Daily Devotion, February 8, 2023

 

Devotion:

Read John 7:40-52.

Healthy Humility. True humility probably has never held a high value in this world. Yet true and healthy humility gives balance to our ego’s pride, need and pursuit for the wrong kind of power. In our journeys of faith in Christ, sometimes we can let our pride get the best of us. Sometimes, we might find ourselves quite prideful about our humility!

Many of the Pharisees were “overly confident” they knew the Scriptures well enough to recognize that Jesus was not the Messiah. In today’s reading, Nicodemus’ question to his fellow Pharisees caught my attention. “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?” (John 7:51) The gospel writer is helping us to hear and see the irony of the whole situation. The Pharisees are quite prideful in all that they know, but their ears are closed to Jesus, the One whom God sent to be the Messiah!

 

Sometimes, we too are quite prideful in all that we think that we already know. Our spiritual ears and eyes are closed to truly hearing and understanding the words of Jesus. Jesus understood the power of humility, not for selfish reasons or for his own glory. Jesus' humble service was motivated by love, for the sake of others, and for the glory to be given to God.

Jesus set the example of humility in washing his disciples’ feet and commanded them to go and do likewise. It’s interesting that the origin of the word “humble” means, “from the earth” or “close to the ground.” What an example of humility to wash the feet of another!

But humility is also about receiving. In John 13, Simon Peter didn’t think Jesus should be the one washing his feet, but Jesus said to him, “Unless I wash you, you shall have no part of me.” After Jesus’ resurrection, Peter would be the one needing Jesus’ forgiveness for his betrayal at the time of his crucifixion.

Personal Worship Option:

Christ has much to teach us. And Christ has much to teach us about the way of humility. Maybe, similar to the Pharisees, we too need to hear Christ (afresh and anew) and find out what he is doing. Maybe we too, like Simon Peter, need Christ’s mercy and forgiveness.

Daily Devotion, February 7, 2023

 

Devotion:

Read 1 Samuel 16:4-7.

It’s a natural tendency to judge the character and worth of others by how they look. If a person is tall, good-looking, well-built, and tastefully dressed, we assume he or she possesses physical qualities that humans generally admire and respect. But God has the unique ability to see inside a person. God knows our true character because he “looks at the heart.”

In our passage today Samuel goes to the house of Jesse in Bethlehem to anoint Israel’s next king. Samuel is impressed by Jesse’s oldest son, Eliab. But God tells Samuel, “Don’t look at his appearance or how tall he is, because I have rejected him. God does not see as humans see. Humans look at outward appearances, but the LORD looks into the heart”.

We can learn from this example that what’s inside is more important than what’s outside. God looks at the heart and we want to make sure that our heart is in tune with his.

Personal Worship Option:

When God looks at your heart, what does he see? Humbly confess today any sin that is keeping you from being in a right relationship with God. Make this your prayer today:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

Daily Devotion, February 6, 2023

 

Devotion:

Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-5.

1 Corinthians 13 is often referred to as the “love chapter,” because it describes love as we are supposed to exhibit it. Often and very fittingly read at weddings, this chapter indeed can apply to love shared in marriage, but it is more than that. In the preceding chapter, Paul teaches us about spiritual gifts. Then in Chapter 13, Paul teaches us how to live out our gifts in a spirit of love as Christ loved.

Among other things, today’s two verses call us to humility…we are not to boast, we are not to be prideful, and we are not to be self-seeking. This is counter cultural! I once had a professional counselor tell me I needed to change and become “less altruistic” if I was going to be successful as a leader in my career. I was puzzled by this, so I went back to the office and looked up “altruistic,” which means caring first for the needs and welfare of others. I thought carefully about the counselor’s advice and decided two things – 1) I was probably not as altruistic as he thought I was, and 2) his advice was not for me. The world teaches us to put ourselves first, but Christ calls us to love others in ways that put them first. Our relationship with Christ calls us to humility, not arrogance or pride.

Personal Worship Option:

Think about the opportunities you will have today or tomorrow to reflect the advice in these verses, showing humility before others. Pray that you will seize upon those opportunities when they arise and love as these verses call us to do.

Daily Devotion, February 5, 2023

 

Devotion:

Read Mark 3:13-19.

In this listing of Jesus’ disciples, “The Gospel According To Mark” tells us that some of them were known by other names or labels. They were “also known as…” Jesus apparently gave James and John a nickname which meant “sons of thunder.” One imagines that they could be temperamental. (In Luke chapter 9, he tells of a scene involving them that supports such a nickname.) This list tells us that Simon was also known as a Zealot, a radical group that sought to overthrow the government through violence. We are even reminded that Judas was the one who betrayed Jesus.  

Seeing those additions in that list caused me to wonder what the rest of us might also be known as. People know us by how we live our life. They know us by how we treat people. They know whether we can be trusted, whether we are peaceful or not and whether they could come to us for help. What are you “also known as”? That reputation (sometimes in the form of nicknames or labels) can be either good or bad.  

The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that no matter what negative reputation you may have had in the past, God can empower you to change and become a different person. You can go from being known as someone in a negative way to someone who is known in a positive light. You can be someone who is “learning to live the way of Jesus Christ…”

Personal Worship Option:

Join us in worship today at Christ Church, ideally on campus at either 9:30 or 11:15. If not there, be sure to connect online at some point. And look for opportunities to invite someone else to do so as well!

Daily Devotion, February 4, 2023

 

Devotion:

Read Mark 5:1-20.

One can only imagine the names people called this man. You can be sure that nobody would go near him. Everybody was most likely scared of him. Parents told their children to stay away from that area.

But Jesus did not let the man’s reputation prevent him from meeting and healing the man. He confronted what was torturing the man. Jesus cast the evil spirits out of him. And whereas Jesus often told those he healed to keep quiet about what had happened, he told this man to go and tell others what God had done for him.

I wonder how often we (I) let the reputation of someone, or some group keep us from meeting with them personally and confronting whatever it is that has caused us to be separated. We say we believe God is all-powerful, but too often, we act as if there are certain powers and situations in this world that we are not sure God could help us deal with. So, we stay away.

 

Not all of us are asked to deal with the level of darkness Jesus confronted in this story. But we are invited by our Lord to go and be with people who are struggling in various ways. Who is that person with the bad reputation that God is calling you to befriend?

Personal Worship Option:

Offer a prayer to God, asking for wisdom and courage to initiate a relationship with someone who is looked down on by others.

Daily Devotion, February 3, 2023

 

Devotion:

Read Acts 4:36-37.

A follower of Jesus named Joseph was also known by the apostles as Barnabas, apparently because he was always encouraging them. Barnabas was a respected leader of the church. He was a Levite by birth, a member of the Jewish tribe that carried out Temple duties. But his family had moved to Cyprus, so Barnabas didn’t serve in the Temple. However, he was the first to personally endorse Paul and traveled with him on Paul’s first missionary journey. Barnabas was an unassuming person who seemed to be around when you needed him. Barnabas came to John Mark’s defense when the young man left Paul and Barnabas during a mission trip. Barnabas’ encouragement to Paul, John Mark, Silas and countless others helped to spread the gospel message.

Was it his ability? Or availability? Barnabas was incredible because he was intentional. He determined daily to be for and with people - and to stand by them.

Personal Worship Option:

Make a list of those people in your life who have been encouragers. Spend time thanking God for them. Send a text, email, card, or phone call to thank them for their impact in your life.

Daily Devotion, February 2, 2023

 

Devotion:

Read 1 Samuel 13:5-14.

Does impatience seem like a sin or mistake? Saul’s sin may not seem so bad to us. He just didn’t wait for the prophet Samuel to come back to offer sacrifices to God, and he offered the sacrifices himself. What’s wrong with that? Saul had been told to wait till Samuel came.

Saul did wait, but as the situation got worse, he and his troops were fearful. The enemy, the Philistines, greatly outnumbered them as they were closing in. Saul’s men were hiding and then they began to scatter. Samuel did not come when they expected him. Saul did wait for the seven days, but then just before Samuel came, Saul took matters into his own hands and offered sacrifices to God. Saul thought the people needed a leader of action, but Samuel knew they needed one who could show them how to trust and obey. Saul’s disobedience cost him a kingdom.

Sometimes any action seems better than waiting, especially when it appears as if everything is crumbling around us. We reason that we are at least doing something instead of nothing. But in our impatience, we often make things worse instead of better. Often we show that we don’t really trust God to guide us and give us what we need.

Personal Worship Option:

Are you willing to trust, obey, and wait? Everlasting God, help us to understand that you are not slow in keeping your promises, so that we may wait patiently in Jesus. Amen.