and possibly inaccurate reports of Jesus’ ministry. These reports must have caused him to wonder whether Jesus really was the Messiah that he had told everyone about. Jesus sent back the message that he was carrying out a ministry of relief to the oppressed, which was the sort of ministry recorded in the Old Testament, especially in Isaiah 35 and 61. Many were disappointed that Jesus did not bring the political victories they expected of the Messiah, but Jesus promised a special blessing to those who understood his ministry.

To prevent anyone from speaking ill of John because of his questioning, Jesus pointed out what a great man he was. John was not weak in character, uncertain of himself or easily swayed by the opinions of others. Nor did he seek comfort or prestige. He was a prophet, and like many of the prophets he endured a life of hardship. John recognized that he might never again be free. Have you ever experienced discouragement when doing God’s work? Many followers before you have faced this disappointment. Be faithful to God and he will honor your efforts. Be persistent in your efforts.

Personal Worship Option:

God, help us to live a life serving the Kingdom, which involves spreading the good news and loving and helping others. Give us the signs to guide us to do your work. Amen.

Daily Devotion, October 19, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Matthew 24:1-14.

If your time for reading this is morning time, these verses are probably not the way you expected to begin your day. And if your reading is in the evening, it may not bring a sense of calm prior to sleep.

If it helps, for these devotional thoughts, we will focus on Jesus’ words, “the love of many will grow cold.”

And we will receive the encouraging words as The Message phrases it, “Staying with it---that’s what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry, and you’ll be saved. All during this time, the good news—the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come.”

Just prior in Matthew 22, Jesus has just been asked which is the greatest commandment? “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

In Matthew 24, the word “love” is written as a noun. This is the only time Matthew writes it this way. The phrase, “the love of many will grow cold,” creates quite a picture.

Signs. At the beginning of life and at the end of life, there are signs that help us to know to pay attention. Sunday school friends helped repair the air conditioner the evening before our daughter’s summertime birth! They still tease me about my nesting instincts of the urgency of the repair!

“They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love,” a popular Christian folk song written during the 1960’s speaks of the distinctive sign of our ways of following Christ which are----the ways of love!

Jesus is calling his disciples then and now to pay attention to the signs. When Jesus is asked for signs of the end, he speaks of wars, famines and earthquakes. He also says “the love of many will grow cold.” May we who seek to be his people never contribute to that sign.

Personal Worship Option:

May we, with the help and power of the Holy Spirit be the ones who “keep on learning Christ’s ways of love” and continue to love in the ways that Christ would have us to do so. Amen.

Daily Devotion, October 18, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Isaiah 7:10-16.

Often shared in the weeks leading to Christmas, originally this prophecy was given as a sign of hope for the king and people of the time who were worried about potential invading kings.

Ahaz, king of Judah in the southern kingdom, is about to be attacked by an alliance of the northern kingdom. He is fearful by the idea of a possible end of his reign and by the armies who have a history of killing many people.

The Lord knows Ahaz has other plans than to trust God with this crisis, so he offers to give Ahaz any sign he wishes; he will move heaven and earth if needed (verse 11). Ahaz rejects this offer with a religious response: he will not "put the Lord to the test (verse 12)." He sounds righteous about not wanting to test God, but he has another motive. While he doesn't say that he will take care of this crisis on his own, that is what he means. His hope is in Assyria coming to his aid, and he knows that would not be favorable in the Lord's eyes. So he rejects the clear word of the Lord in favor of his own wisdom.

God gives him a message anyway. “The young woman is going to have a baby. She will give birth to a son. And he will be called Immanuel.” The message is to be understood something like this: “If you believe the Lord promised you a forever king, then surely he would protect you from two insignificant pagan kings if he says he will.”

Ahaz trusted his own solution to a problem over God’s. What are you facing that frightens you now? How trusting of God are you in that situation? God wants us to trust him with both our great and small situations.

Personal Worship Option:

Pray today that you will not let anything keep you from hearing and obeying God.

Daily Devotion, October 17, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read John 3:1-21.

Nicodemus had seen the signs Jesus was doing and had decided that God must be with Jesus. He was a Pharisee, a very religious Jewish group that basically believed that we must earn God’s favor by perfectly obeying every detail of the law. Clearly, something was missing for Nicodemus, and it appears that he sensed that Jesus had (or was) the answer. He came at night, likely because he did not want to be seen by others as he sought spiritual truth from Jesus, and also this afforded him private time with Jesus. Jesus spoke deep truths to him about the need to be born again (or from above) and about eternal life for believers. Jesus even revealed to Nicodemus that he was God’s Son, sent into the world to save it. Jesus taught Nicodemus and teaches us in this passage that light has come into the world and living in God’s kingdom is living in that light.

Today’s passage does not tell us how Nicodemus responded to all this, except for his “How can this be?” questions. But later, he spoke up at a council meeting, saying that Jesus should not be condemned until he had been given a chance to speak. In the end, he brought spices and helped Joseph of Arimathea prepare Jesus’ body for burial. I like to think Nicodemus got it and believed.

Personal Worship Option:

Rejoice in the Good News in this passage – Jesus came into the world to save us, not to condemn us and the world. We have the opportunity to live in the light of God’s kingdom right here and now. Let that Good News flow through you and then share it with someone today!

Daily Devotion, October 16, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Luke 10:30-35.

Jesus had just been tested with a question and had potentially finished the conversation. Between him and his questioner, they had agreed that the Law (Scripture) was summed up with loving God and loving neighbor. But the guy had a follow-up question: “Who is my neighbor?” There were different lines of teaching at the time, mostly focusing on fellow Israelites. We might say “those who are your people” or “the people in your group.”

That’s what prompted Jesus to tell this story. To most of the people in his audience at the time, the Samaritan in the story would have been a hated character. When they heard about him coming down the road, their view of Samaritans would probably have had them thinking that he would only stop long enough to see if the wounded man had anything he could steal. Our usual title for the story, “The Good Samaritan,” is appropriate because they would probably facetiously label him that way, thinking that most Samaritans were, in fact, not good. (Maybe you have those same ways of thinking about certain groups of people.)

  

This Samaritan, knowing that if the situation were reversed, the other man probably wouldn’t help him, he still helps the man, even going beyond what would be expected. Maybe the question for all of us to ask ourselves is the one asked of Jesus: who do I consider to be my neighbor?

Personal Worship Option:

Another question for you to consider: Is there anyone to whom I should not show this kind of Christlike love and care? Ask God for eyes to see and ears to hear those around you each day who need to be shown the love of Christ.

Daily Devotion, October 15, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read 1 Corinthians 13.

This is a good chapter to read at least every other month. Often read at weddings, it offers some good, practical definitions of the love of Jesus Christ that we are to offer in all of our relationships.

Paul is writing to first-century Christians who had been gifted by the Holy Spirit in various ways to serve Christ and the Church. Some had apparently become conceited about their gift, thinking it (and therefore they) were more important than others. In the middle of addressing that issue, Paul says the primary way to live and grow through our differences is to show this love of Christ in real and practical ways in all of our relationships every day. As you read through the list of words and phrases he uses to define this love, you have to admit that living this love is a challenge.

Here is how Eugene Peterson states that list in The Message. “Love never gives up…cares more for others than for self…doesn’t want what it doesn’t have…doesn’t strut…doesn’t have a swelled head…doesn’t force itself on others…isn’t always ‘me first’...doesn’t fly off the handle…doesn’t keep score of the sins of others…doesn’t revel when others grovel…takes pleasure in the flowering of truth…puts up with anything…trusts God always…always looks for the best…never looks back…but keeps going to the end. Love never dies.”

There is only One who ever lived that love to perfection. Be sure to follow him and stay connected to the Holy Spirit, who will guide you to grow in that love and put it into practice in all of your relationships. 

Personal Worship Option:

Pick out one or two of the definitions of love in that list that you most need to work on. Pray for wisdom and courage to do so.

Daily Devotion, October 14, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Matthew 22:34-40.

Jesus sums up the whole Bible (what in that time was referred to as “the Law and the Prophets”) with this core teaching of love for God and people. Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18, if followed, a person would keep all other commands. These two passages summarize the Ten Commandments and the other Old Testament moral laws.

What does it mean to love God with all your heart, soul and mind? It’s that concept of “all in”. Everything you are, possess, and touch brings glory and honor to God. In all relationships, God’s love is the foundation. It is easy for “other things” to creep in and become the driving or motivating force in our choices and actions. So where are you?

Personal Worship Option:

Right now, stop and declare that you’re “all in” for God’s glory. Then live each moment committed to following His Word with your whole heart, soul, and mind.

Daily Devotion, October 13, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Luke 17:11-19.

Jesus often traveled along the border of Samaria. He often crossed this border and others—and was criticized for “crossing the line.” The Samaritans were considered half-breed relatives of the people of Judah and Galilee. To the Jews, the border with Samaria defined who deserved God’s mercy and who they should not love. There were also dividing lines set up to avoid the spread of disease. The lepers in today’s story, for example, knew how to maintain their distance. People feared leprosy then just as they do today. Lepers were forced to live outside the community so that others wouldn’t get the disease. I have been to leprosy camps in India and in Liberia. They are totally isolated, not loved much, and live a life of narrow survival.

The lepers begged Jesus to heal them. He told them to go see the priest who would declare them cleansed. At least one of the lepers was a Samari­tan. He trusted that God could be merciful even to a non-Jew. This man was overwhelmed with gratitude. He ran back and threw himself at Jesus’ feet in praise and worship. He thanked Jesus for the healing he did not deserve, for hearing the request of an outsider. Jesus always had open borders for people in need of help and healing, in body and soul. Are we willing to do the same? Will we love and help those in need, even if they are different from us?

Personal Worship Option:

Dear God, thank you for loving us and crossing the border of sin for our sake so that we can be freed to have new life. In gratitude for your love, may I do the same for others. Amen.

Daily Devotion, October 12, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Romans 5:5-8 (NRSVUE)

Deserve. Merit. Earn. These words can hold a great deal of weight. There are timeless truths around these words as humans measure their own and others’ worth. The Apostle Paul understood this.

Paul wrote this profound letter to the Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome a little over 2000 years ago. Paul concludes verse 6 with, “Christ died for the ungodly.” The word, “ungodly” caught my attention.

In our times of many people group labels, and so much division…it might come too easily for us to ascribe this word “ungodly” to people we have set apart from us as “those people” who are undeserved and unmerited.

BUT, setting the “ungodly” apart is the very thinking that Paul is turning around here in these verses! Paul goes on to emphasize in verse 7, “Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person----though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die.” He then includes himself and his readers into this understanding of who are “the ungodly” in verse 8. “But God proves his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”

This is the overwhelming gift of God’s grace!!! “While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” Verse 10 goes on to say, “For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.”

Out of love, Christ sacrificed everything so that we could be reconciled to God, whether we deserved it, merited it or earned it. In fact, Paul’s point is that none of us had ever deserved it, merited it or earned it.

So, Christ’s teachings and his example call us to “love and pray for our enemies, to be willing to walk the second mile, to turn the other cheek, to help the sick, to give to others and to serve others.” Out of depths of gratitude and love for Christ’s sacrifice for us, we need to follow in his ways.

Personal Worship Option:

Gracious God, please forgive us when we forget that Christ died for us all while we were yet sinners. Help us to see the people of the world with love the way that you do. Amen.

Daily Devotion, October 11, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Matthew 5:43-48.

In this portion of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is clarifying a misinterpretation of Scripture. The Pharisees had been teaching that they should love only those who love in return. Some of the Jews held an animosity against people they did not like, such as the Samaritans, Romans, and Gentiles.

When someone hurts us, we want to retaliate with words or actions. But Jesus says we are to love our enemies for in doing so, we show that Jesus is Lord of our life.

Leonardo Da Vinci once had a terrible falling out with a fellow artist just before he began work on the "Last Supper." The story is told that he determined to paint his enemy as Judas. It was a perfect likeness. Then, he began painting the likeness of Jesus. No matter how hard he tried, nothing seemed to please him. Finally, he realized that he could not paint the portrait of Jesus as long as his enemy had been painted into Judas's place. Once that was corrected, then the face of Jesus came easily.

It's impossible for us to be at complete peace with Jesus as long as we harbor hatred for our enemies. Jesus teaches that we should practice loving our enemies, those that strive against us, in order to be most fully like him. This command is a challenge, and we need to trust the Holy Spirit to help us show love to those we don't naturally love.

Personal Worship Option:

Who might be striving against you today? Pray for God to bless him or her. Ask God to show you how to extend love and kindness today.

Daily Devotion, October 10, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Leviticus 19:16-18.

Today’s passage comes in a chapter on various laws dealing with how to get along with others. It forbids slandering others, subjecting others to life-threatening danger, seeking revenge, or bearing a grudge. Interestingly, verse 17 admonishes us to rebuke our neighbor who has done something wrong and to do that frankly so that we do not share in their guilt. All of these instructions point to a life lived in relationship with others, relationships in which we genuinely care for others and for their well-being. All of these things are summarized in verse 18 in the command to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus pointed to this commandment as part of the greatest of all the commandments, and we will explore that later in the week.

Most of us do not have to be admonished to love ourselves, as loving ourselves just seems to come naturally. In fact, we have to be taught sometimes not to love ourselves too much or too selfishly. Here, God is commanding us to love all of those with whom we come into contact as much as we love ourselves. If we can do that, we no longer have to focus on rules and laws, because that love will correctly guide our actions.

Personal Worship Option:

Almighty God, forgive me when I do not love my neighbor as I love myself. And forgive me for deciding whom I will see as a neighbor and therefore deserving of my love and care. Help me to be more like your Son, who taught us the real extent of this commandment. Amen!