Daily Devotion for August 31, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Daniel 4:24-25, 30-37 .

Babylon was a huge country when Nebuchadnezzar ruled.  It stretches from India to Egypt. We can see his arrogance in Daniel 4:30 "The king reflected and said, 'Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?' He celebrating his power and his majesty thinking he is a god. What he did not realize is that the God of the Hebrews was Jehovah Elyon, the Most High God. He was about to find out. Nebuchadnezzar found himself crawling around in the field and eating grass like an animal. His hair and nails grew out like bird feathers and claws. When God’s judgment on Nebuchadnezzar was over, he changed his tune and said, blessed the Most High and praised Him who lives forever…Daniel 4:34. He learned his lesson the hard way.  We can put our faith and trust in Jehovah Elyon, The Most High God.

Personal Worship Option:

Jehovah Elyon (eh-lee-ohn) Most High God, I acknowledge your glory and power.  Thank you that you are all powerful and I praise your holy name. I trust you to meet my needs, bless my family and use me for your glory. Amen.

Daily Devotion for August 30, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 10:2-4.

Jesus put together an unlikely group to be His Apostles. He chose some fishermen, and a few disciples we are not sure what they did for a living. He chose Matthew/Levi who was a tax collector which most people despised. They were seen as traitors and thieves. Jesus chose Simon the Zealot who was a radical who hated Rome and anyone who had anything to do with Rome. The zealots were extremist and tended to hold violent protests. He also called Judas who would betray Him to be part of His inner circle. 

 

Jesus chose a diverse group that you would think would be a recipe for failure, but Jesus made it work. The dynamics of the relationship between Matthew and Simon the Zealot had to be interesting. I am sure Simon hated Matthew at first and saw him as a traitor to his country. I am sure Matthew felt uneasy around Simon but Jesus used all of them. God often chooses the unlikely to impact the world. If God can use this crew, God can use anyone. 

Personal Worship Option:

John Wesley’s Covenant Prayer: I am no longer my own, but yours. Put me to what you will, place me with whom you will. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be put to work for you or set aside for you, Praised for you or criticized for you. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and fully surrender all things To your glory and service. And now, O wonderful and holy God, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, You are mine, and I am yours. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth. Let it also be made in heaven. Amen.

Daily Devotion for August 29, 2025

 

Devotion:

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Read Luke 6:35.

The Most High God expects us to love everyone including our enemies. Jesus said that his followers should be different from the world, following His example of right living. So how does that look in your world? Do you love your parents, brothers, sisters, spouse, children, best friend? It is easy to love these people because they love us too.

However, are there people in your life who are mean to you? Has anyone ever said something about you that was not true? Has anyone ever betrayed you or taken advantage of you?  Should we really be expected to love people who treat us in this way? Jesus said that when we love our enemies we are acting like children of God.  If we only love those who love us, well everybody does that!  

It isn’t easy to love your enemies but there are some good reasons for doing it.  First it demonstrates the love of God to others. It sets a good example for others to follow. And most importantly it may turn an enemy into a friend that enters into their own relationship with God.

Personal Worship Option:

 Look for ways to show kindness to those who are unkind to you today.

Daily Devotion for August 28, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Psalm 91:9.

This verse is a gentle yet powerful reminder that security isn’t found in circumstances, but in relationships. To make God our dwelling place means more than a fleeting prayer or an occasional Sunday visit to church.  It is choosing to live in His presence daily, to anchor our hearts in His promises, and to trust Him as our constant refuge.

When chaos swirls around us, when fear knocks at the door, this verse invites us to remain, not retreat or run away. God doesn’t promise a life free of trouble, but He does promise that those who dwell in Him will never face it alone. His presence becomes our shelter, His faithfulness our shield.

The question each of us must address is, what is our dwelling place or our safety net? If it is our money or work, that will crumble and slip away. The one place of safety in the universe is with the Most High. Our risen savior has promised he will never leave us and that we will have eternal life. That should be a comfort to our soul.

Personal Worship Option:

Dear God, we praise you for the security and peace we have in you, regardless of what we are experiencing in life. Amen

Daily Devotion for August 27, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Psalms 91:1-2.

Psalm 91 is part of a group of Psalms that remind us of God’s eternity, God’s sovereignty, and God’s watchfulness over our lives. They also remind us of how God cares personally about us. The first verse says, “You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,” followed by the response “I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2 NRSV).  This beginning dialogue sets the tone for how God wants to relate with us. God’s care and concern are mutual with us. The writer of this Psalm, King David, is writing out of his own personal experience of a long and eventful life with God.  David has had a life of great promise, great tragedy and great disappointment. But through it all he has learned that God watched over him, even in David’s darkest moments. 

Psalm 91 is a reminder that God will watch over us as well.

Personal Worship Option:

Andre Crouch wrote a great hymn in 1971 called “Through It All.”  (UMH 507) Let its words be our prayer, “Through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, I’ve learned to trust in God; Through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to depend upon God’s word.”  

Daily Devotion for August 26, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Deuteronomy 32:8.

From the very beginning, God has been the One who gives, appoints, and determines our portion in life. When Moses sang this song to Israel, he reminded them that their place in the world—land, blessings, and calling—wasn’t an accident. It was the deliberate gift of the Most High God.

This verse paints a picture of a God who holds the map of the nations in His hand, placing each one exactly where He wills. The borders, resources, and opportunities each nation enjoys are not the result of human strength or chance—they are assigned by God Himself.

The same truth applies to our personal lives. Everything we have—our breath, our health, our relationships, our talents, and even the opportunities before us—comes directly from the Most High. We may work, plan, and strive, but at the root of it all, we are recipients, not self-made owners.

When we remember that all we have is given, it transforms our hearts. Gratitude replaces pride. Generosity replaces greed. Trust replaces anxiety. If the God who set the boundaries of the earth has given us our portion, then we can rest in His wisdom and provision.

  

Personal Worship Option:

Lord Most High, thank You for every gift in my life. Remind me daily that everything I have comes from You. Teach me to live with gratitude, humility, and open hands, trusting that You have given me exactly what I need for the life You’ve called me to live. Amen.

Daily Devotion for August 25, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Psalm 7:17.

Our devotional passages of Scripture this week will focus on references to God using a Hebrew name that we translate into English as “Most High God.” In today’s passage, the psalmist instructs us to give thanks and sing praises to the Most High God. My first reaction was “Of course, easy, I do that.” Then I thought a bit more about this and realized there are so many things which I take for granted and do not really give thanks to the Most High God for them. We recently did Vacation Bible School at the Bethlehem Center. When we asked the younger children what they thank God for, we got answers like French fries, my grandma, the stars, and new shoes. 

In the lead-up to some recent eye surgery, I had to do some things that hampered my vision even more, and I struggled with basic things like reading, driving, and even doing my hobby. Following the surgery, I am seeing things I never saw before, and I am thanking God every day for the gift of eyesight. This verse today reminds me to be like a child and thank the Most High God for so many things which I have taken for granted.   

Personal Worship Option:

Pray with me: I bow today, Most High God, to give you thanks for so many things in my life. Thank you for knowing my needs even before I ask. Forgive me for not noticing how you bless me day after day. When I do notice your blessings, I feel your love. Amen. 

Daily Devotion for August 24, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 28:16-20.

The apostles had seen Jesus teach with great authority. They were there when he fed the hungry and healed the sick. Jesus had even sent them out by two’s to do the same preaching, teaching, and miracles that he had done. Now, in the final moments before he ascended into heaven, he said the words recorded in today’s passage. For them, the apostles, this was a huge tipping point…they were going to change from being listeners and observers to being doers. They were to go, make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to obey what Jesus had taught. Did I say “they?” Perhaps instead I should have said, “we.”

Instead of just eleven apostles standing before Christ receiving this commission, I see us…Pastor Jeff, myself, Becky, Christina, Ashley, Andy, Greg, Lisa, Oscar…YOU. In other words, I see this as Christ’s instructions to Christ United Methodist Church, calling us to step out, step up, and to be part of a huge tipping point for the Kingdom through our lives and through this church.

Personal Worship Option:

Pray today about what stepping up and stepping out might mean for you. Ask God to lead you to that next tipping point in your life and in the life of the church. And pray for the faith to go where God leads you and your church.

Daily Devotion for August 23, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Acts 9:1-6 and 18-20.

We know that Saul was a Jew and a Pharisee who viewed the Christian faith following the death of Christ as a threat to his religion. Like many of the Jewish religious leaders, Saul thought that Jesus of Nazareth was a false messiah, and he was determined to stamp out the Way. We can only wonder if he was surprised to see those early Christians maintain their faith even as he threw them into jail. He must have been shocked to stand, watching Stephen being stoned, and to hear him ask God to forgive those who were brutally killing him.

When Jesus called out to Saul on the road to Damascus, Saul called him “Lord,” showing that he realized God was speaking directly to him. That dramatic encounter, followed by three days of total blindness, gave Saul time to think and pray. It was a huge tipping point, the greatest in his life. Upon recovering his sight, Saul was baptized into the faith. The hater and persecutor of the early church became its greatest evangelist, taking the Good News far across the Roman Empire to other Jews but primarily to Gentiles.   

Personal Worship Option:

Gracious God, most of us will never experience anything comparable to Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. But you are just as real to us as you were to Saul. Help us to celebrate your gift to us of eternal life through our faith and your grace. Amen 

Daily Devotion for August 22, 2025

 Devotion:

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Read Matthew 4:18-22.

For these four fishermen, Jesus presented a huge tipping point to them, and their lives were changed forever. They were doing what they were skilled and trained to do, fish. But when Jesus invited them to follow him they had to let go of what they knew and embrace the unknown.  

It is important to recognize that we encounter decisions in our lives that often require us to make sacrifices to gain greater things. In fact, Jesus calls us to do this. He invites us to be His followers and sometimes that means we leave other aspects of life behind, but it is worth it! When Jesus first called His disciples, He invited them to work and learn with Him. In order to do this, they had to leave their jobs, which they did immediately. They didn’t wait until it was a convenient time or sit looking at pros and cons. They left their boats and fishing nets and followed Jesus. They were willing to leave behind what they knew to pursue something greater. We have the same call in our lives. The decisions and choices we face may be similar to the disciples. Will we follow Jesus’ call or hold tightly to the things we have in our hands?

Personal Worship Option:

Prayer for the day: “My LORD and Savior, thank you for inviting me into the journey with you.  It is my joy to follow you and to listen for your voice.  You are the great and mighty King, and I choose you.  In Jesus name, Amen.”

Daily Devotion for August 21, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 4:1-11.

In our reading for today Jesus meets the devil in the desert.  The devil is tempting Jesus with power, easy living, and fame. However, Jesus takes the hard high road. Would we do the same? Our culture pushes us to think that we deserve all the luxuries of life. Why is Jesus tempted? By being tempted, Jesus shows that he is human like us.  By overcoming temptation, he shows his ability to carry out his Father's will. Jesus answered all the devil's questions with the words of Scripture, which is the only way to follow God.

Through his perfect obedience, Jesus will rescue us from the devil. Jesus' ­rejection of the devil's temptations also provides us the perfect model for enduring temptation. Jesus used words of Scripture to stand firm against the devil. We too must let God's holy Word guide us so that when we are tempted, the echo of his voice will guide our hearts, our desires, and our actions. When we face temptation today, let’s listen for God's voice and turn to Jesus, because he is able to help all who are tempted.

Personal Worship Option:

Dear God, help us to hear your voice and to trust you in resisting the temptations we face today and every day. Amen.

Daily Devotion for August 20, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Judges 6:36 – 7:8a.

 Most of us don’t take things at face value. We need proof, or some sort of verification. As President Reagan famously said in the 1980s about an arms control treaty, “Trust but verify.” Anyone who’s ever been on a construction worksite or a Habitat building project has heard or said, “Measure twice, cut once.” Doublechecking our work and our agreements is a good habit to have. But it is also true that the life of faith also requires some trust and some vulnerability. Gideon struggled to find that balance. He trusted in God, but also just wanted to be sure (Judges 6:36) that God meant what God said. It was a unique test , involving a wool fleece, but it was one that God easily passed. And then Gideon asks God to pass the test one more time! The scripture records that after those tests Gideon believed God was with him and his army. Gideon’s story is a reminder for us as we struggle with our own conflicts and worries. We don’t have to test God - or pull out a wool fleece. God is there for us at all times.

Personal Worship Option:

One of my favorite hymns is “Trust and Obey” (UMH 467). It opens with the wonderful line, “When we walk with the Lord, in the light of his word, what a glory he sheds on our way.” May we do the same. 

Daily Devotion for August 19, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Exodus 4:12-18.

When God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses didn’t feel ready. He doubted his ability, questioned his worth, and offered excuses. In Exodus 4:12–18, we see the tension between God’s call and Moses’ fear. Even after God promises, “I will help you speak and will teach you what to say,” Moses still pleads, “Please send someone else.”

How often are we like Moses? God places a calling or an opportunity before us—whether to speak up, serve, or lead—and instead of trusting Him, we fixate on our weaknesses. We assume that God’s work depends on our ability, forgetting that it’s really about our availability.

Yet, God doesn’t abandon Moses in his fear. Even though Moses resists, God responds with patience. He provides Aaron as a helper and reassures Moses that His presence will go with them both. God’s grace meets Moses in his insecurity.

The message for us is clear: God equips those He calls. He doesn’t require perfection—He wants obedience. When we hesitate, God offers His strength. When we doubt, He provides support. And when we falter, He remains faithful.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord, forgive me for the times I let fear silence my faith. Help me to trust Your voice and walk in obedience, even when I feel unqualified. Thank You for Your patience and for surrounding me with people who walk with me in faith. Teach me to rely on Your strength, not my own. Amen.

Daily Devotion for August 18, 2025

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Read Genesis 32:22-32.

Jacob, aka “The Heal Grabber” the great deceiver, is humbled in his struggle with God. Alone with God he comes to the realization of who he is and how he has lived his life. His determination to hang on to God until he blessed him changed his life. Let us not give up on ourselves and on God when we are praying for God’s help. It often takes time for prayers to be answered, and blessings to be received. This moment with God changed Jacob and it changed history. God changed his name to Israel which means favored by God. He is no longer the heal grabbing deceiver, he is now one who is favored by God. There is a nation called Israel today because Jacob held on to God until God blessed him. Let us hang on to God. Let us pray and trust God for His blessings.

Personal Worship Option:

Almighty God, thank you for blessing Jacob and thank you for blessing me. I pray you continue to poor out your blessings in my life as I hang on to you by faith and trust you to meet all my needs. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.