Daily Devotion, January 14, 2020

Devotion:

Read Exodus 20:1-17.

The Ten Commandments show us the actions that demonstrate our love to God and to others. They include instructions both on what not to do as well as what to do. The first four commandments refer to love we demonstrate toward God. The last four refer to love we demonstrate to others.

Only two of the Ten Commandments clearly tells us what to do: “keep the Sabbath holy” and “honor your father and mother.” However, by telling us what not to do, the other eight imply what we are to do. For example, by telling us not to worship other gods, God means that we are to worship him alone. By not taking his name in vain, we show respect to our Creator. If we truly love our neighbors, we will not murder them, lie to them, commit adultery against them, or covet what is theirs. The Ten Commandments were given as the law and ethical rules for living in ancient Israel. The commandments still apply to us today.

When Jesus was asked which of God’s laws was most important, he answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39). Then he says something else, “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” In other words, obeying the letter of the law is not as important as demonstrating love to God and to others. When we truly love God and our neighbor, we will naturally keep the commandments.

Personal Worship Option:

What are the things you do that show you love God? What are the things you do that show you love others? Concentrate today on demonstrating your love to God and others.

Daily Devotion, January 13, 2020

Devotion:

Read Genesis 2:15-17.

God had created everything the first human being needed. In the Garden of Eden were beautiful trees with fruit that was good to eat. There was life-giving water that flowed from the garden. God gave the man instructions to work the garden and take care of it and permission to eat from any tree in the garden except just one. God commanded the man not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God thus began a pattern of telling us what to do and what we are not to do.

My parents often followed that same practice of telling me what to do and what I should not do. “Go to school and do your best. Do not misbehave, act disrespectfully to your teachers, or break the rules.” As I grew older, I heard them say, “Work hard, do a good job, honestly earn the money you are paid, always arrive on time or early, and stay until the work is done. Do not be late, lazy, or sloppy, and do not ever cut corners.” While I may not have always followed their instructions perfectly, I understood their expectations well! God teaches us what to do and what to avoid doing in order for us to find real happiness and fulfillment in life.

Personal Worship Option:

Give thanks that the Bible helps us understand what we are to do and what we are to avoid doing. Reflect on how the Bible teaches us values and principles for loving God and loving others. Pray for the faith to follow the moral guidance God provides us through Scripture. 

Daily Devotion, January 12, 2020

Devotion:

Read Matthew 5:13-16.

  Jesus uses two common elements of this world to teach his followers that we are to make a difference in the world around us. Light and salt were part of the everyday life of the people to whom he was speaking. They immediately connected with what he was trying to communicate. Preachers and teachers of the Bible are constantly looking for those common elements of everyday life to use as a way to help people understand the teachings of Jesus and all of the Scriptures.

  If Jesus were teaching in a similar situation today, what might he use? One of the first things that come to my mind is a GPS. “You are the ‘Google Maps’ of the world,” he might say. As you stay connected to the Holy Spirit each day, you can be a guide to help those around you navigate their life. Or maybe he would say “You are the spices of the world. As you experience my joy more and more fully, you become the spice of life for people who are living a dull and dreary existence.” Of course, related to another teaching of Jesus from the Gospel of John would be something like this: “You are the water of life. Drink from the water that I give you and you will become a source of water for thirsty people you meet every day.” 

  What common elements of life in our day and time come to your mind that could be helpful in explaining our life in Christ? If you come up with any, be sure and give them to your preacher!

Personal Worship Option:

Cesareo Gabarain wrote a song in 1979 with this as the first verse:

“You are the seed that will grow a new sprout; you’re a star that will shine in the night;

 you are the yeast and a small grain of salt, a beacon to glow in the dark.

 You are the dawn that will bring a new day; you’re the wheat that will bear golden grain;

   you are a sting and a soft, gentle touch, my witnesses wher-e’er you go.”  

Copyright 1989 The United Methodist Hymnal 

Daily Devotion, January 11, 2020

Devotion:

Read John 1:1-8.

  Some of the highest and deepest writing in all of the Bible is found in these verses from the opening of “The Gospel According To John.” Jesus is described as light that came into the darkness of our world. What a great image! Even just a little bit of light can light up a room. When I have to get up at night, I only need a very faint light from my phone to guide me through the room without waking my wife.

  I love the story about Robert Louis Stevenson growing up in Scotland. This was in a time when streetlights had to be lit individually. One night he was looking out the window, watching the streetlighters do their work. At one point, he turned to his parents and said “Look, they’re punching holes in the darkness!” That is just what Jesus did. He punched a hole in the darkness that will never be shut.

  This passage goes on to state that John was not the light. (Apparently, some people of that day thought John might be the Messiah, so this writer wants to make the distinction early in the story.) John’s purpose was to be a witness to the light that was Jesus. That is also our purpose. You and I are to be witnesses to the light, to let others know in whom we have found a light that shines into and overcomes any darkness we experience.

Personal Worship Option:

Reflect on those circumstances in your life where the light of Christ helped you overcome some situation of darkness. How might you use those parts of your life story to help you be a witness for the light who is Jesus Christ? Pray for wisdom and courage to do so.

Daily Devotion, January 10, 2020

Devotion:

Read John 10:11-15.

Jesus describes himself as “the good shepherd.” He was trying to help people understand who He was and what He was like.  Those words would have immediately given the people of Jesus’ time a beautiful picture. For us, shepherding isn’t a standard vocation. But we can still grasp the meaning. A shepherd’s primary job is the safety and well-being of the sheep. He provides a place to gather food, protects from dangers, and tends to the health of each sheep. In this analogy, we are the sheep. Jesus is totally invested in our life and relationship. He is good and therefore wants good for us as well. For the sheep to take full advantage of the goodness of the shepherd they must follow the shepherd and listen for his voice of instruction.

Years ago,I had an opportunity to participate in “herding sheep”. We were given 5 sheep that we were to herd into an enclosure. It was frustrating and unproductive. The sheep wouldn’t listen! They went everywhere except where I wanted them to go. The conclusion was: sheep are dumb! However, not true because they only trusted their shepherd. All he had to do was call them into the enclosure and they all came! Which voice are you listening to?

Personal Worship Option:

Reflect on the goodness of God and how that is demonstrated in your life. How can you share goodness today?

Daily Devotion, January 9, 2020

Devotion:

Read John 6:35-38.

In the setting of our scripture for today, Jesus has just miraculously fed a crowd of over five thousand people from a few loaves of bread and some fish. Not surprisingly, the crowd wants more of Jesus and his miracles, so they follow him around. Their hungering for physical bread gives Jesus a teaching moment to talk about spiritual life and sustenance. He states that he is the bread of life.

When we trust Jesus the way John intends for us to in this book of the Bible, the presence and promise of Jesus is so satisfying that it helps us to stay focused and our obedience to Him is strengthened. Faith is like drinking water that satisfies the deepest longings of the soul. The satisfaction grows and becomes productive in living out our faith, like a well overflowing. Through faith, Christ becomes in us an inexhaustible fountain of satisfying life that lasts forever. Through his sacrificial death and resurrection, Jesus provides the bread of eternal life for God’s children. Bread is wonderful and nourishing, but it can’t feed our souls. Only Jesus, broken for us, can do that.

Personal Worship Option:

Father in heaven, thank you for our daily bread. And thank you for sending Jesus, who nourishes and satisfies our souls. Give us confidence to share the news about the “Bread of Life”. Amen.

Daily Devotion, January 8, 2020

Devotion:
Read Psalm 31:1-5.

When I read this scripture passage about God being our refuge and rock, I am reminded of a rock formation in the Nantahala National Forest. The rock formation has a small waterfall flowing over its edge. Individuals can walk behind the waterfall and find refuge within the shelter of the rock.

As we read this scripture, we can sense the writer’s fears, but we also get a strong sense of the writer’s trust in God. Psalm 31 begins and ends with expressions of trust in God. This is a prayer which teaches us about trusting God both for confidence in living and peace in dying.

What are the images of this great trust? The Psalmist chooses words such as “rock of refuge” and “a strong fortress”. These are great metaphors. But the word I noticed this time in reading this passage is the word, “my”. The word “my” in “my rock and my refuge” is more than a metaphor. The word “my” indicates relationship.

The Psalmist understood the characteristics of God to be steadfast in love, eternally faithful, and to be a strong protector for safe refuge. One is safe in God’s presence----as safe as in the shelter of a rock. God can be trusted.

Rocks were and are still common in Israel’s terrain. The people understood this Psalm. It was part of their common worship and heart’s language. Jesus knew and understood this relationship with the Heavenly Father such that in his dying moments he quotes the words from verse 5, “Into your hands, I commit my Spirit.”

Personal Worship Option:
Dear God, sometimes I am afraid, too. Thank you for the Psalmist’s words. You are my rock and my refuge. Help me to trust you more each day. “Into your hands, I commit my spirit.” Help me to live into that promise today. Help me to realize that with your presence, I don’t have to live in fear, but I am safe with you.  Amen.