Daily Devotion, February 15, 2023

 

Devotion:

Read Acts 2:42-47.

Worship and praise can be expressed in both words and actions. All that God was doing among these people of the early Church created in them a sense of awe and a desire to praise God for all that was happening.

The word, “worship” has its origins in the words,” worthiness or worth-ship”. We are giving honor and dedicating our all to God, the One who is worthy. 

Acts 2 is the story of Pentecost when God’s Spirit was in the midst of the people who had gathered from many lands in Jerusalem. True worship was coming from hearts of gratitude and realizations of God’s grace and love offered unto each and all the people of the world, through God’s gift in Christ.

The actions of devoting themselves to the Apostles’ teaching, sharing all things in common, breaking bread, praying, being in fellowship together, selling property and possessions to give to anyone in need, meeting together and giving praise to God, were all ways of expressing their worship unto God.

From The Message, it says, “And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony.” And, “They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God.” Worship was a part of their daily life!

The church of my childhood had week-long church services during the autumn and spring seasons. We had daily morning services before school and work. We had fellowship suppers in homes before the evening services. Prior to these weeks, we had evening cottage prayer meetings in homes. Instead of being exhausting, our hearts, energy and joy were renewed with God’s spirit!

Perhaps that’s not practical these days, but how can we live our lives in ways which are expressions of worship in our everyday work, school, home and community life?

In both our actions and words of worship, we can be confident that God is present and is fully worthy of all of our expressions of worship. Whether with actions, words, or silent awe, wonder and amazement, God understands and receives our expressions of worship.

Personal Worship Option:

Acts 2:25-28 is a quote from Psalm 16:8-11. Acts 2:28 says, “You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” Let this be our prayer of praise and thanksgiving, today. Amen.

Daily Devotion, February 14, 2023

Devotion:

Read Psalm 8.

Imagine the scene. Young David is out under the stars at night watching his sheep. The stars are brilliant, and the moon is bright in the heavens. He considers the beauty of nature and its silent witness to the wisdom of God. He is astonished at the greatness of a God who could create such things and worships God in the stillness.

I recall times when I have experienced the awe of creation and was called to worship. When I gazed the depth of the Grand Canyon, the heights of the Alps and Rocky Mountains, the untamed beauty of Ireland’s west coast, the colossal sequoia trees of California, and the Dead Sea with its palm tree-lined mountains, I was moved by the majesty of God’s creation and paused to worship him with praise and adoration.

The Psalmist is in a state of worship and calls us to join him. The passage is the basis for one of my favorite choral works, “The Majesty and Glory of His Name.”

Picture David sitting under the night sky, tending his sheep, and writing these words as he worships God. Songwriter Tom Fettke put these words from Psalm 8 to music.

 

When I gaze into the night sky,

And see the work of Your fingers.

The moon and stars suspended in space.

But what is man that You are mindful of him?

You have given man a crown of glory and honor.

And have made him a little lower than the angels.

You have put him in charge of all creation;

The beasts of the field, the birds of the air, the fish of the sea.

But what is man, oh, what is man

That You are mindful of him?

 

O Lord, our God the majesty and glory of Your name

Transcends the earth and fills the heavens.

O Lord, our God little children praise Him perfectly.

And so would we, and so would we.

Alleluia, Alleluia. The majesty and glory of Your name!

Alleluia, Alleluia

Take a moment to reflect on a time when a beautiful sight moved you to worship God. Where were you? How did you express your praise and adoration to God. This week look for the beauty of creation as you go through your routines and then stop to praise and worship God for his majesty.

Personal Worship Option:

Worship God as you experience Sandi Patty’s rendition of “The Majesty and Glory of His Name.”

https://youtu.be/cUqoZZypck4

Daily Devotion, February 13, 2023

 

Devotion:

Read Genesis 28:10-22.

Jacob was on this journey from his homeland in Palestine to the land of his mother’s family because his brother Esau had vowed to kill him. Jacob and his mother had conspired and had tricked old Isaac into blessing him with the blessing that was rightly Esau’s. To this point in the story, we have seen no evidence of a relationship between Jacob and God. As Jacob lay sleeping, his dream enabled him to see that God was reaching out to bless him and to bless all people of the earth through him. For the first time, Jacob had a sense of awe of God, and he marked the spot as holy. One cannot help but smile to read the terms Jacob proposed for his new covenant with God…if God would do a number of things for him, Jacob promised that the Lord will be his God and Jacob will even tithe! 

Saul had his Damascus Road experience, and John Wesley had a dramatic awakening of his spiritual assurance in his Aldersgate experience. Each of us need experiences, although often much less dramatic than these, that help us to sense God’s awesome presence. Often those experiences come in our times of worship, public or private, when we open our hearts to God.

Personal Worship Option:

Was there a time when you, like Jacob, realized that God was seeking a personal relationship with you? Perhaps there have been more than one of those times. Give thanks that God loves you personally and individually and continues to reach out to you.

Daily Devotion, February 12, 2023

 

Devotion:

Read 1 Corinthians 13:8-12.

It’s commonly called “the love chapter” and while that is the focus of it, there is more instruction beyond that subject contained in these verses. This chapter is in the middle of three chapters where Paul is addressing the issue of spiritual gifts and how the people have allowed those to become divisive among them. Members of that church had apparently taken on too much pride about their particular gift, thinking it made them more important than others.

One area he addresses is “all mysteries and all knowledge.” Those who have a lot of knowledge and are able to teach others are certainly valuable to the church. And any of us can get to thinking that our “knowledge”, our opinions and understanding and beliefs are superior to others.

In the verses we are focused on today, he puts all of that into perspective: “...where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part…..Now I know in part….”

So much of what we think we know is really just “in my opinion.” In the sermon for today, we will continue this series that uses some popular texting language like “IMO” (“in my opinion”). Maybe our Christian witness would also be more effective if we learned another text message: IDK (“I don’t know”).

Personal Worship Option:

Plan to be part of worship each Sunday at Christ Church, either at 9:30 or 11:15. Ideally, join us on campus, but when you cannot, be sure to connect online. And let other people know about those same options. Maybe you could even offer to take them with you!

Daily Devotion, February 11, 2023

 

Devotion:

Read Proverbs 16:18.

It is interesting (and instructive) how often warnings about pride are the subject of the Proverbs. This verse probably sums up all of them the best. When we let pride take a dominant place in our mind and spirit, we start seeing other people and treating other people in ways that are not of God.

Let’s be clear: having a certain level of pride about who you are, your family and heritage can be good. It inspires you to pay attention to how you live your life each day and to set a good example for others.

However, it is so easy to “cross the line” into the kind of pride that looks down on other people and doesn’t acknowledge our own faults. We become less open (if at all) to listening to and learning from other people. We can get to thinking that our opinions and beliefs are the only ones that should be considered.

You can be sure that “living the way of Jesus Christ” includes being open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, who has something to teach all of us every day.

Personal Worship Option:

Consider this prayer: Lord, make me aware of any part of my life where I have let pride block me from changing to be the person you can create me to be. Through Christ, Amen.

Daily Devotion, February 10, 2023

 

Devotion:

Read Mark 8:31-33.

Last week, we looked at this same scene in the Gospel of Matthew, but with a different focus. This week, we note that it is possible to think you are following God’s will, but are instead working against it. Even though he was devoted to Jesus, Peter did not yet understand the thinking of his Lord.

Peter’s understanding of the Messiah was one of a conquering king who would establish his kingdom on earth right now. So, because Peter was Jesus’ friend, he sought to protect him from suffering. Often our most difficult temptations can come from those who love us and seek to protect us from discomfort. We do not always understand God’s plan and purposes especially when it involves pain and heartache.

 

Peter and the disciples were motivated by love and admiration for Jesus, but the disciples’ job was not to guide and protect Jesus but to follow him. Advice and counsel from others is important, but the loudest voice in the room should be God’s voice.

Personal Worship Option:

Reflect on which voices in your life are the loudest. Are you listening to those who are in sync with God and his Word? 

Daily Devotion, February 9, 2023

 

Devotion:

Read Romans 12:3, 16.

Paul’s letter to the Romans is filled with theology. In the beginning part of the book, Paul spends a lot of time explaining who God is and what He’s done for us. Then he gives us many commands as he shows how God’s love should affect our lives: Be joyful, patient, faithful, generous, humble, and hospitable. Our God is a relational God who wants us to experience the blessing of being connected which means we need to live in harmony and unity. We are not meant to be self-sufficient and isolated.

There is probably no part of our inner life that is more fragile than our self-concept. Parents must wisely help children develop a healthy concept of self but not lead them to think they are superior. We must not be boastful. All of us, in all stages of life, are shaped by our self-perception. In our Scripture reading for today, Paul cautions us, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought.” It’s easy for us to think highly of ourselves. We can easily sound proud. Paul does go on to say that we are all important and needed, as we are all members of the body of Christ, no matter what skills and gifts we possess.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord, please give us a humble and soft heart so that we can see all the grace and mercy you have given us. Let us not be boastful, but just serve you and serve people with the heart of a servant. We need your spirit to help us. Amen.