Daily Devotion, February 7, 2020

Devotion:

Read John 8:1-11.

Judging others is such a temptation. We do it almost without thinking. From the most miniscule to the monumental we pass judgment. Have you ever caught yourself thinking or saying, “I can’t believe he just did …” or “Did you see what she …”   In essence we are putting ourselves above the person in question.

This is exactly what the Pharisees did the day they brought the woman accused of adultery. The Pharisees were using the situation to trap Jesus. However, Jesus’ response was quite unexpected. The one without any sin, may throw the stone of judgment. Of course they all slipped away and the one without sin (Jesus) offered compassion and forgiveness. Jesus demonstrated for us how we are to respond to others. It is God’s role to judge and our job to offer forgiveness and compassion.

Personal Worship Option:

Express to God your gratitude for His compassion and forgiveness. As you go about your day, look for opportunities to offer compassion/forgiveness in the place of judgment.

Daily Devotion, February 6, 2020

Devotion:

Read John 3:17.

The gospel books of the Bible tell the good news of Jesus coming on our behalf.. The scripture for today certainly does. Jesus wasn’t sent to condemn us. He came to rescue us. That means we each have value to God. To God, it doesn’t matter the sin we have committed, our upbringing, or social status. God loves us and sent His son to be our Savior. We should not allow ourselves to believe the concept that we are insignificant. God sees each of us as important and our lives have a purpose. So many believers are living under condemnation. They see God as an angry God with a big stick, watching our every movement waiting in anticipation for us to do something wrong, so that He can punish us.

If only believers would take this verse literally and believe what it says, so many would not be living their lives under condemnation but would be rejoicing in the Lord; for God did not send His Son into the world in order to condemn the world, but to save the world through Christ. It was out of love and not cruelty that God sent His Son into the world to die for the sin of the world.  Once sinners believe this simple truth, their outlook on life is immediately changed.

Personal Worship Option:

In the midst of all of the challenges of life, keep your focus on Jesus. Let His value and opinion of you be the one that counts. .Jesus came to rescue you. So today choose to see the value He sees in you and in others. Know that you are vital to God’s plan on the earth.

Daily Devotion, February 5, 2020

Devotion:

Read Job 22:5-11. (The Message Translation)

This is one of Job’s friends, Eliphaz, who is trying to explain the reasons for Job’s suffering. It was common in Biblical times to believe if one is suffering that it must be because of the great sins of that individual. Up until this point, Job’s friends have never yet identified Job with the wicked. In previous speeches, Job’s friends said his sufferings were caused due to divine discipline, or because his children had sinned, or that Job had sinned but not in an intentional way. But now, Eliphaz is identifying Job with the wicked. The solution according to Eliphaz is for Job to repent of all his wickedness and then the suffering would end and life would be good again.

 

But Job knows that what Eliphaz is saying is not the truth. And Job remains faithful to God. Dr. Carol A Newsom writes “The irony of Eliphaz’s depiction of Job’s restoration as an intercessor is that it truly comes to pass, when Job intercedes with God to spare Eliphaz and his two friends from God’s anger (42:8).”

Job’s dear friends judged Job too quickly by putting themselves in God’s place and by trying to discredit Job’s character. In Matthew 7, Jesus says, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

We also can judge too quickly, putting ourselves in God’s place, and discredit a dear friend or acquaintance. Because we know how Job’s story concludes, we see how ridiculous Eliphaz’s speech is! Let us hear Jesus’ words again, “Do not judge.”

Personal Worship Option:

Dear God, too often, I judge too quickly things I don’t truly understand. Thank you for your understanding and grace unto us all. Help me to be an encouraging friend instead of a judging friend. Amen.

Daily Devotion, February 4, 2020

Devotion:

Read 2 Samuel 12:1-7a.

One of the roles of prophets in the Old Testament was to confront sin. God spoke through prophets and used them to take his message to his people, even kings. David had sinned against God when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband Uriah killed. David seemed to have become callous about his own sin. He tried to cover up his first sin (adultery) with another sin (murder). David had become hardened to sin. So the Lord sent the prophet Nathan to tell David a story. We read that story in our passage today. The story is about a rich man who abused a poor man by taking his lamb, killing it, and preparing it for a guest. David was outraged that one could be so callous, but Nathan told David, “You are that man!” Nathan helps David come to repentance. Nathan was courageous and tactful in pointing out David’s sin. Nathan didn’t humiliate or scold the king, but he did judge him as God had directed him to do. When you have to confront someone with unpleasant news, pray for God to give you courage, skill, and tact. This old adage has much truth: “It not just what you say; it’s how you say it.”

Personal Worship Option:

Pray that you will use love when facing someone who has hurt you or sinned against God. Ask God to point out any sin in your life so that you can repent.

Daily Devotion, February 3, 2020

Devotion:

Read Genesis 45:3-8.

This is one of the most powerful stories of forgiveness in all the Bible! It is hard to imagine the hurt and anger Joseph must have felt when his jealous brothers sold him as a slave to a group of traveling merchants. When the merchants sold him as a slave in Egypt, Joseph must have lost what little hope that remained for a return some day to his home and family. Then, falsely accused and thrown into prison, he surely thought of his brothers and dreamed of a day when he would get even with them. After a dramatic turn of events, Joseph became second in command to Pharaoh in Egypt, and his brothers came begging for food in order to survive the famine. It was the perfect opportunity for Joseph to exercise his power, turn his brothers away, or perhaps even to have them punished. Instead, in this beautiful scene of reconciliation, Joseph chose not to judge his brothers but to forgive them!

We are human, and we often allow hurt, insult, and pain to turn us against others. Recently someone was describing the animosity and separation in her family. She and another family member have not spoken for years, and she cannot remember the incident that drove them apart. Joseph’s example teaches us to put hurt aside and to forgive!

Personal Worship Option:

Read the passage again, thinking about all the feelings Joseph must have put aside. Does his example remind you of a situation in your own life? We are never supposed to allow others to abuse us, but we are supposed to forgive. If there is someone you have judged, pray for the strength to put hurt aside and to forgive them.

Daily Devotion, February 2, 2020

Devotion:

Read Matthew 6:19-24.

  Every time I see this Scripture passage, I think about the first time I heard someone say “Show me your checkbook (or your bank account) and your calendar (planner) and I can tell you what is most important to you.” It is so true. Where you spend your money and your time reveals your priorities in life.

  Jesus teaches that lesson here, with the emphasis being that the most important thing to treasure is your relationship with him and being part of his kingdom. Those two verses in the middle (22-23) can seem out of place, but they are really very fitting. Our eyes of our mind can be so tempted with the things of this world. We can easily get caught up in wanting more and more of the things that look so appealing. And we spend our resources on those things and discover that our heart and passion is all wrapped up in them, instead of what is most important in life.

  Jesus says it best at the end of these verses: “You cannot serve both God and Money.” (The NIV translation I have actually capitalizes “Money.” That is very fitting, because it can become a god to worship and serve.)

  Give some thought and prayer time to how and where you spend your money and your time. Who or what does that reveal to be your god?

Personal Worship Option:

Give thanks to God for the resources you have, including finances and time, along with the opportunities you have to use both for his kingdom.

Daily Devotion, February 1, 2020

Devotion:

Read Genesis 13:8-12.

  Abram is just getting to know this God who has called him into a covenant relationship. He is learning the ways of this God. In this part of his story, we can already see how God is having an effect on him. Abram and his nephew have both prospered. Their flocks have increased such that the land cannot support both of them. Abram does the “God-like” thing and allows Lot to choose on which portion of the land he will settle. Lot wants the best for himself and his people and flocks, so he chooses accordingly. Abram is continuing to learn to trust this God to provide for him, no matter where he is or in what conditions he is living.

  It is a good lesson and reminder for all of us. To be part of the kingdom of God, we are to be focused on what is the right and generous thing to do, even if it means that we may not get a lot of the things of this world. It is also a good lesson and reminder of what it means to use power in a “God-like” way. Abram was the one with the power in this situation; he was in charge. He could have chosen the best land for himself and told Lot that was just the way it was going to be. I wonder if Lot immediately recognized this act of grace for what it was or if it was sometime later that he realized what his uncle had done for him.

  How might you apply this lesson in your life? Be looking for opportunities to offer acts of grace and generosity to someone. In other words, look for opportunities to give someone else a glimpse of what God is like.

Personal Worship Option:

Pray for God to show you when and where you can offer an act of grace and generosity.