Daily Devotion, March 7, 2020

Devotion:

Read Genesis 12:1-5.

  “Leave what you know. Leave what you are familiar with. Go to a new place.” It is an unsettling call for any of us. We tend to want to stay where we are. We tend to want to continue our routines. We tend to want to stick with what is familiar.

  It must have been a scary assignment for Abram when God said, “Go to a land that I will show you.” Initially, God does not give the destination; just a calling to go. There is the promise of being made a great nation, to be blessed and an opportunity to serve this God in blessing the whole world. Still, it is risky. Abram does not yet know this God. It is an invitation to trust in the One who is calling. He decides to take the risk, trust this God and strike out on this journey of faith.

  Throughout the Bible, God calls people into scary situations. God still makes those calls. As you stay connected to God and pay attention to the leading of this Holy Spirit, be assured that you too will be called into scary situations. And it all comes down to a decision on whether to trust this God. Be assured that God is worthy of your trust and will not call you to go anywhere without also promising to go with you.

Personal Worship Option:

When is the last time you did something for God that was scary?

Daily Devotion, March 6, 2020

Devotion:

Read Daniel 3:13-20.

Three young men from Judah face a very scary situation in order to show their faithfulness to God. They were in a foreign country and yet had been promoted to positions of authority which was probably why other leaders took note of their refusal to worship the king. Shadrach, Meschach, and Agednego were pressured to deny God, but they chose to be faithful to him no matter what happened! They trusted God to deliver them, but they were determined to be faithful regardless of the consequences. Their choice to remain faithful had a direct impact on the king and the kingdom. Nebuchadnezzar realized that he was not all powerful. Only the one true God occupies that title.

So, where do you find your faith challenged? Do you take a stand when it comes to biblical principles?

Personal Worship Option:

Reflect on God’s faithfulness to you. Be bold in going about your day so that others can see Christ in you.

Daily Devotion, March 5, 2020

Devotion:

Read Esther 4:6-16.

The Book of Esther has lots of learnings and reflections we can glean from this novel. We may think of Esther as a heroine, and yes, she was a great leader that risked everything, including her life. This woman knew very well the risk in her decision of disobeying the king’s law. She could perish, but she decided to put her confidence in God’s providence. Her strength and courage is admirable. Esther could be a great role model in leadership.

Esther said no the first time she was asked to intercede for her people. Mordecai, her guardian, had to insist with strong words. He reminded her that the unfair annihilation would be the fate of their people, but also for her.  Once Esther turned her fear into confidence, this beautiful girl became a strong leader for a people in disgrace. She was capable of guiding not only Mordecai, her master, but all the Jews in Susa in order to fast on her behalf. There was a community of faith interceding for her. Esther and her people found favor in the sight of the king. Esther reminds us how we are called to be leaders, even if we feel incapable of taking risks. Great leaders are humble enough to give and receive support from their communities.

Personal Worship Option:

Are you a risk taker for your faith? Will you step out of your comfort zone to help others? Will you take a risk for sharing your faith story?

Daily Devotion, March 4, 2020

Devotion:

Read Genesis 32:1-12.

Genesis 31:3 (NIV) says, “Then the Lord said to Jacob, ‘Go back to the land of your fathers and your relatives, and I will be with you.” 

The prospect of returning home was scary for Jacob. He had mistreated his brother Esau over the years, so he was fearful of how Esau would respond to his return. Jacob was so afraid of Esau’s response that he divided his people and livestock into two camps for protection.

Verses 9-12 are helpful in reminding us that when we are called to go into scary situations, time spent with God is our first and most important step. The time with God in prayer gives us the confidence of God’s constant presence and strength for us, even in scary situations.

God’s call to be reconciled to one another is a thread which is woven throughout the Bible. Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son’s return to his father is a powerful story of reconciliation. God’s call to be reconciled is reflective of God’s own initiative and work to offer reconciliation to us through Christ the Son.

To be reconciled is one characteristic and gift of being humans created in the image of God. Often, though, taking steps toward reconciliation can be scary for us. Sometimes, doing the work of reconciliation with family members can be the toughest work of all. In those times, we can know that God is with us, giving us the courage and strength we need.

The verses in Genesis 33 tell the story of Jacob and Esau’s meeting. The Message says, “Jacob led the way and as he approached his brother, bowed seven times, honoring his brother. But Esau ran up and embraced him, held him tight, and kissed him. And they both wept.”

It was a new beginning. They lived without fear and at peace, even though their futures led them in different directions.

Personal Worship Option:

Is there someone you need to forgive? Is there someone to whom you need to make amends? How is God leading you? Are you facing a difficult situation? Ask for God’s help and guidance for each of these questions. God will give you strength and help you.

Daily Devotion, March 3, 2020

Devotion:

Read Numbers 13:26-33.

Moses decided information was needed before the people could enter the Promised Land, and he took careful steps to get that information. He sent twelve spies to explore the land for forty days. Their initial report described a land flowing with milk and honey, but then they began to describe the Anaks, a race of abnormally large people. The scouts described the fortified cities surrounding the land and they focused on their fear. Of the twelve spies only two saw the promise of God: Caleb and Joshua. The other ten focused on the fear. They saw themselves as grasshoppers against giants. These spies were defeated before they started. The Israelites embraced the grasshopper mentality.. God had made them giant-killers, but they chose to see themselves as mere grasshoppers. Perhaps they acted like grasshoppers, hiding behind bushes, hopping around from one pile of rocks to another. The scene would be almost humorous if it wasn’t so often repeated by human beings of every era. This grasshopper view of life is just as prevalent today as it was in Caleb’s day. Men and women continue to see themselves as grasshoppers rather than giant-killers. We often see ourselves as miniatures of the people God created us to be. Do you see giants when you face your challenges in life? Do you fail to work through your challenges and fail to trust God to see you through?

As a result of the Israelites’ disobedience and lack of faith, they didn’t enter the Promised Land. Instead, the Israelites were condemned to wander forty years in the wilderness. They should have made the trip in ten days, but it took forty years because of their rebellion and disobedience. How many times do we miss our entry into the Promised Land because we fear the giants?

Personal Worship Option:

What giants are you facing today? Tell God of your fears and trust him to guide you.

Daily Devotion, March 2, 2020

Devotion:

Read Exodus 3:1-12.

Moses had barely escaped from Egypt as a fugitive for killing an Egyptian who had been beating an Israelite slave. To go back to Egypt now would have been extremely risky for Moses. Even without that important detail, Moses knew that to go to Egypt and demand that all-powerful Pharaoh release the Children of Israel from bondage would be scary and practically a “mission impossible.” Moses responded to God’s call in a manner that is familiar to all of us who have been given difficult assignments…”Who am I that I should (fill in the blank)?”

I have asked that question dozens of times in situations where a scary task or overwhelming responsibility fell to me. Some of those times have been in my career, in our family, and in the church. Sometimes, like Moses, I have pushed back about not being equipped to handle it. Sometimes I have sulked about why I had to be the one in the position at the time to have to step up and do the scary thing. But when I look back, I can often see that I actually had been prepared to do it, or God simply led me through it. This story of Moses’ call is most helpful to us in facing our challenges and scary assignments today if we remember that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things.

Personal Worship Option:

Are you being asked to do something you do not feel prepared to do? Pray about it, including praying for discernment regarding whether God is calling you to do it. If it seems God is calling you, pray for the gifts and wisdom to do it well.

Daily Devotion, March 1, 2020

Devotion:

Read Matthew 17:1-9.

  What are the mountaintop experiences you have had in your life? Reflect on those for a few minutes. What was it that made them so special? Did you find yourself wanting to stay there for the rest of your life?

  Just like with those first disciples, Jesus leads us to mountaintop experiences with God. Those can be at different levels. (After all, mountains themselves are at different heights.) It could be a personal devotional or retreat time. It could be in a small group setting. It could be in a regular worship service or time away for a conference or retreat with others. It could be serving the needs of others, whether close by or on a trip far away. It can be a real “spiritual high.”

  The temptation is to want to stay there. It feels like you are in the very presence of God and you want to soak that up as long as possible. However, just like with those first disciples, Christ also leads us back down the mountain to continue pursuing his mission of making disciples of as many people as possible.

  Continue seeking after those mountaintop experiences. We all need them. Just remember that while we are still in this life, that is not our goal. (The final mountaintop is coming someday.) Our goal is to keep serving the mission Jesus gave us. Let those mountaintop experiences fuel that mission.

Personal Worship Option:

How long has it been since you last had a mountaintop experience with Christ? How might you seek one? Begin with prayer.