Daily Devotion, November 9, 2020

 

Devotion: Read 1 Kings 17:8-16.

Now be honest...as you read this interesting story, did you think as I did of the nursery rhyme, “Old Mother Hubbard?” This poor widow’s cupboard was all but bare, with only a small amount of flour and oil remaining for a paltry final meal for herself and her son. But God was about to use what she had to produce abundance. I can only imagine how she felt taking part of that meager handful of flour and making a small loaf of bread for Elijah before preparing anything for her own son, but she believed and trusted God’s promise to provide. 

This obscure story, tucked as it is into the larger story of the prophet Elijah, is one of those examples of God instructing us not to worry so much about what we lack but rather to focus on what we do have. Soon after Christ Church constructed the multipurpose building and the first parts of our children’s and adult buildings, we began to run out of classroom space. The bid to expand our education buildings came in at $150,000; and the bank agreed to loan us $100,000, but no more. We asked everyone to bring an extra one-time offering. We counted it -- just over $50,000! None of us made a huge sacrifice or went hungry. We just gave what we had and trusted God to provide. Perhaps we should not worry so much about what we do not have but rather offer generously from what we do have and trust God! Personal Worship Option: Think of a time in your life when someone gave you something small, seemingly of little value, that made a huge difference. God has a way of using small offerings in powerful ways. Ask in your prayers today for the ability to always see what you do have more powerfully than what you may lack.

Daily Devotion, November 8, 2020

 

Devotion: Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 26-27.

Paul was writing to a church in which there was division. These were followers of Jesus Christ in the house churches in the city of Corinth in the first century. But they were not united as his people. A significant portion of this letter (chapters 12-14) is given to one of the primary issues causing the division: spiritual gifts. As is the case in any church, the Holy Spirit had gifted each person with the various gifts of the Spirit to accomplish their mission. Apparently, there had developed among them a ranking of these gifts. Some were more important than others, they thought. Paul writes to dispel this divisiveness, using the analogy of the human body. All parts are needed for the body to function at its best. So it is in the Body of Christ, the Church.

Events and rhetoric of this year have threatened the unity of the Church. Too often, we hear or read statements that say you cannot be a part of the Church if you vote a certain way or interpret Scripture a certain way. But we need each other, to guide each other and learn from each other. Whereas Paul loved the analogy of the human body, I love the analogy of a bird. In order to fly, the bird needs both the right wing and the left wing. So does the Church.

The primary issue here is being united so that we can serve the mission God has given us through Jesus Christ. In the next chapter of this letter, Paul emphasizes that it is the sacrificial love Jesus taught us that is the key to staying united in the midst of our differences.

You are part of the Church. So are those other Christians. We are the Body of Christ. Personal Worship Option: Offer a prayer for Christians with whom you differ. Seek God’s wisdom for how to better unite with them in our mission to bring others to Christ.

Daily Devotion, November 7, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Acts 1:6-8.

The last few verses of the Gospel of Matthew are what is often called “The Great Commission,” where Jesus gave his disciples their mission for the rest of their lives. This is Luke’s version of that mission. It is the mission, or purpose, not only for disciples then, but for all time.

I see two points of emphasis in this mission. First, your power for this mission comes from God; it comes from the Holy Spirit. Jesus had already told the disciples to wait where they were to receive this power. We find out later in the chapter that they spent this time of waiting “devoting themselves to prayer.” They were not just sitting around doing nothing. They were united in seeking God’s presence. It was into this united group that the Holy Spirit came to empower them for their mission. (Followers of Jesus Christ, please read those last two sentences again.)

Second, you are to tell others about your experience with Jesus Christ, wherever you are. That includes those closest to you, those like you and those who are not like you. Yes, you can lead others to Jesus by doing good deeds and serving the needs of others. But at some point, there comes a time of needing to speak, to let them know why you are doing this. What motivates you to do these things? It is at that point you get to let them know who has motivated and inspired you to do these things.

  

Stay connected to the one who empowers you for your mission, then go do it. And remember, this mission was given to a group, united in Jesus Christ to serve him together. Personal Worship Option:

Frederick Morley wrote these words to a hymn:

O church of God, united to serve one common Lord, proclaim to all one message, with hearts in glad accord.

Christ ever goes before us; we follow day by day with strong and eager footsteps along the upward way.

May (your) great prayer be answered that we may all be one, close bound, by love united in (you), God’s blessed Son;

To bring a single witness, to make the pathway bright, that souls which grope in darkness may find the one true light.

Daily Devotion, November 6, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Matthew 22:34-40.

Once again the Pharisees were attempting to trip Jesus with a question that religious leaders had been debating for years. What is the greatest commandment? Jesus answered them with what the Jews know as the “Shema” , the confession of faith. The greatest commandment is to love God with all that we are and have - heart, soul, mind, and strength, possessions, and service. To love God is not to “have good feelings about Him,” because true love involves the will as well as the heart. Where there is love, there will be service and obedience.

But Jesus also quoted Leviticus 19:18 putting this commandment on the same level as the Shema, demonstrating that a right relationship with God will impact the relationships with others. If we love God we will love our neighbor and want the best for them. In other words, our purpose as God’s people is to love God and love people! Personal Worship Option: Prayer for today: “O LORD, what an amazing opportunity you have given me - a chance to make a difference in a hurting world. Help me to see the needs you want me to see, to react in a way that honors You, and to bless others by serving them gladly with practical expressions of your love. Help me to be Jesus’ hands and feet. Give me the strength and wisdom to fulfill your plan for me. In Jesus’ name, amen”.

Daily Devotion, November 5, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Matthew 28:16-20.

When we refer to the Great Commission, Matthew 28:16-20, we usually only read verses 18-20. Verse 17 jumps out to me when reading this passage. I am fascinated that the eleven disciples saw the risen Jesus, standing before them as he had promised, yet still some doubted! Some weren’t ready to give Jesus all of their trust. How do you think that doubt affected those disciples’ reception of Jesus’ words about the Great Commission? Looking throughout the Gospels, we see that following Jesus always involved an element of mystery that required trust. Even from the beginning, Jesus’ invitation to some of the disciples was “come and see,” asking them to trust and obey without knowing the details up front. When they accepted Christ’s invitation, they witnessed and did amazing, miraculous and life-changing things.

Christians are called to make disciples. We make disciples by helping new believers grow in their relationship with the Lord. This requires establishing deep and meaningful relationships with those who are searching for God. With whom are you sharing your knowledge of the Lord? Even if you don’t believe you have strong Bible knowledge, you are still able to share the things you do know. You can encourage and pray for others. You can fellowship with other believers. You can participate in a church Bible study. Let nothing stop you from sharing your love for Christ. Personal Worship Option: Dear God, you have entrusted us with your good news and promised to be with us always. Let us be faithful to this charge, reaching out to all the world in words and deeds of love. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Daily Devotion, November 4, 2020

 

Devotion: Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-20a.

At the time of this writing, we are a little more than two weeks from this day which is the day after the election.

But Paul’s writing here in 2 Corinthians is as timely for these days as it was during Paul’s day. The world’s messages would like to divide us, but God has given us a different message. That message is first and foremost that God loves us and not only us, but all the people of the world. And within the message of God’s love for us is that God sent Christ who died for all of our sins to give us life. Therefore we are being made new in Christ and we are called not to live for ourselves only but as Ambassadors of Christ. And we have been reconciled to God and we are called into the “ministry of reconciliation” unto others.

We must remember whatever the outcome of the news, as believers and followers of Christ we are called to the “ministry of reconciliation.” With God’s help, this is possible.

I like the words of Dr. J. Paul Sampley, “People have value because Christ died for them. People, whoever they are, whether they have responded to Christ or not---Christ died for everyone---are treasured by God.”

Dr. Sampley continues, “Reconciliation is at the heart of life’s business. If the most important single factor about any of our lives is God’s having reconciled us to God’s very self, then the proper celebration of our reconciliation is to share it with others by fostering reconciliation and atonement wherever and whenever we can.”

In our work as a people with a “ministry of reconciliation”, it binds us together in a greater mission, so that we can help others along the way. Together we can help others who have nothing; together we can help others who have no one; together we can help others who are hungry; together we can help others who have no shelter; together we can give a witness of God’s love through Christ so that others may come to know Christ, too. Personal Worship Option: Loving and Gracious God, we hear your call to the “ministry of reconciliation”. You reconciled us unto yourself. This is a gift beyond our imagining. Help us today to seek your ways of being reconciled to one another. Help us to remember that together we can accomplish so much more to help others than we can accomplish by ourselves. Amen.

Daily Devotion, November 3, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Matthew 5:43-48.

Think for a moment about your personal friends, acquaintances, and social media friends. How many can you name? For most, it would take a great deal of time. Now think about your enemies. I suspect that most would have a short list. But who is your enemy? When Jesus talked about “loving your neighbor” and “greeting only your brothers,” he seems to imply that our “enemies” are those who are different from us. For the Jews, those who were different were the Gentiles (non-Jews). With this understanding, does your enemy list grow? The rancor of politics this year in our nation has many Americans and even many Christians looking at each other as if they are enemies. Even if you are convinced of that, Jesus gives instructions here on how to treat them. Jesus calls on us to love those who are different. How do we do that? Jesus tells us God always gives his best. He goes beyond the expected. Jesus even tells us, as the Message puts it, “any run-of-the-mill sinner” simply greets others hello. Jesus tells us to live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward us. Think about how that will look in your comings and goings today and make an effort to generously and graciously love those who are different. Personal Worship Option: Pray that God will direct you toward those who are different today instead of away. Look for a way to extend God’s generous and gracious love. You might pay for a meal, carry the newspaper to the front door, actively listen, restrain from negatively responding, or do some other kind of random act of kindness.