Daily Devotion for November 30, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read Romans 8:31-39.

As we begin the season of Advent tomorrow, one portion of this passage that leaps out at me is this: “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all…” We’re going to begin the season focused on God’s love. We’ve titled the Advent series “The Journey of Amazing Love.” That journey is grounded in the love of God. That love was and is (and always will be) so deep that God was willing to give his only Son to show that love in action. (Our focus verse tomorrow will be John 3:16, which of course is connected to the message of this verse portion I lift up here.)

The Apostle Paul goes on in this part of the letter to celebrate that nothing can separate us from this love. And although at this point, he is focused on this love being for God’s people, earlier in the letter he made it clear that Jesus died for everybody, so that through God’s grace in Jesus, being part of God’s people is available to everybody.

A few weeks ago, our emphasis was on us loving each other as the body of Christ. At other times, we have focused on Christ’s way of loving other people, anyone and everyone. But as we begin this wonderful season, let’s pause and simply receive the love of God.

Personal Worship Option:

Plan now to join us in worship tomorrow morning and let’s celebrate God’s love together! Who could you invite to bring with you?

Daily Devotion for November 29, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read Ephesians 2:4-8.

This beautiful passage begins by telling us why God did all of this: “...because of his great love for us…” Ponder that for a moment. . . when things are going well it is easy to be grateful and praise God and embrace that God extends his love and grace. But when things go south, as they inevitably do, we are quicker to say, “Why God?”. Have you ever found yourself at this point? The good news is - 

BUT GOD; two simple words we find in Ephesians. Paul’s words are a sweet reminder that God is a God of gracious detours. His grace steers us back to the path that leads to light and life.

BUT GOD. What generous reminders that it’s because of Christ we have freedom. Our best is never good enough for a holy God. And yet, despite all failings, God loves us!

God’s gift of grace and love is undeserved but always a balm to our over-striving, weary hearts. We don’t have to be perfect. We are perfect because of Him. We receive His mind-blowing gift of love so that we in turn can share that same kind of love with others.

Personal Worship Option:

Are there people around you that go unnoticed? How can you share God’s love with them? Is there a lonely widow? An insecure middle schooler? A struggling single parent? Pay these people a visit - bring flowers, or another gift, invest some time in their lives.

Daily Devotion for November 28, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read Psalm 136:1-9, 26.

Psalm 136 is a beautiful testament of God’s love for all of us, and His amazing creation. It makes me recall that statement -God is good, all the time! All the time, God is good!

We read “God’s love lasts forever” after each line as a reminder of all that God has done for us. We remember that God rules over all. God rules over all of our leaders, nations, plants, and animals. We celebrate God’s creation, the skies, the earth, the light from the sun and the moon and the stars. We rejoice that God walks with us during our troubles and provides strength for us. We know that God is the God of heaven and earth.

Through his enduring love he offered us His son who came to earth in the form of a baby. As we are getting ready to enter the season of Advent we should reread this Psalm frequently to remind us of His unending love. God loves all of us and treasures each one of us as unique creations. Thank you, God!

Personal Worship Option:

Dear God, thank you for your forever love. We realize that we don’t deserve it or earn it, but your love and grace are free to us. Help us to love each other and to treat our neighbors well. We want to live like Jesus; help us. Amen.

Daily Devotion for November 27, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read Psalm 103:1-8.

Psalm 103 is a joyous hymn of celebration of God’s love, compassion, and forgiveness. The Psalmist reminds the congregation that God is the source of forgiveness and healing, not because of who we are, but because of who God is. He goes on to say that God’s love is everlasting and steadfast, not subject to the winds of change “but the Lord’s faithful love is from forever ago to forever from now for those who honor him” (Psalm 103:17, CEB). God’s love never fails us.

The hope that we find in this passage is that no matter what we do, we can never escape from or be denied God’s love. God may not approve of what we might have done, but nothing that we do can separate us from the love of God and the forgiveness that comes from repentance. Thanks be to God!

Personal Worship Option:

Take a moment to think about God’s boundless love for you. Ask God to fill you with grace and love so that you may share grace and love with others.

Daily Devotion for November 26, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read Romans 5:4-8.

Loving others can often seem challenging or downright impossible some days. From attitudes, lifestyles, or blatant bad choices, loving others can be incredibly difficult.

But when I read about Jesus’ life, I am reminded that He kept it simple. However, simple doesn’t always mean easy, but He is such a perfect example.

Think of how He lived. Jesus lived in service to others. Our service often shows our love. Jesus loved us to the point of giving His life for us, even while we were still sinners.

This is the simple part; Jesus loved us even though we didn’t have it all together. He didn’t die just for the people that cleaned up their act or lived right. He died for sinners, while they were still sinners. He didn’t shout at the men that hung Him on the cross. He didn’t name and number their transgressions. Instead, He asked His Father to forgive them.

Loving others is simple, but not always easy. As followers of Christ, we are called to love others. We see this command in the scripture several times over. Love others. But what if they… what about… but remember when…

Except, that isn’t the language of Jesus. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34 NLT)

Jesus’ grace and mercy covers you, even when you do not know what you are doing. Even when you sin. He is beckoning you to love others sacrificially and without recording their wrongs for His review. He didn’t even record their wrongs for His own review.

Personal Worship Option:

Today, I challenge you to serve someone you wouldn’t normally. Serve someone difficult in your life. Choose an act of kindness, an act of love, an act of worship, and bless someone that is difficult. Ask Jesus to guide you to the person and to the service, and honor Him in this simple, but not always easy, way.

Daily Devotion for November 25, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read 1 John 4:9-14.

My mother was an amazing person! At Christmas, she would bake cakes and give them to others. I remember one year when she baked 21 layer cakes, each and every one of them from scratch! And we enjoyed her fruitcake, coconut cakes, jam cakes, and so on ourselves during the holidays. She was an excellent seamstress, and I cannot count the shirts and pairs of pants she made for me…even ties! She cut our hair, laundered our clothes, and helped us with our homework. There were five of us children in the family, and she managed to love us both together as a brood and also individually. Each of us thought we were her favorite, and the others never discovered the truth that I actually was it. Is it any surprise that I loved her so very deeply and still do, decades after her death?

Analogies using human examples to illustrate God’s love are never adequate, but they can help. God loves all humanity so much that God sent his Son into the world to save us. My mother’s love for others was not just an emotion or a sentiment…it was shown by her actions. God’s love is like that but even so much greater! And we are called to return that love and reflect it in our love for others.

Personal Worship Option:

Think for a moment about how you view God…creator, judge, mystery? Perhaps the greatest quality for us to remember about God is that God loves us, all of us together and each of us individually. And because we are so loved, we can return that love and show it to others.

Daily Devotion for November 24, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read Psalm 107:1-2, 21-22.

These selected verses remind us of two primary reasons why we offer our thanks to God: love and salvation. God’s love to us (and everybody else) “endures forever.” It never ends. It is at the core of who God is. And God has shown that love to us in so many ways, ultimately providing for our salvation through Jesus Christ. Because of our sin, we had broken the relationship with God, but God took the initiative to provide a way for us to be redeemed and restored to a good relationship.

And so, we give thanks, both with words of thanksgiving as well as our actions of giving. We give thanks through our giving of whatever resources we have: our time, our talents, our treasures. God gave God’s self to us. We respond by giving our self back to God in every way we can.

Alan Eleazer was the music director in a church I once served many years ago. He wrote a song that included these lines: “Gifting a time, gifting a day. Gifting a laugh or kind word to say. Draw from above the Spirit of love and gift yourself away.”

I am also reminded of the line I get to offer from the “Great Thanksgiving” prayer of the Communion liturgy: “...in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice….”

Personal Worship Option:

Worshiping together as part of the people of God is a primary way we show our thanksgiving to God. Join us in worship today as we offer our praise and thanksgiving to God!

Daily Devotion for November 23, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read Psalm 28:7.

This verse was the favorite of a lady in our church who died in early October. In a devotional book she read daily, this verse was listed on the day she was diagnosed with cancer twelve years ago. She knew the Lord was her strength and shield and she gave thanks to God both in her words and her actions. She often talked about how important her relationship with Jesus Christ was in her life and she regularly urged her friends to establish their own relationship with our Lord. But her thanksgiving was not just in words. You could also tell she loved the Lord and was grateful to him by the way she lived her life. She was faithful in her worship participation. She was constantly giving of herself for the benefit of others, especially passionate about helping those who were going through their own battle with cancer. She helped raise money for cancer research.

In other words, she lived this verse. She knew where her strength came from: “The Lord is my strength and shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.” She trusted God completely with her life by living life with gratitude.

Personal Worship Option:

Reflect today on the ways you are intentional to show your gratitude to God, both by the words you offer to others and the actions you take toward them.

Daily Devotion for November 22, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read Colossians 3:15-17.

Our focus is the last sentence in verse 15: “And be thankful.” If, as the saying goes, we have an “attitude of gratitude” it will show by how we live our life each day.

One worship song that speaks to me about thankfulness is “Goodness of God” from Bethel Music. The lyrics of this song speak to a deep theme of thankfulness and gratitude. It expresses a love for the Lord, acknowledging that our days have been held in God’s hands and we are always surrounded by His mercy and goodness. So, thank Him for all He has done, giving every breath we have in praise of His goodness.

I love You, Lord

For Your mercy never failed me

All my days, I've been held in Your hands

From the moment that I wake up

Until I lay my head

Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

And all my life You have been faithful

And all my life You have been so, so good

With every breath that I am able

Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

I love Your voice

You have led me through the fire

And in darkest night You are close like no other

I've known You as a Father

I've known You as a Friend

And I have lived in the goodness of God, yeah!

'Cause Your goodness is running after, it's running after me

Your goodness is running after, it's running after me

With my life laid down, I'm surrendered now

I give You everything

'Cause all my life You have been faithful

And all my life You have been so, so good

With every breath that I am able

Oh, I'm gonna sing of the goodness of God

Oh, I'm gonna sing of the goodness of God

Personal Worship Option:

What are you thankful for today? How do you experience the goodness of God? Share this with someone.

Daily Devotion for November 21, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read Psalm 69:30.

This one single verse is a powerful declaration of faith and resilience in the face of adversity. David, the psalmist, declares his intent to honor God through song and thanksgiving. It reflects the psalmist's decision to turn to God in worship and gratitude, even during the difficulties and challenges of life. It illustrates that such expressions are more pleasing to God than traditional sacrifices of an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.

Let the oppressed see us singing, giving thanks, and being glad to have God present is what David was proclaiming. If we seek God, our hearts will be revived. The Lord hears our praises and is glorified. As we humbly go to God with our thanks, even if it is small gestures, God rejoices with that action more than an artificial, pompous ritual. The humble shall look to him and be glad; those that seek him through prayer and thanksgiving will be in a better mindset.

The themes of God's mercy, rescue from death, judgment on arrogance, and pleas for forgiveness are key to this psalm written by David. David praises the Lord because God has lifted him up from distress. God didn't allow David to fall to his enemies. Let us be lifted up from our distress by being grateful to God.

Personal Worship Option:

Dear God, You have blessed each of us so much and we often do not take the time to acknowledge those blessings. Help us to sing and shout with joy the good news of your love and the forgiveness that you give us. Teach us to be more grateful and less whiny when things may seem to be a struggle. We want to give your love to others. Amen.

Daily Devotion for November 20, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

I’m a firm believer in taking scripture into context. To that end, I would encourage you to read the entirety of 1 Thessalonians 5 at the least and all of 1 Thessalonians at most in order to get a full understanding of this passage. This passage invites us to “rejoice always, pray continually, (and) give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18a, NIV).” In other words, this passage encourages us to be thankful in all things, pray for God’s guidance and encouragement to live as God calls us to live, offering love (and not judgment) to all the folks that we encounter. As we seek to do this, God will bless us to go forth in God’s name and be a blessing to others as we are blessed by our faithfulness to God’s calling. This calling is not simple, and it is not something that we can do on our own. It requires us to lean on God continually so that we may have the strength and courage to live into God’s calling all our life. While it may not be easy for us, God is always alongside us as we seek to live into God’s will for us and our community.

Personal Worship Option:

Take some time to contemplate how God has been at work in your life and give thanks for those times. As you take time to pray, ask God to guide and direct you to follow God’s will in all things.

Daily Devotion for November 19, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read Philippians 4:6.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Phil 4:6 (NIV)

This verse tells us to not be anxious about anything. That often seems like a pretty difficult teaching. You might see lots of bad things going on in the world; or feel that you’re under too much stress at work or school. Even in the middle of all of these things, God tells us to not be anxious.

How is that possible? How can you go through life without being anxious? The rest of this verse tells us how to do it. We are to do two things:

1. Pray
2. Be Thankful

When we choose to be thankful, it changes our perspective on the situation. Instead of being stressed out about how demanding your job is, you can be thankful that you have a job. Instead of stressing about whether you’re going to meet the right person to marry, you can be thankful that you’re single and get to spend more of your free time getting to know God. In many cases, being thankful can turn your anxiety around. It’s hard to be anxious when you’re thankful.

Today choose to put aside your anxiety and choose to practice being thankful. You’ll find that as you become thankful, it’s hard to be anxious.

Personal Worship Option:

It’s hard to be anxious when you’re thankful. Develop a habit of giving thanks.

Daily Devotion for November 18, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read 1 Chronicles 16:31-34.

These are words of praise, celebration, and worship to Almighty God. The Ark of the Covenant, a strong symbol of Israel’s special relationship with God, had traveled with Moses and the Israelites into the Promised Land. It had been captured by their enemy, the Philistines, had finally been recovered from them, and had then been carried about from place to place. Finally, King David had it brought up to Jerusalem and set in a special tent he had prepared for it. Our passage today celebrates how all creation…the heavens, earth, sea, creatures, fields, and trees celebrate on that special day. Why? Because God “is good and his love endures forever.”

Thousands of years later, we can celebrate that same wonderful truth that God is good, and that God’s love endures forever. When we come together to worship each Sunday, we worship that same God of love. When we teach a child in Sunday School or help to build a Habitat House or give our offerings so the church can help people we may never meet, we do so because God’s enduring love is being shown through us. In all of this, we give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, and his love endures forever!

Personal Worship Option:

Reflect today on all the good things you have because God loves you. Celebrate and give thanks that God’s love is for all people, including you, and it endures forever and ever.

Daily Devotion for November 17, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read 1 Corinthians 13:8-13.

Today in worship we will be finishing up this sermon series on “Cleaning Up Life’s Messes.” In this portion of Paul’s letter to the Christians in Corinth, he was addressing a messy situation. They had allowed the gifts the Holy Spirit had given them to cause tension and division among them, because some felt their gift was more important than others. Apparently, gifts related to prophesying, speaking in tongues (a “Spirit language”) and having Biblical knowledge were some of the major areas that had “caused the mess.” He opened this section with a statement about each of those, then came back to them here, emphasizing that each of them has their limits. (I particularly take note that he mentions our “partial” knowledge twice in these few verses. In other words, none of us have all the truth.) 

In the middle of addressing all of this is his focus on love. It is the most vital gift God offers to all of us. It is the gift which holds us together as the Body of Christ. It is what allows us to stay connected in the midst of our differences. He closes with three powerful “life forces”: faith, hope and love. And even among those three, love is still at the top. May it be that each and every one of us continue to grow in this love of Christ so that we can more fully be the people of Christ.

Personal Worship Option:

Pray this prayer or one in your own words: Lord of life and love, thank you so much for the love you have shown to me and everybody else. Please continue to challenge and guide me to grow in your love, so that I may live it toward everyone I meet. Through Christ, Amen.

Daily Devotion for November 16, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read 1 Corinthians 16:13-14.

As the Apostle Paul nears the end of his first letter to the Christians in Corinth, he offers these short phrases of advice for being the people of Christ. Each one of them can be the source of additional writing and discussion. Verse 14 is the one on which we are focused this week, as we finish up our look at the thirteenth chapter, where he goes into detail on the foundational subject of love.

“Do everything in love.” That in itself is a great motto to live by for a Christian. I can see it on a T-shirt, cap, bumper sticker, business card or any number of places to proclaim that message. Can you imagine how different the world would be if just the Christians lived by that motto? Maybe more people would want to be part of the Church if we really did do EVERYTHING with the love that our Lord showed us in both word and action.

Give some thought to everything you have done over the past 24-48 hours. Was there anything you did not do in love? How would it have changed what you did if you had done it in love?

Personal Worship Option:

Think about the plans you have for today. How might you be intentional to do everything in love?

Daily Devotion for November 15, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read John 13:34-35.

In the midst of a lot of teaching Jesus shared with his disciples on the night before he was crucified, these statements offer the foundational description of the people of Christ. Jesus says that our Christ-like love will show we are his disciples. Do they know you are a Jesus’ follower by your love for others?

Love is more than simply warm feelings. It is an attitude that reveals itself in action. How can we love others as Jesus loves us? By helping when it’s not convenient, by giving when it hurts, by devoting energy to others welfare rather than our own, by absorbing hurts from others without complaining or fighting back. This kind of loving is hard to do. That is why people notice when you do it and know you are empowered by a supernatural source.

Personal Worship Option:

Take a personal inventory of your life. Are there people you don’t want to be around? Are there people you wouldn’t help? Reflect on the idea of servanthood and Jesus’ command to love. Ask God to put a particular person in your path over the next few weeks.

Daily Devotion for November 14, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read 1 John 4:16-21.

The Bible says that love is of God and God is love ((1 John 4:7-8). Everything God does is influenced by his love. The love that we can give is positive action that impresses the world and makes our gospel attractive to the people searching. That’s why John says a genuine Christian is one who loves. He speaks of it so strongly in this scripture.

Love should be given freely and not depend on emotions. It is a love that is based on a decision to love the unlovable. Anyone can love someone who is lovable, beautiful, and friendly. But it is the strength of God that helps us to love those who hate us, mistreat us, ignore us, and attack us.

That’s the kind of love God calls us to, the kind of love 1 John teaches. It’s the same kind of love Jesus demonstrated when He reached out to the lepers, the prostitutes, the tax collectors, and the poor. This is why John wrote “We love because he first loved us” and also has given us this command: “Whoever loves God must also love his brother and sister”. As God’s love shines on us, we will become more loving to others. As the power of Jesus changes us we will grow in love toward all of our Christian brothers and sisters.

Personal Worship Option:

Dear God, help us to give love to others unconditionally. Help us to forgive, give grace, and exude kindness to all that we encounter. Amen.

Daily Devotion for November 13, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read Romans 13:8-10.

If we are trying to live the Christian life and we fill it with Christian things—Christian books, conferences, music, movies—there may be something missing. If we leave no room in our life to be inconvenienced by service to others, we are missing a vital part of Christlike living. What we do, how we live, and how we treat others comes down to a matter of love. Paul notes this in our passage today, describing it as a permanent debt we owe—a debt owed every day.

Love involves more than an action shown to another person. Love consists of an underlying attitude and mindset that motivates our actions toward others. It’s not an attitude reserved only for fellow believers; it’s also for everyone who is not part of the community of believers. It is an ongoing theme that Paul continues to talk about in many of his ­letters.

Pursue love today. Let it guide the way you think. Let it be evident in your patience and kindness. Let it lead you toward forgiveness, truthfulness, and endurance. In everything you think about today, and everything you say and do today, let love be the motivation. Filled with God’s love, we can’t help overflowing with love and care for others.

Personal Worship Option:

Father, help us to love others because we are filled with your love. Enable us to give this gift regardless of how we have been treated; may we follow Jesus’ example in all we do. In his name, Amen.

Daily Devotion for November 12, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 5:43-48.

When Jesus delivers the sermon on the mount, it doesn’t take him long to get to meddling. “What do you mean, Jesus? We’re supposed to love the folks who hate us? How are we supposed to do that? You’re kidding, right?” But Jesus wasn’t kidding. This teaching is at the very core of Jesus’ message to us. It is the heart of God’s message of love for all persons regardless of how they may feel about God. By extension, as followers of Jesus, it is at the very heart of who we are called to be.

It is not an easy task, for sure. As I write this devotion, we are in the midst of the most divisive political contest that I have ever seen in my lifetime. Attempts have been made to divide us into political camps where everyone who believes differently is considered an enemy. As you are reading this devotion, we have just celebrated Veterans Day, a day to remember and honor the military service of all men and women who have served in the armed forces. When we honor their service we remember the wars they have fought and the enemies they have faced. Yet, in reality, we are all God’s children, we are all God’s creation equally loved by the creator, and by extension, to be equally loved by us. The only way that we can do this is by prayerfully seeking strength from God so that we can live into God’s expectation for us to love all people regardless of whether they love us in return. When we do this, we will find healing deep within us as we become whole in Christ.

Personal Worship Option:

Pray, “Gracious God, I realize that loving all persons, even our enemies, is at the heart of Jesus’ teaching. I also realize that it is not always in our nature to do so. I need your help to love others in the same way that you love me. Open my eyes to what we hold in common and lead me in the path that leads to healing and wholeness with you. Amen.”