Daily Devotion, February 10, 2020

Devotion:

Read Genesis 48:10-16.

It is a telling and powerful statement to hear Israel, as he blessed his son Joseph and his grandsons, declare that “God has been my shepherd all my life to this day!” Just so we do not forget, Israel was originally named Jacob, which means “grabber.” Born second to his twin brother Esau, Jacob’s little hand firmly grasped the heel of Esau, as Jacob, even in birth, attempted to gain the birthright as the firstborn son. Jacob did not give up, and a few years later, he convinced the hungry Esau to trade him the birthright for a bowl of stew. And as their father Isaac was nearing death, Jacob and his mother used deception to secure Isaac’s blessing that should have been given to Esau. Jacob had received his new name Israel, meaning “he who struggles with God,” and humbly walked with God from that time. Now, nearing his own death, Jacob (Israel) can look back over his life and see that God had been with him, shepherding him, even when he was not obedient to the shepherd’s will.

May we, after our own struggles and pushing back at times on God’s will, remember that God is our shepherd all of our lives to the last day. God provides, protects, loves, and cares for us. God is faithful!

Personal Worship Option:

Give thanks today for God’s love and faithfulness. It is through God’s grace that God loves us and shepherds us even when we are not obedient. Ask God to help you see God’s presence in your life all along the way.

Daily Devotion, February 9, 2020

Devotion:

Read Matthew 7:1-5.

  It is so easy to look at some bad thing someone else has done and say “I would never do that!” When we see how other people deal with family relationships or act in certain situations, it is so tempting to think “I could never be like that!” However, as some like to say “Never say ‘Never’!” If you had been raised the way they were, if you had lived through the things they have dealt with, if you were put in the same circumstances they were in, maybe you would do that or be like that. This is not to say that we should condone wrong behavior or bad attitudes. It is to say that we should not judge others. That role belongs only to God.

 

  Earlier in the “Sermon On The Mount” Jesus teaches a model prayer for his disciples to pray. Both in the prayer and in follow-up teaching right after it, he says that we will receive forgiveness from God in the same proportion that we are willing to grant it to people who sin against us. Just nineteen verses later, he gives the same teaching, this time related to judging others: “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

  There are times when the Holy Spirit may guide you to confront someone else about some sin in their life. Just make sure you are doing it on behalf of God and that you do it with a Spirit of humility and love. Following on the example Jesus uses here, make sure you have visited your heavenly eye doctor before taking on the role of eye doctor yourself. Then when you go to that person, you go not as a judge, but as a healer.

Personal Worship Option:

Way back in 1895, Clara Scott penned the words to one of my favorite hymns. They are most fitting here. (I will adjust her pronouns to what I believe she would use if she were writing today.)

Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth you have for me;

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

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

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

Silently now I wait for you, ready, my God your will to see.

Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!

Daily Devotion, February 8, 2020

Devotion:

Read Luke 18:9-14.

  We all have a tendency to judge other people. I sometimes wonder what our motivation is for that. I am guessing (and maybe confessing) that it often has something to do with helping us feel better about ourselves. We know of our own issues and sins, but somehow find some satisfaction in comparing ourselves to some other person or family or group and saying “At least I’m not like them.”

  The introduction to this parable gives us the reason for Jesus telling it: “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else….” Jesus has a “target audience” for this story!

  The Pharisees were deeply committed to God and the Scriptures. They had devoted themselves to living their lives by what the Scriptures taught. That’s a good thing! However, for some of them, they had succumbed to the temptation to feel good about how good they were. They were “confident in their own righteousness…” Their confidence was probably fed not only by how good they were at what they did (and didn’t do), but also when they noticed how other people lived their lives. So they “looked down on everybody else.” Jesus makes it clear that though they are seeking to serve God, that attitude and spirit separates them from God.

  When I read this parable, it is very tempting to do exactly what Jesus says not to do - I find myself judging the Pharisee! Let’s learn from both men in the story, but not judge them. In your relationships with both God and other people, stay humble.

Personal Worship Option:

Offer a prayer of confession related to the lessons of this parable and seek a spirit of humility.

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.