Daily Devotion, September 14, 2019

Devotion:

Read Ephesians 4:7-13.

Paul’s letters often describe the gifts we are given to serve through the church, and his Letter to the Ephesians has some of the most important teachings about the gifts. Here Paul tells us that Christ himself gave the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to the church. It is interesting that the first three of these were travelers who were sent out, often to other places and cultures to introduce the Good News of Jesus Christ to unbelievers. Pastors and teachers, on the other hand, generally served in the local church. While they certainly received and baptized new believers, their primary role was to equip the believers and then to send them out. This describes a beautiful and repeating cycle of evangelism, nurture, equipping, and sending.

The mission statement of Christ Church is to make disciples for Jesus Christ and equip them for ministry. Equipping for ministry includes helping believers learn to study and understand Scripture; identify their gifts; put their gifts to work serving in the church and in the community; and to worship together, praising God and being renewed and energized. As we grow to maturity in faith, the church grows in love and service and reaches more new people for Christ.

Personal Worship Option:

Give thanks today for Christ Church and for its ministries both inside the church and out in the community. Reflect on your gifts and the ways you serve through the church. Reflect on how your ministries serve and fit into the church’s mission statement. Plan now to come to worship tomorrow or next Thursday night to Connect.

Daily Devotion, September 13, 2019

Devotion:

Read 1 Timothy 4:11-16.

Our gifts are likely not the same ones given to young Timothy. But like Timothy, we are to grow by using our gifts to increase our own faith and that of others. Our gifts, talents, and skills are unique to each individual. No one in all of history is exactly like you. God has designed each person with their own blend of personality, ability, ancestry, and skills.

You can do something no one else can do in a way that no one else can. Many people stop short of their destiny. They settle for someone else’ story: they try to fit in, settle in, or blend in. Don’t make that mistake.

Your existence is not accidental. God has designed you with a purpose to be used for His kingdom. Explore, discover and then employ your God-given gifts, talents, and skills. People are waiting for YOU.

Personal Worship Option:

Dear Father, thank you for creating me like no one else.  Help me to write my story carefully and become the person you designed me to be.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Daily Devotion, September 12, 2019

Devotion:

Read Luke 17:1-5.

In this scripture Jesus taught about the obligations His disciples had toward other people and God. From this scripture I think there are three main points:

1.  It is a serious matter to be the cause of other people’s sin and failure. Followers of Jesus are not to cause people to sin. In this life sin cannot be eradicated; such things are bound to come. But a disciple would be better off drowning than to bring spiritual harm to people who are like children and who are helpless.

2.  We should always be ready to forgive someone else who repents. Not only are Jesus’ followers not to cause others to sin, they also are to counteract sin by forgiving others. One should hold others accountable if they sin, but if they repent, they should be forgiven even if they sin and repent over and over. The words seven times in a day denotes an unlimited number of times.

3.  Even a little faith is sufficient to draw on God’s power. The Disciples asked Jesus for faith. They desired a big bowl of spiritually fortified faith that would make their work super easy. We have to work on growing our faith by praying, reading the scriptures, and learning all of our lives. This makes our faith strong.

Personal Worship Option:

God help us to grow in our faith, trust, and understanding. Guide us through the scriptures so that we can use Jesus as our example to live a life of love, faith, and forgiveness.

Daily Devotion, September 11, 2019

Devotion:

Read Hebrews 5:11 - 6:3.

The Hebrews writer is clearly frustrated that the first audience has become stuck in the most elementary teachings.  The writer uses a great analogy comparing growth in faith to a diet of infant’s milk versus a diet of solid food. Let’s pause at the conclusion of Hebrews 5 and ask ourselves the question----what is our faith diet like? Have we progressed to solid food in our faith journey?

The writer declares, “By this time, you ought to be teachers!” In other words, your faith should have moved to an “others-centeredness”. Let’s also pause with this question---are we growing in faith for the sake of ourselves or for the sake of others? 

In Hebrews 6, the phrase “not laying again the foundation” caught my attention. I imagined a home-building contractor calling for an additional foundation to be built. I imagined the faces of all the builders hearing this request! How unnecessary this would be when there is so much work to be done to build the rest of the house!

I am continually thankful for faithful Christians who have truly grown in their faith. They let God lead them to teach, pray, write, begin new ministries and live lives reaching out to others.

They heard the Hebrews writer’s call. The Message translation says it this way, “But there’s so much more. Let’s get on with it!”

Personal Worship Option:

Yes, there is so much more to life in Christ than just the wonderful and amazing first steps of faith. Let us remain faithful and continue on the journey with Christ throughout our lifetimes. Let’s let Christ move us beyond ourselves and beyond our “comfort zones” to experience all that God has in store for us every step along the way. Let’s say “Yes!” to learn, grow and mature in our faith!

Daily Devotion, September 10, 2019

Devotion:

Read Psalm 92:12-14.

I visited the Cedars of Lebanon State Park in Wilson County, Tennessee, a few years ago, and marveled at the beautiful cedar trees. The trees reminded the early American settlers of the Biblical cedar forest found in what is now the Mediterranean. The giant trees could grow 120 feet tall and 30 feet around. David used the cedars of Lebanon in building his palace, and Solomon used them in constructing the temple. Cedar wood was especially desirable for its aromatic qualities as well as its resistance to decay. Cedars were strong and would flourish for a long time. David makes reference to this tree in this Psalm. He says the righteous will grow like cedars, will flourish, will bear fruit in old age, and will stay fresh and green. How will this happen? Followers of Christ will remain righteous by continuing to live closely connected to the one who planted us, the one who gave us life. The word “righteous” means “right living.” We want to practice each day “right living” by reading, studying, and obeying his Word. We practice “right living” by choosing to let God guide our every thought, feeling, word, and action. In doing so, we will bear fruit and become resistant to the decay of the world. We want to flourish like a healthy cedar!

Personal Worship Option:

Practice “right living” today by committing everything you think, feel, say, and do to God. Pray for God to help you to be more mindful of your thoughts, emotions, words, and actions as you continue to grow and learn.

Daily Devotion, September 9, 2019

Devotion:

Read Proverbs 1:1-5.

  Proverbs is a wonderful book of the Bible! It has a lot of what I call “bumper-sticker” or twitter statements. It is full of life lessons - guidance for how to live life at its best. It’s lessons learned from experience. If we are paying attention as we go through life, God guides us through experience on how to live life better; lessons we can then share with others. We can also learn those lessons from the experience of others.

  Two verses in this passage speak to both of those opportunities to learn. Verse two says the lessons in this book are for those who need to gain some basic lessons about life. Verse 5 says that even those who have become wise in the ways of life still have lessons they can learn: “...let the wise listen and add to their learning…” 

  This is not only true for life in general; it is certainly true in our life of faith. If we are willing to listen and pay attention and learn from others, there is wisdom from God to gain until our last days on earth. That’s why it is so important to worship together as often as possible and to study with a small group of other Christians as often as possible. We all have wisdom yet to learn from others and wisdom to give to others. Through it all, we grow as individuals and we grow as the Body of Christ, the Church.

Personal Worship Option:

Another of my favorite old hymns is fitting for this lesson from Proverbs. It was written one year earlier than the one I mentioned yesterday! In 1895 Clara Scott penned this prayer:

Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth thou hast for me; 

place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free.

Open my ears that I may hear voices of truth thou sendest clear;

and while the wave notes fall of my ear, everything false will disappear.

Open my mouth, and let me bear gladly the warm truth everywhere;

open my heart and let me prepare love with thy children thus to share.

Daily Devotion, September 8, 2019

Devotion:

Read Ephesians 3:1-12.

  At one point, Paul had been devoted to keeping the outsiders out. He believed strongly that they did not belong. They didn’t follow all the rules that had been established down through the years for those who were God’s people. Sure, if someone wanted to learn to devote themselves to all those rules, then he was open to letting them in. But only if they were willing to do that. Otherwise, keep them out!

  But then he met Jesus for himself and became a devoted follower, preacher, teacher and evangelizer. He was confident that Christ had called him to share the good news of welcome for everyone. Nobody was to be excluded.

  

  To some degree, Christ has given all of his followers that same calling. Our focus is to help those who do not know Jesus Christ come to know him, believe in him and follow him. We are to search for ways to communicate the good news with different people in all kinds of situations. Verse 12 is one way to summarize the message we are called to help everyone know for themselves: “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” 

Personal Worship Option:

H. Ernest Nichol wrote these words in 1896 for the hymn “We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations.” Adapted to our language, they are still so fitting to our calling as the people of Christ:

We’ve a message to give to the nations, that the Lord who reigns above

has sent us his Son to save us, and show us that God is love.  

What “outsider” do you know who needs to see and hear that message? Pray for wisdom and courage to share it with them.