Daily Devotion, November 14, 2019

Devotion:

Read Luke 24:28-31.

Emmaus is about seven miles from Jerusalem. This means these two men, now three with Jesus, have likely been walking and talking for a couple of hours. By the time they get to their home, it’s evening, and so Cleopas and his companion urge Jesus to stay with them because it’s not safe to be on the roads at night. They still don’t recognize Jesus, but they are grateful for his insight and companionship. They had enjoyed his explanation of some of the scriptures which revealed light to them of the bigger God story. Jesus stays with them.

And then comes the familiar part that we know. As they sat at the table, Luke writes, Jesus “took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.” Do you remember where you heard these words before? They are nearly identical to Luke’s description of the Last Supper and are the words that now comprise a part of our celebration of communion. And all of a sudden, as Jesus again presides over the breaking of bread with them, the eyes of Cleopas and his companion are opened, they recognize Jesus, and then he vanishes. These two men needed to see God's plan of redemption. Before we are Christians, the events surrounding Jesus' life are mere historical facts with no real implication or impact. But when we became Christians, these things take a different meaning and light, and become meaningful.

Personal Worship Option:

This Sunday as we celebrate Holy Communion in our worship services, reflect on the disciples seeing Jesus alive after the resurrection and how we remember Jesus’ sacrifice for us as we partake in the Lord’s Supper.

Daily Devotion, November 13, 2019

Devotion:

Read Psalm 23:5a.

In his book, A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23, Phillip Keller writes, “In thinking about this statement it is well to bear in mind that the sheep are approaching the high mountain country of the summer ranges. These are known as alplands or tablelands so much sought after by shepherds.”  Keller continues describing all the preparations a good shepherd would do to prepare the tablelands for the sheep to safely graze.

The preparations include making a survey trip before springtime and a second trip to take salt and minerals to distribute over the range at strategic spots for the sheep. The good shepherd will also find the best places for the camps to be and will locate all the vegetation which will nourish the sheep.

The good shepherd will also find any poisonous plants and eradicate them. This is a tedious task, but necessary for the health of the sheep. Keller writes that another task the attentive shepherd takes on is to keep an eye out for predators such as wolves, coyotes, cougars and bears. Only the alertness of the shepherd who tends the flock in full view of possible enemies can prevent them from the predators.

From the sheep’s perspective, they have the full assurance that the shepherd has gone before them, and remains with them. Therefore, they can eat and sleep in perfect peace.

The Psalmist, David, was a shepherd prior to being King. David knows the extent to which a good shepherd would take care of the sheep. David’s psalm speaks confidently of God’s care for him as only a Good Shepherd would. Psalm 100 adds that people are the sheep of God’s pasture. We can be confident of God’s care for us as well.

Jesus describes Himself as “the Good Shepherd who will lay down His life for his sheep.” Phillip Keller asks, “When I come to the Lord’s Table and partake of the communion service which is a feast of thanksgiving for His love and care, do I fully appreciate what it has cost Him to prepare this table for me?”

Personal Worship Option:

Jesus also calls us to “higher ground” when He asks us to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). For the people of the Middle East, to share a meal is to no longer be enemies. As we experience forgiveness at our Lord’s meal, so we are invited to offer forgiveness to others, even our enemies. Who is God leading us to forgive today?

Daily Devotion, November 12, 2019

Devotion:

Read Luke 22:14-20.

At the Last Supper Jesus shared a meal with his disciples and then led them in the ancient observance of the Passover. The Passover meal celebrated God’s deliverance of the Israelites out of Egypt. Jesus gave his disciples bread as a symbol of his body and wine as a symbol of his blood. These became symbols of his new covenant. This evening Jesus built on the old covenant and the Old Testament by inaugurating the new covenant and the New Testament. He went from Passover – the last legitimate Passover – to the Lord’s table, the first new memorial feast.

He charged his disciples to “do this in remembrance of me,” meaning Jesus’ followers were to partake of bread and wine and remember him. Jesus’ Last Supper is the foundation for the Christian tradition of taking communion. Just as the disciples sat and fellowshipped with him, Jesus invites us to fellowship with him and remember the great sacrifice he made. His body was broken and his blood poured out for our healing and wholeness. We want to remember and celebrate!

Personal Worship Option:

Spend time now thanking God for his sacrifice on the cross and praising him for the resurrection. Confess any sin you have, ask him for forgiveness, and spend time worshipping him.

Daily Devotion, November 11, 2019

Devotion:

Read Exodus 12:14-17.

Exodus 11 tells about the final plague upon the Egyptians -- the death of the firstborn in all the land. Chapter 12 gives instructions to the Israelites to ensure they are protected from this horrible plague. They are to slaughter lambs and place some of the blood on their door frames. The death angel will see that they are Israelites and will “pass over” their homes and spare them. Special instructions are given for preparing and eating the evening meal of roasted lamb, and this meal begins a week in which no yeast will be used, meaning the Children of Israel were to eat unleavened bread. This event was transformative for Israel; and they would celebrate it, as instructed, from that time on. More than any other event to that time, this demonstrates God’s love and care for them as grace.

From this beginning and background of the Passover meal and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Jesus chose to change forever the symbolism of the meal. He would replace the lamb as the perfect sacrifice, and no other sacrifice would ever need to be made. And the elements of bread and wine from his last Passover meal with his apostles would forever carry with them the spiritual presence of his body and blood as we celebrate Holy Communion.

Personal Worship Option:

Simply give thanks today that God loves you and was willing to sacrifice God’s Son in order to demonstrate that great love. Accept God’s love as grace, which is unearned and unmerited by anyone. We will celebrate Holy Communion in all our worship services this Sunday. Come and celebrate this means of grace for all!

Daily Devotion, November 10, 2019

Devotion:

Read 1 John 4:9-12.

  This passage connects very effectively with what we read yesterday from Psalm 103. Since the love of God causes God to not treat us as our sins warrant us to be treated, we who are the representatives of this God are called to let this love more and more grow in us so that we do not treat others as their sins deserve.

  So this writer of the letters of John is encouraging that very thing: “let us love one another, for love comes from God.” This God overcame our sin by sending his Son into the world to save us and allow us to “live through him.” In other words, God sacrificed a part of God’s self to overcome the many ways that we hurt and go against God. Why? Because of a love that is just that deep and high and wide.

  Is it hard to love in this way? Definitely. When people do and say things that hurt you, sometimes very deeply, it is hard to forgive them. It is hard to love them. That’s why we need divine help. We cannot do this on our own.

  In the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray, he included a request to “forgive us….as we forgive (others).” Would we dare pray “love us as we love others”? Maybe that one needs to be “help us love others as you love us.”

Personal Worship Option:

Offer a prayer that expresses your desire to grow in God’s love in your relationships with other people. You might even want to name one or two of those “other people.” 

Daily Devotion, November 9, 2019

Devotion:

Read Psalm 103:6-10.

  Many years ago, this became my favorite Psalm, especially the first fourteen verses. I call it a “gospel Psalm” because it has good news in it. In earlier verses, we are reminded of some of the “benefits” of being in covenant with this God: One who “forgives all your sins” and “redeems your life” and “crowns you with love and compassion…” Verse ten is the height of this good news: “...he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.”

 

  That is certainly not to say that the Lord has not had reasons to be angry with us. Our condition of sin and the sins we commit as a symptom of that condition cause much grief and anger for God. This love that God has for us is given while mindful of many challenges we present to God in the relationship. Forgiveness becomes necessary because we all do and say things, and fail to do and say things, by which we hurt ourselves and other people, as well as God.

  But that is what this love of God is all about. It overcomes challenges. God refuses to “treat us as our sins deserve.” You are invited to receive that good news, then celebrate and give thanks for it. And just as importantly, you are invited to let this love of God more and more live in you, so that you do not treat others as their sins deserve.

Personal Worship Option:

Offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God for his love that overcomes your sin.

Daily Devotion, November 8, 2019

Devotion:

Read John 3:16-17.

God loved, and still loves, a world that did not love him back. However that didn’t deter God’s act of love. God’s love reaches out and draws others to himself. This is a true pattern of love-the basis of all love relationships. When you love someone dearly you are willing to give freely and sacrificially. God paid the highest price for a relationship with us regardless of our response. God loves no matter what!

How do we love? Do we love regardless of response? Do we love freely and sacrificially? Who can you surprise with a demonstrate of love today?

Personal Worship Option:

Prayer for today: Dear Father, I thank you that there are no limits to your love. Help me to focus the eyes of my heart on you today and see opportunities to share your love with others. Amen.