Daily Devotion, May 14, 2021

 

Devotion:

Read Luke 23:32-34.

Jesus had taught that God forgives us and expects us to forgive others. Here, he leads by example by forgiving those who had put him on the cross -- Jewish leaders, Roman politicians and soldiers, and bystanders - and God answered that prayer by opening up the way of salvation to everyone. The Good News is that God is gracious and he will forgive us and give us new life through his Son. Because of our forgiveness, we should offer forgiveness to others as well. But it is sometimes a challenge to be forgiving. Keep this in mind: grace (God’s grace) is not blind. It sees the hurt full well. But grace chooses to see God’s forgiveness even more. It refuses to let hurts poison the heart. Where grace is lacking, bitterness abounds. Where grace abounds, forgiveness grows. Approaching relationships through the filter of grace creates an environment of peace and forgiveness.

Personal Worship Option:

Reflect on God’s grace in your life. How can you extend grace to others today?

Daily Devotion, May 13, 2021

 

Devotion:

Read Ephesians 1:7-8; 4:32.

Paul writes that the riches of God’s grace are lavished on us with compassion and forgiveness. I have often thought that it is a miracle that God really knows me and forgives me and never gives up on me. God loves us and forgives us extravagantly, not moderately or stingily.

Likewise, God calls us to have compassion and to forgive others. If we treat others with compassion and have empathy toward our brothers and sisters of the world, we can sense their struggles and their pain that will guide us toward forgiveness.

Forgiveness does not mean pretending someone hasn’t hurt us. Sometimes the hurts we experience are extreme and devastating, and we can carry scars throughout life. But if we hold on to anger, it will wear us out and can lead us to hurt others. Forgiveness sets us free from anger and bitterness, allowing us to let go of our desire for vengeance. The relationship may never be restored, but we can begin to see those who hurt us as God sees them-broken people in need of grace.

Personal Worship Option:

Can you forgive others and trust that God will provide justice? Is there someone who needs your compassion and forgiveness? Lord, teach us to forgive, as you have forgiven us. Help us to have compassion for one another and to let go of any anger we might have. Amen.

Daily Devotion, May 12, 2021

 

Devotion:

Read Psalm 130. (NRSV)

While taking care of our two “grand dogs”, the words, “I cry to you, O Lord” caught my attention. I’ve not been around them in over a year due to the pandemic. Their “parents”, who have been around them a great deal due to the pandemic, are finely attuned to each one of their cries and can hear their faintest whimper. Out of their love for their dogs, they gave me clear instructions for how to respond to each distinct “cry”.

Is it possible that the Psalmist writer, David, whose life began as a shepherd boy hearing each cry and whimper of each sheep, knows that God hears his cries? Now David is realizing the extent of his own sins and his need for God’s forgiveness. His sins and guilt weigh heavily upon his back. He “cries” out to God in this prayer. “Out of the depths, O Lord, hear my cry for help.” 

“Out of the depths” is David’s perception of his distance away from God as he pleads for God’s forgiveness and mercy. The valley was where David perceived himself to be and during that time the Hebrew people perceived God’s dwelling place to be on the mountaintop. That’s quite a distance! So David is ready to “wait”. This word “wait” or “waits” is written three times.

 

David prays in the assurance that God is listening to his cries and will forgive his sins. Yes, he knows God’s ways of righteousness, and yet, he also knows God’s “habits of forgiveness”. (The Message) Out of God’s love for us, there is no distance away from God from which God can’t hear us. David lets his soul commune with God and receives God’s forgiveness, hope and redemption.

  

In verse 7 David moves from his own need for God’s redemption to that of Israel’s. David reminds the people of God’s steadfast love and God’s power to redeem. God calls the people back to the covenant relationship with God. Oftentimes, we must also cry out for God’s forgiveness as a large group or institution.

Personal Worship Option:

What are your cries unto God today? God is very near and is ready to hear your cries just now. God’s habit is forgiveness. It is not cheap grace. But it is God’s gift. God can forgive us, restore us, and redeem us to free us for joyful service again. Pause for a moment to share your cries with God.

Daily Devotion, May 11, 2021

 

Devotion:

Read Acts 7:54-60.

How can we learn to control our natural tendency to lash out against those who hurt us? We know our responsibility as Christians is to forgive, but we can easily be overwhelmed by feelings of hurt and anger. Stephen was facing a mob filled with hate and plans to kill him. Scripture tells us Stephen was a “man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.” He was “full of God’s grace and power who performed great wonders and signs among the people.” When the people began to stone him, he fell to his knees and cried out a prayer of forgiveness, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

Similarly, Jesus, Son of the Most High God and full of the power of the Holy Spirit, was on the cross facing an angry mob who wanted him dead. With love and mercy, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Notice the contrast we see in both examples. Spirit-filled men are dying at the hands of hate-filled angry mobs. Both Stephen and Jesus forgive. Let’s return to our earlier question, “How can we learn to control our natural tendency to lash out against those who hurt us?” We need to fight against our natural tendency and use God’s supernatural power to forgive. If Stephen and Jesus can forgive, we certainly can.

Personal Worship Option:

Thank God today for the forgiveness he has extended to you. Who do you need to forgive?

Daily Devotion, May 10, 2021

 

Devotion:

Read Matthew 6:9-15.

Matthew has an interesting way of grouping Jesus’ teachings into collections. Our passage for today comes in the collection known as the sermon on the mount, in which Jesus taught his disciples on a wide range of topics. In the verses immediately preceding these, Jesus taught that prayer should be done in private and that it should be simple and straightforward. As if to illustrate what he meant by this, Jesus says, “this is how you should pray,” and gives us the very simple and brief model prayer we know as the Lord’s Prayer. In our prayers, we are to praise God, ask for God’s will to be done, ask for our daily needs, ask for forgiveness of our sins, and ask for deliverance from evil.

There is a huge twist that we miss sometimes in the way Jesus instructs us to pray for forgiveness...to pray affirming that we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. Another way to say this would be for us to pray for God to forgive us just as much as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. Not sure about this interpretation? I invite you to also read verses 14 and 15. In these two verses, Jesus makes it clear that God will only forgive us if we forgive others. They will know we are Christ’s followers and disciples by our love, and that includes our forgiveness.

Personal Worship Option:

Reflect today on persons you have struggled to forgive. Sometimes hurt can run so deeply that we find it almost impossible to forgive, especially if the other person does not express sorrow for the hurt they have caused. Pray today to let it go and to forgive just as much as you wish God to forgive you.

Daily Devotion, May 9, 2021

 

Devotion:

Read Acts 1:12-15a.

It is fitting that the writer of Acts is intentional to include Mary the mother of Jesus among this list of his followers after his ascension back to heaven. In his Gospel, Luke told us about the angel visiting her when she was a teenager to invite her to become the mother of the Messiah. Her relative Elizabeth had affirmed who the child was. Shepherds had visited at his birth to tell of messengers from heaven affirming his identity. An old man and woman at the temple also recognized his divinity. As a young boy, she and Joseph had found him at the temple in deep conversation with the teachers there. Then there was the time he reminded her and others that his mother and family was anyone who does the will of God. She had known from the beginning she would have to share him with everybody else. She had witnessed both his death and resurrection. She was not just his mother; she was his disciple.

On this Mother’s Day, we celebrate the many ways that women contribute to the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ. There is no doubt in my mind that churches throughout the history of the Church would not have survived without them. Still today, they are a vital part of the body of Christ. Take time to express your gratitude to them and specifically look for ways you can support those serving in the role of mother.

Personal Worship Option:

Pray for God to give you the names of one or two women who need some recognition for what they do to further Christ’s mission in the world. Be creative in offering your gratitude to them.

Daily Devotion, May 8, 2021

 

Devotion:

Read 1 Kings 1:16-30.

There is no way for any of us to be aware of everything that is going on around us. Even those close to us can be doing something with which we don’t agree, but we are unaware of what is happening. Such was the case with King David. The king was old and unable to do much of what he had done before. So one of his sons decided he would just assume the throne for himself. However, David had stated that his son Solomon would be the one to follow him as king.

The prophet Nathan, David’s wife Bathsheba and others saw what was happening. So Nathan advised Bathsheba about approaching the king and letting him know what was going on. It took some courage for her to do this, but she did her part. She spoke on behalf of Solomon and reminded the king of what he had earlier pledged. Nathan supported her in what she was saying. King David honored his pledge and immediately ordered that Solomon be anointed as the new king of Israel.

Mother’s often exhibit tremendous courage when it comes to caring for their children. The love they have for their children produces whatever they need to fight for the wellbeing of their children. We give thanks for this love of a mother that most closely reflects the love God has for all of us.

Personal Worship Option:

Where do you see examples of women speaking up and stepping out to advocate for others? Look for opportunities to express your gratitude to them and consider joining their cause.