Daily Devotion for September 7, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 6:24.

Tomorrow in worship, we will continue to explore some of the ways that Jesus began to put his teaching from the “Sermon on the Mount” into practice after he left the mountain. In one such situation, he continued to teach about making him the absolute priority in our life. That directly relates to this verse from chapter six. Here is how The Message translates this verse: “You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money both.” 

Have you ever wondered why Jesus offered this teaching? Why would he need to speak to this issue? Obviously, he had observed that people try to do this very thing. We try to say that we love God while still seeking after the things of this world and letting those things take on too much importance for us. They become like a god/priority for us, even though we continue to say that God is our priority. Is money and the things of this world a resource for you to use in service to God or are they what you think you have to have in order to be content? The answer to that question will help you determine who or what you are worshiping.

Personal Worship Option:

Offer this prayer or one in your own words: Lord, I thank you for the resources you allow me to have in this world. Open my eyes to any way I let any of them have control over me. Guide me to use all I have for your glory and mission. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Devotion for September 6, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read Philippians 2:5-8.

To be followers of Jesus Christ is to follow his example of “emptying himself” to become human and offering his sacrificial love for the good of all people. Jesus was willing to give up his rights in order to obey God and serve people.

Often people excuse selfishness or pride by claiming their rights. They think “I deserve this . . .” or “I worked hard for . . .” or “I have a right to do . . .” But as believers we should have a different attitude, one that enables us to lay aside our rights in order to serve others. If we say we follow Christ, we must also say we want to live as he lived. We should develop his attitude of humility as we serve, even when we are not likely to get recognition for our efforts. It is all about serving out of love for God and for others, not out of guilt or fear. Remember, you can choose your attitude. You can approach life expecting to be served, or you can look for opportunities to serve others.

Personal Worship Option:

Reflect on Christ's sacrifice for you. Who can you serve today?

Daily Devotion for September 5, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 4:18-22.

As Jesus sought his disciples, it was a life-changing invitation and commitment. They followed Him completely. Today Jesus is calling us to be all in on the path of discipleship. Discipleship is more than attending church or studying about Jesus. It is a journey of obedience, growth, and sharing what it means to be a Christian. Just as he called his first disciples to follow him, Jesus invites us to do the same. This might even mean changing the work we do. The main point is to let go of pursuits that would hinder our devotion to him.

Our aim as disciples is to follow our Jesus by living out His teachings. Through an intimate relationship with Jesus, we grow toward His likeness and are empowered to make an impact for good in the world around us.

Following Jesus is challenging, but it offers an abundant life and lifetime purpose. We discover the joy of knowing Jesus deeply, experiencing His presence, and becoming advocates for His kingdom. Our faith is strengthened, our character is shaped, and our lives can bear lasting fruit.

Personal Worship Option:

Today let’s respond to Jesus’ call with complete commitment. Lord Jesus, thank you for your call to discipleship. Transform us with your love to follow you faithfully, knowing you are with us. Amen.

Daily Devotion for September 4, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read 1 Chronicles 21:18-24.

In our scripture lesson for today, King David is commanded by the Angel of the Lord to secure the threshing floor owned by Ornan the Jebusite in order to build an altar to the Lord. This site would form the basis for the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem. When Ornan saw that the person approaching him was David, the king of Israel, he bowed down before him and offered to give him the property for whatever purpose he wanted at no charge. Ornan even offered to provide the oxen for the sacrifice at no cost to his king. While Ornan’s offer was well intentioned, David was having none of it. He said, “No, I will buy them from you at a fair price. I won’t offer to the Lord what belongs to you nor offer an entirely burned offering that costs me nothing. Then David gave Ornan six hundred shekels of gold for the site. (v. 24-25, CEB).

David had sinned and was sorry for that sin and the judgment that it was bringing upon the people of Israel. When he obeyed the messenger of the Lord and approached Ornan to purchase his property, he insisted that Ornan not give the property to David, but to accept David’s offer to purchase the property for the future temple. In the same way that securing this property came at a cost to David, so our submitting to the will of God will come at a cost. German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer reminds us that “cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”

Personal Worship Option:

Take time to think about the sacrifice that you make in order to live into God’s will for you. What does it mean to submit your will in favor of God’s will?

Daily Devotion for September 3, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read Daniel 3:13-18.

King Nebuchadnezzar had set up a large statue of gold of himself and wanted every person in the nation to bow down to it. Three young men, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, known more as Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego, had refused to bow down to the statue. The king gave them several chances to change their minds, warning them that they would be thrown into a hot, fiery furnace if they did not do it. The men stated that God would deliver them, but even if He did not, they still would not bow down to that statue. They would obey and follow God, no matter what happened.

It is common to hear of a person who had believed in God for a time, but chose to walk away from God because God did not deliver them from something. One of the more common reasons is that the person prayed for healing for a loved one and God did not heal the person. The person prayed for died without healing. The one praying gives up on God and walks away.

Acting like that does not give God absolute authority or control. God is the one in control and knows what is best for each and every person.

In the Old Testament, God made the rule not to bow down to idols. The young men chose to do that regardless of what God does. They did not set any stipulations on obeying God.

You have to set it in your heart that you will follow God, no matter what the cost is or what He will or will not do. You have to trust that He is doing everything that is the best for you.

Make the choice to not bow down to any idols in this world. Worship God and God alone. In reality, the worst that can happen is death, which then will allow you to step into heaven for eternity.

Who are you going to bow down and worship today?

Personal Worship Option:

I pray today that God will reveal His power to you; that God will strengthen you to not bow to sin; that you will turn from all sin to God; and that you will not fear this world or anyone in it.

Daily Devotion for September 2, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read Exodus 20:1-3.

The Ten Commandments are bedrock teachings for both Jews and Christians. When asked what the most important commandment was, Jesus basically said to love God, closely followed by loving our neighbor. Interestingly, the first four of the Ten Commandments are about loving God and the remaining six are about loving other people, our neighbors.

The first of the commandments in Verse 3 makes it really clear that God is our one and only God, and we are to have no other gods. When Moses delivered these commandments to the Children of Israel, literally worshiping other gods was a real issue. They had been introduced to lots of other gods during their time in Egypt. But this commandment still hits home for us today. If we have priorities in our lives that pull us away from God and the church, those other priorities become like gods to us. Success in our careers, accumulation of material things, seeking after power or popularity, and so many other things, even good things, can become our gods when they drive our lives.

Personal Worship Option:

Pray with me: Gracious God, help me to make you the very first priority in my life, so that all else flows around you. Forgive me when I let other things become gods that push you aside. I love you and desire to put you first. May your will be done in my life! Amen.

Daily Devotion for September 1, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 8:1-13.

“When Jesus came down from the mountainside….” Yes, there always comes that time to come down from the mountain and deal with the opportunities and challenges of everyday life. As soon as Jesus came down, he encountered someone in need. Now according to Law, or at least the generally accepted interpretations of it in that day, he was not supposed to touch this leper. To do so would make him unclean. But “Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.” He crossed a line of that day in order to bring healing to someone in need.

Shortly after that, another situation confronted him, one which again would cause controversy among some of the teachers and leaders of God’s people at that time. A centurion approached Jesus, seeking help for his paralyzed servant. A centurion was a Roman army commander, overseeing a hundred men. The Roman army was the enemy. Many people agreed with the teaching that said “Don’t help him. Don’t help any of them. They are evil people! We may have to tolerate them, but we certainly don’t have to help them!” However, on the mountain, Jesus had just taught his followers to “love your enemies…” Here, he is given an opportunity to put that teaching into practice. And he did. He even complimented this guy on his faith, encouraging those around to follow his example.

Love your enemies. It’s one thing to believe that and to agree that we need to do that. It’s another thing to actually do it.

Personal Worship Option:

What enemy is God challenging you to love today? Join us in worship as we all worship God together and continue to learn how to live this way of Christ together.