Daily Devotion, October 7, 2019

Devotion:

Read Luke 24:1-8.

Perhaps you were surprised to read this “seasonal” passage on this day in October, far from Easter. But the story of the resurrection of Christ is central to our faith as Christians and should be read frequently. It is funny how different passages of Scripture bring images to our minds, and those images are just as varied as we are. For me, our Easter sunrise service at Christ Church often comes to mind when I read this. When we gather at dawn, it is usually a bit cold and damp, and it is easy to picture what it would have been like for the women making their way to the tomb on that morning to fulfill a sad duty. Their world had been turned totally upside down when their teacher and Lord died on Friday on a criminal’s cross. As our sunrise service begins and progresses, the horizon lightens and the sun rises. In that early spring morning air, we can often hear birds as they begin to sing out. Our spirits rise, and we are prepared to celebrate Easter and worship the Risen Christ again and again.

In our lives, there are seasons of spring when new things are happening and we look forward to whatever is coming next. This passage brings us back to the fundamental reason for hope in this life and in the next.

Personal Worship Option:

Read this passage again and let the words fill you with the hope of eternal life. Give thanks for renewal and “spring” times of life when we see renewal and fresh beginnings, even in October. Give thanks that the tomb is still empty, and we serve a Risen Christ!

Daily Devotion, October 6, 2019

Devotion:

Read Genesis 40:9-15, 23 - 41:1a.

  Early in his life, Joseph had it good. He was the favorite son of his father and relished that position. And he discerned a gift from God for interpreting dreams. In all of this, he became over-confident and hard to be around.

  Because of his brother’s jealousy, he ended up a slave in Egypt. But things had gone well for him there, until he was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and was put in prison. Even there, things had gone as well as they could. He was able to assist two of the prisoners, former assistants to the Pharaoh, by interpreting their dreams. He asked the cupbearer to remember him when he got out. I am intrigued by the last verse of chapter 40 and the first phrase of the next chapter: “The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him. When two full years had passed…”

  That had to be a long two years. Plenty of time to become bitter. Plenty of time to be angry with God. We might call it a possible “wintertime” of the soul. Yet apparently, Joseph continued to trust in God and maintain his relationship with God.

  We all have those “wintertimes” of our soul. There are many shapes and sizes for them and their duration can vary widely. The good news is that they do not last, unless we insist that they do. God is always waiting and willing to carry us through and beyond them to a spring of something new.

Personal Worship Option:

Natalie Sleeth wrote these words to “Hymn of Promise” back in 1986:

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree; 

in cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!

In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,

unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

Daily Devotion, October 5, 2019

Devotion:

Read Psalm 51:1-12.

  The heading of this Psalm lets us know that David wrote it in response to his sinful behavior with Bathsheba and follow-up transgressions related to her husband. He is suffering the consequences of his sin, primarily in what he has done to his relationship with God.

  Sin always results in consequences. They are not always known by others, but they are always present. In those times when we are dealing with the consequences of our sin, life can feel lifeless. We may experience some level of tension or even separation from people important to us. We know that our soul has been damaged and we hurt inside. Most of all, we know that we have harmed our relationship with God.

  But David knew this God of “unfailing love,” this God who forgives because of “your great compassion…” He knew the Source of forgiveness and restoration. So he acknowledged and repented of his sin. He admitted it and turned from it.

  In those times of dealing with consequences of our sin, it can seem like a “winter” time where there is no life. However, when we repent and seek to live the way of Christ, we can trust that God will forgive and renew us. A time of new life (“spring”) will come.

Personal Worship Option:

Reflect on a time of “winter” in your life, when all seemed lifeless. Give thanks to God for bringing you through that time.

Daily Devotion, October 4, 2019

Devotion:

Read Luke 23:44-49.

At the death of Jesus, it must have seemed to his followers that life would never be the same. Their life must have seemed lifeless. Even nature seemed to grieve. The sun stopped shining and darkness enveloped the land. At that moment all seemed lost. But time moved forward and life continued because this was not the end of the story.

This is also true for us. There are those moments in our lives that darkness overwhelms us. However, that is not the end of the story. Life continues and God is with us every step of the way. His “Light” shines even in the darkness and it is that hope that spurs us on through grief, trials, and setbacks.

Personal Worship Option:

Prayer for today: “Father, thank you for the depth of your love. You sent your Son to die so that I could be redeemed. Thank you that you want to have a relationship with me. Remind me that even in the tough times you are with me. You will never leave me. You are still writing our story. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Daily Devotion, October 3, 2019

Devotion:

Read Acts 8:1-3.

Being a science major in college, I studied many cycles of the flow of water and nutrients in plants, and trees. In the winter, deciduous trees and perennial plants appear to be dead. You can see no life in them from the outside. You would assume they have nothing going on, but really there is much activity. That is the way God sometimes works in us. In our troubled times we can’t always see God involved in our situation, but He is always there trying to make something positive come from the hard time or that bleak situation. 

In this scripture, it is a troubled time for the early Christians. Saul is persecuting Christians in a harsh way and the believers were fleeing so it appeared that Christianity might be stamped out or made dormant. God does two things with this rage of Saul's: He forces the church out of Jerusalem into Judea and Samaria to share the Good News as He had planned, and He makes the early church depend not upon the apostles but upon the Spirit distributed to everyone. These were ordinary, plain Christians like you and me. They began to develop the gifts of evangelism, of witnessing, of help, wisdom, knowledge, teaching, and all of the gifts. They spread the Gospel even when they were unsure of the consequences.

Personal Worship Option:

Dear God, help us see you in the “winters” of our lives. Guide us through the troubles making us rely on our faith. Amen

Daily Devotion, October 2, 2019

Devotion:

Read Exodus 3:7-8.

The Children of Israel had faced many years of slavery in Egypt, yet God still heard their cry and came to rescue them.

It’s just two brief verses which we might traditionally read through very quickly. We might pay attention to the verses prior of Moses experience with God’s call to him from the burning bush. Or we might pay attention to the verses afterwards when Moses asks for God’s name. But if we pause and read verses 7-8 very slowly, we read God’s profound words of hope.

Pay attention to the verbs—-“I have seen, I have heard, and I am concerned.” This is God speaking! God sees, hears and is concerned when we are in the “winters” of our lives.

And read the action verb statements in verse 8, “I have come down to rescue and to bring them out”——These are strength-giving words of hope! These are words of hope for Moses, the Israelites who were in slavery, and for us today!

Moses and the Israelites had to walk through a desert to get to the Promised Land, but God was with them every step of the way.

The soul’s work during the winter season sometimes takes us through a desert to get to spring, but it’s in the desert that our relationship with God grows. And we enter the new season with a greater appreciation of God’s deliverance.

Personal Worship Option:

God hears our prayers. Is today a day you need to pour out your heart about the “winter of the soul” you are experiencing? Know that God hears and understands. God will be continually present to walk with you into a new season.

Daily Devotion, October 1, 2019

Devotion:

Read Luke 8:42b-48.

The bleeding woman had lived a hopeless existence for 12 years. The scripture tells us she suffered from a seemingly incurable condition that caused her to bleed constantly and was known as an unclean woman. She visited many doctors who treated her poorly and took her money. Imagine the isolation she must have felt. She was at her ropes end. This was her long “winter of hardship.” Then she heard about Jesus. Think about the effort it must have taken for her to walk the great distance to see him. Finally, she reached him. In this moment, she faced her greatest hope and her greatest fear. If she touched him, she knew her bleeding would cause Jesus to be unclean under Jewish law. If she didn’t touch him, she might never be healed. Which was greater – her fear or her hope? She reached down to the hem of his garment and touched Jesus. Jesus, at once feeling the healing power leave his body, turned to find the one who touched him. I imagine this woman was very frightened at this point for she knew that she had been unclean when she touched him. Trembling and feeling as if she had done something wrong, she fell at his feet and told the truth. Then Jesus called out affectionately, “Daughter, your faith healed you. Go in peace and be free from your suffering.” With fear and trembling, this woman took an action of faith. We can say she did it afraid. Have you ever found yourself in an impossible situation? Have you ever felt afraid to approach the Master? No matter what issue we face in our own season of life, we should never allow our fear to overshadow our hope in Christ. We too can do it afraid.

Personal Worship Option:

Think today about your greatest challenge. Know that you have hope in Christ to overcome it. Like this bleeding woman, walk toward Jesus. Trust him to heal the brokenness of your hardship.