Daily Devotion, August 4, 2020

Devotion: Read John 19:25-27.

 As we consider our passage today, let's recall Simeon's prophecy given to Mary at Jesus' dedication in the temple: "And a sword will pierce your own soul too." (Luke 2:35b) Mary is near Jesus now, and her heart is broken, her soul has been pierced. She is consoled by friends. The disciple whom Jesus loved, St. John, one of three disciples closest to him, is the only male disciple who is at the foot of the cross as Jesus is dying. As Mary’s firstborn son, Jesus is legally responsible for his mother’s welfare. It is his responsibility to ensure that she has a place to live and food to eat during her widowhood. Jesus entrusts his mother to John's care. Look at the extent of Jesus' love. Here he is dying in agony, gasping for each breath. He sees his mother, the one who comforted him through all of childhood's cuts and bruises, teases and taunts. When he was a boy he would run home to mother and instantly be wrapped in her protective, comforting arms. But now as he sees her at the foot of the cross, heartbroken, weeping, inconsolable, his heart goes out to her. Rather than being consumed by an understandable concern for his own welfare, he is touched by hers. This brief moment at the foot of the cross reminds us of the great, sacrificial love he has for each of us. Personal Worship Option: Give God thanks today for this promise of Scripture: “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19

Daily Devotion, August 3, 2020

Devotion: Read Acts 1:12-14.

In our readings this week, we will draw lessons from the life of Mary, the mother of our Lord. Perhaps you would have expected us to begin the week with the account of the angel visiting the Virgin Mary in Nazareth as her introduction. But Mary needs no introduction, and we will begin here with the last mention of Mary in the New Testament and work our way back to the first one with the angel. Church tradition holds that the Apostle John moved to Ephesus, and as Mary’s caretaker (tomorrow’s passage), he took her with him to live until her death.

Luke wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts, and it was in his gospel that Luke says Mary “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” after Jesus’ birth and again after finding him at the age of twelve at the temple with the teachers, listening and asking questions. After all her close personal experiences with her son, Mary is found in today’s passage among those who are faithful to him as Lord, the Christ. Some scholars say Luke very likely learned about the details of the birth of Christ from Mary, who found her memories precious and who thought long and hard about their collective meaning. And after his crucifixion, Mary was named among those who believed in him. Personal Worship Option: Give thanks today for the very informed witness of Mary, who was able to move from seeing her son as a baby, then as a young carpenter, and finally as her Lord. Give thanks for other witnesses in your life whose views you respect and whose faith in Christ have helped to strengthen your own faith.

Daily Devotion, August 2, 2020

Devotion: Read Exodus 13:17-22.

  As we looked at yesterday, God’s people have a history of being on the move. And sometimes, they navigated off the map. They did not go the way most people expected. They didn’t always follow the usual route. The writer here in Exodus points out that God did not lead the people by the closer path. I don’t know if you have ever experienced a “backseat driver” but one of the things that earns them that title is “suggesting” that a different route be taken. I can only imagine how many of them Moses had along for this trip!

  When God was ready to choose a new king for Israel, Samuel was probably surprised when his “God’s Google Maps” app gave directions to Bethlehem. When Jesus was leading his disciples, they tried to tell him that he was supposed to walk around Samaria, but he led them “off their map” through that land. And when they tried to tell him it was too dangerous for him to go to Jerusalem, he said that’s exactly where he was going.

  

  The good news is that even when God directs us “off the map” to ways we don’t expect or want to go, God also promises to go with us and lead the way. “By day the Lord went ahead of them….to guide them on their way and by night….to give them light…” You may not see a “pillar of cloud or fire,” but be assured God is still leading the way! Personal Worship Option: Reflect on the people and ways by which God has led you at various times in your life. Offer a prayer of thanksgiving for each of those.

Daily Devotion, August 1, 2020

Devotion: Read Matthew 28:16-20.

  Let’s focus on just one word from these verses: “Go.” Throughout the Bible, God often said “Go.” To Abram, God said “Go to a land that I will show you.” To Moses, “Go tell Pharaoh to let my people go.” Through Moses and Joshua, God directed the people to go take the land they had been promised. To Esther, go to the king. To Jonah, go to Nineveh. And after Jesus gives these commissioning words to his disciples, he later converts Saul to take the name Paul and go proclaim the name of Jesus in many places. 

  This same Holy Spirit continues to call out to anyone who claims the name of Jesus with that word: “Go.” Go talk to your neighbor. Go serve those people. Go to that part of the city and get involved in making a difference. Go meet that need. Go shake things up. Go and give what you can. Go and listen. Go and just be there. Go and speak. Go and share from what you have been given.

  One other thought: this invitation to “go” can be more than just physical movement. Sometimes, the Spirit invites us to go from where we are in our spiritual life or beliefs. We need to move on to a new understanding or move to a deeper commitment to growing in the love and grace of Christ.

  Whether geographically, spiritually or in some other way, be assured that God will every so often begin a conversation with you with the word “Go.” Personal Worship Option: As you pray, be listening for where God might be calling you to go.

Daily Devotion, July 31, 2020

Devotion: Read Genesis 12:1-9.

The history of God’s people being a group on the move goes all the way back to God’s call to Abram to “Go...to the land I will show you.” Abram practiced an inside-out faith. What he believed in his mind and heart he put into practice. He turned trust into travel and experienced God in a unique way.  

God chose Abram and invited him into a life of faith and adventure. It was indeed a LEAP of faith to pack up his entire family and start on a journey with a destination unknown. Abram was promised a land and a legacy. Abram experienced the land, but the legacy of a great nation to bless the world - well Abram took that on faith. His faith journey was filled with highs and lows and above it all Abram continued to trust God. When God said “Go” Abram moved. His faith was demonstrated in his obedience. Personal Worship Option:

Be encouraged by the story of Abram who faithfully obeyed God in difficult situations. Today, ask God to help you be faithful under pressure and to have a willingness to obey without the end in sight.

Daily Devotion, July 30, 2020

Devotion: Read Hebrews 11:8-10.

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. – Hebrews 11:8 (NLT) Finding your God-given purpose in life is a process. It may take some time to find your purpose and passion. It can keep you on the move. You will probably make some mistakes and take some wrong turns along the way. The key is on the journey to not lose faith. It takes continuous faith to find and follow God’s plan and His leading.

In today’s Bible verse, we see that Abraham followed God’s leading for his life. He left his home and went to another land. He didn’t know what to do each step of the way. Abraham made some mistakes along the way too. However, Abraham kept faith in God. He knew that God would see him through. Abraham followed God in faith, without knowing where he was going. You might feel the same way sometimes. It could feel like you’re unsure of where you’re going or how God is leading you. The truth is God is good. He has your best interests at heart. God is going to lead you on a right path. It’s just up to you to trust Him. Finding your purpose takes faith because it isn’t always easy and doesn’t always make sense. But when you follow God’s plan, you’ll be more fulfilled and find good things along the way. Personal Worship Option: Are your prayers and actions guided consistently by a purposeful faith to fulfill God’s plan for your life?

Daily Devotion, July 29, 2020

Devotion: Read Acts 16:9-15.

Comfort zones. We rarely like to move beyond our comfort zones. But God called Paul through a vision to move beyond his comfort zone. The calling came through a vision of a man of Macedonia pleading with Paul and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us".

God was calling Paul through this vision to go more than 600 miles beyond his comfort zone to present the gospel message of Jesus Christ to people he had never before met. He had to overcome rough geographical terrain and the barriers of the culture so that his message of God’s love through Christ could be received.

A global firm announced recently it is making Chattanooga its U.S. home. Their focus is on teaching international business teams how to navigate the barriers of geography and culture. Even in 2020, we have to be trained to overcome these barriers. Just imagine the cultural and geographical barriers over 2000 years ago! Only with the empowering help of the Holy Spirit was it possible then and now!

Lydia was also moved beyond her comfort zone. The second part of verse 14 says, “The Lord opened her heart to receive all that was said.” 

Dr. Ronald Cole-Turner says, “Lydia is able to see through the events on the surface to the deeper workings of God’s Spirit. She comes to worship because she is hungering for something more in life, something beyond the commercial success she has apparently achieved. She is hungering for more because that restless Spirit, who is surely in us all before we ever know it, has stirred up a holy longing in her soul. Every step of the way, the Spirit prompts and calls and blesses her and, through her, blesses us.”

As this year has been filled with more uncertainty than certainty, it has truly changed all of our “plans”. During Paul’s journeys his plans changed, too! But God was at work hearing the cries of the people to bring grace and salvation through Christ unto all the people of the world! Personal Worship Option:

Dear Lord, help me to be willing to move beyond my “comfort zones” to respond to the cries of the people who are hungry to know of your hope and saving grace. Open the hearts of the people to be receptive to hear your message of good news that Christ gave his life to give life unto us all. Amen.