Daily Devotion, March 21, 2020

Devotion:

Read 2 Corinthians 5:18-21.

  This is part of a larger passage of Scripture that reminds us of the “big picture” of what God did for all of us and everybody else through Jesus Christ. We are all part of a sinful world that has and continues to make a mess out of things. The Psalmist says it well in Psalm 130:3-4: “If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness…” The writer here in this letter to the Corinthians also says that God does not count our sins against us, instead focusing on providing a way to be reconciled to us.

  God had (and has) every reason to seek revenge on the whole world for the ways we have messed up his Creation and especially for what we did to his Son. But knowing how his Son would be treated, he sent him anyway. And Jesus was most willing to come anyway, knowing how he would be treated. After this resurrection, he too had all kinds of reasons to seek revenge for what had been done to him. Yet he chose to be reconciled to the very disciples who had failed him at his most trying hour and again send them back out into the world to continue his mission.  

  It has been God’s mission from the very beginning: to redeem the whole creation. Rather than seeking revenge, God seeks reconciliation. And as verses 19-20 put it “...he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” Go share that message. Go represent this Christ.

Personal Worship Option:

Where might God be leading you to be involved in this “ministry of reconciliation”? Who do you know that needs to be reconciled to God, to know of God’s desire to be in relationship with them?

Daily Devotion, March 20, 2020

Devotion:

Read Genesis 33:1-10.

Esau had long sought vengeance against his brother Jacob for taking his birthright from him. But when he finally saw his brother again, he embraced him. (I wonder if what “uncle Esau” did had an impact on Joseph later forgiving his brothers for what they did to him?) Esau’s change of heart is wonderful to see. The bitterness over all the deception seems gone. Instead Esau was content with what he had and glad to see his brother again.

Life can be difficult. There are times we may feel cheated and wronged, but we don’t have to hang on to the bitterness. We can remove bitterness from our lives with forgiveness and contentment. It is not easy! God is ready to hear our hearts and hurts and walk with us in the journey toward forgiveness.

Personal Worship Option:

Are there hurts and bitterness you need to expel from your life? Start an open and honest conversation with God. Choose to forgive.

Daily Devotion, March 19, 2020

Devotion:

Read Matthew 5:10-12.

The scripture for today is the last beatitude. As we read it today, millions of Christians around the world are being persecuted for their faith. Some will lose their jobs or face government wrath. Some will be locked up in prison cells. Some will be tortured or even killed because of their faith in Jesus. Many of us will not face difficulties like that for our belief in Christ, but we might hear taunting from coworkers or neighbors who laugh at us when we state and live out our beliefs. We might have to put up with people who accuse us of thinking we’re “so much better than everyone else”. Family members might be angry with us for our faith if it doesn’t line up with their day to day living. If we take our calling seriously as followers of Jesus, we will probably face insults, false accusations, or some kind of persecution, even if it is just verbal.

Remarkably, Jesus tells us to rejoice! God uses hardships to refine and mature us as his children. He also shows us that as we suffer for our faith, we participate in the life Jesus lived. When the world saw Jesus in all his perfection, they killed him. We must include ourselves among those who persecuted Jesus: it was our sin that put him on the cross. Yet Jesus loved and prayed for all who persecuted him. When we face the hatred of a sinful world, we will enjoy the blessing of God’s presence.

Personal Worship Option:

God, thank you for reminding us that the first goal in our lives is not to be protected, but to be used to share your story of the Good News. Help us to know that being persecuted for doing what is right is following in the steps of Jesus. Give us the courage to help lead others to the wonderful discovery of you. Amen.

Daily Devotion, March 18, 2020

Devotion:

Read Genesis 45:3-7.

This story could have ended so differently. If anybody had a right to act out of revenge for what his brothers did to him, it was Joseph. If Joseph had acted out of revenge, what would it have really accomplished? He chose not to do so.

Dr. Terence E. Fretheim writes, “Joseph doesn’t require sorrow or regret from his brothers. Rather, he confesses that God has been at work in all these events to preserve life, and this is the decisive reality in this moment. The word for the brothers, thus serves as a straightforward gospel word spoken by the one who has experienced it deep within his own life: God has acted so that life, rather than death, now abounds.”

Revenge begets revenge and creates lives lived out in fear. Life’s energy is given to planning revenge. The opposite of revenge is forgiveness. Then we experience God giving new life and new beginnings of reconciled and restored relationships.

I pondered the words “vengeance” and “revenge” for a few moments. Joseph could have said, “I am your brother whom you discounted, but look at me now!” He could have said, “Let me show you what it feels like to be thrown in a ditch, to be left for dead, and then sold to be a slave!”

Would it have really healed Joseph’s wounds from his earlier years to have said those words and done those actions?

Instead, the story ends with life-giving power and the reconciliation and restoration of relationships. Jesus knew this story well. When he was in the garden with the disciples before his crucifixion, one of the disciples with a sword cut off the ear of one of the soldiers. Jesus said in Matthew 26:52, “Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.”

Personal Worship Option:

Are there areas in your life in which you ponder seeking revenge for past hurts and insults? Pray for God to help you re-write your new life story to offer forgiveness instead of revenge. God has re-written our life story and offers forgiveness to us. “Dear God, please help us not to live by the sword, but by your ways of forgiveness. Amen.”

Daily Devotion, March 17, 2020

Devotion:

Read John 21:12-17.

Peter had committed a serious sin when he denied Christ. We can imagine the agony and regret Peter must have felt. We read in our passage today that Jesus asked the question Peter most dreaded but most needed to hear: “Simon, son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” Jesus exposed the sin by confronting him directly. Jesus loved Peter too much to let him live his life bitter and broken. Notice that Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” After Peter answered Jesus’ questions, Jesus gave him a missional command. He said, “Feed my lambs. Take care of my sheep. Feed my sheep.” Peter was not just forgiven, but he was also restored as a leader and apostle. Jesus wanted Peter to move beyond his sin and return to the work of the Lord. Jesus encouraged him to continue the mission. When we receive God’s forgiveness from our sins, he wants us to do the same. He wants us to do his work in the world to share God’s love.

Personal Worship Option:

What work is Jesus asking you to do today? How do you plan to follow his missional command: “Feed my lambs. Take care of my sheep. Feed my sheep?”

Daily Devotion, March 16, 2020

Devotion:

Read Romans 12:17-21.

These verses come at the end of a chapter in which Paul encourages us to be living sacrifices for Christ, to put our spiritual gifts to work serving others, and to sincerely love others...even those who persecute us. Now, in this passage, he tells us not to take revenge. This is a hard lesson, because when we are harmed or hurt or slandered by someone, our most basic human instinct is to strike back, to hurt the other party, and to find justice for ourselves.

We are in the midst of a campaign year for the Presidency. We knew it was going to be a difficult year, and it is living up to and exceeding our expectations. When a candidate makes an accusation that is harmful to another candidate, the response is almost always swift and sure, and it looks a lot like revenge. A few candidates in the primary elections as well as in the general election will try to focus on the issues and avoid revengeful, personal responses. But few will be successful in doing this, as their supporters will push them to get even, strike back, and score points against their opponent. Perhaps we can learn from this bad behavior, refuse to take revenge, and overcome evil with good.

Personal Worship Option:

As you pray today, think about times you may have taken revenge to get even for a slight or harm done to you. Are you considering striking back even now? Pray for the discipline to do the very hard thing and let God deal with it instead. Others will expect you to take revenge, and refusing to do so will be a real witness to them.

Daily Devotion, March 15, 2020

Devotion:

Read Matthew 9:35-38.

  As you read the stories of the life and ministry of Jesus, it is obvious that he was willing to be with anybody and everybody. He did not discriminate. He crossed barriers and boundaries. Nobody was off limits for Jesus.

  Why? I think it is best summed up in verse 36 of this passage: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” His compassion, his love is what compelled him to come to earth in the first place. That same love fueled his ministry throughout his life.

  He leads his followers to have that same love and relate to other people because of it. When someone is in need, help them; it doesn’t matter who they are, what group they represent, what they have done. When you encounter someone who does not have a relationship with Christ, build a relationship with them; no matter what kind of reputation they may have.

  

  Why? Because of the love that has been given so freely to you. Jesus still seeks to walk among anybody and everybody, and he does that through those who seek to represent him. Can he count on you to go with him?

Personal Worship Option:

Who do you know who does this well? Who is that Christian who is willing to be among anybody and everybody? Consider asking them if you could spend some time with them every week, just to experience how they go about connecting with others.