Daily Devotion for August 12, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 6:1-4.

As the Sermon on the Mount continues, Jesus teaches one lesson after another on what it means to live as one of his followers. It amazes me how well he understands human (my) nature. When we do something good or commendable, we tend to want others to know about it. We want to build our reputation as caring and generous people. But that is not the way of Christ!

I love the way he urges absolute confidentiality by saying, “do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing…” That is really being secretive about our generosity! In some ways, Jesus is asking whether we wish to impress others by making a fanfare over our giving or if we want to please God by giving quietly, knowing that God sees us and rewards that kind of giving. I never read this passage without remembering Matthew 5:15, which tells us to not hide our lights but to let others see our good deeds and glorify God. There is no contradiction here! We are to give to others quietly and privately or we will reap the glory; but when we can give God the credit for our good deeds, we are to do those openly as a powerful witness.

Personal Worship Option:

Forgive me, Almighty God, when I desire credit and praise from others for the small things I do to help others. And when others see me doing the right thing, help me to always give you the credit. This goes against our human nature, and I need your help with this. Amen!

Daily Devotion for August 11, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 5:43-48.

For me, this is the height of Jesus’ teaching. It is appropriate that he is on a mountain when he gives this lesson. This particular teaching is the “Mt. Everest” of how he taught us to live and be as his people.

The world teaches us to hate our enemies; to try to destroy them. Even as Christians, we sometimes think that the best thing to do is just stay away from them. Moving up another level of relating to them might be to simply tolerate them in some way.

But love them? Come on, Jesus, you can’t be serious! Yes, he’s serious. And he showed us how to live this teaching. He not only walked through Samaria, but he shared his good news message with Samaritans and told stories of them being “good people.” He healed a Roman army officer’s slave. He prayed for the forgiveness of those who crucified him. Because of his love for everyone, he even gave his life for everyone, even those who did not love him.

He called his people to do more than everyone else does. It is easy to love those who love you. But can you love those who hate you? Only if you let the same Spirit that was in Jesus guide and empower you. Stay connected to that Spirit every day.

Personal Worship Option:

Join us in worship today as we reflect on this first part of the “Sermon On The Mount” from Jesus and worship the God he revealed to us.

Daily Devotion for August 10, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 5:33-42.

We continue through this opening section of the “Sermon On The Mount” in Matthew’s Gospel with two more lessons from Jesus on what it means to be his people. The first one has to do with living our life in such a way that people can trust what we say. Over the years, I’ve heard people use phrases like “I swear on a stack of Bibles” or “I swear on my mother’s grave” in an attempt to get someone to believe what they have just told them. If we are always honest with people, then they will know they can trust us when we tell them something.

The second lesson is Jesus once again raising the bar on how people treat each other. In the days of the Old Testament, “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” had raised the bar in that time. Jesus taught an ethic that went well beyond that understanding. We are not to strike back or seek revenge on those who do or say things against us. His people are to always seek to do good to others and not let someone else’s behavior determine how we are going to act. It can be a very difficult way to live at times, but he showed us that it could be done by how he lived his life.

Personal Worship Option:

Reflect on ways you have encountered the situations these two lessons are about. Pray for wisdom and courage to live the way of Christ in your everyday life.

Daily Devotion for August 9, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 5:27-32.

More often than not, we avoid the extreme sins but regularly commit the types of sins with which Jesus was most concerned. In these two examples, our real struggle with sin is exposed. Jesus pointed out what kind of lives would be required of his followers. Jesus raised the standard of understanding about not committing adultery and divorce.

Sinful actions are more dangerous than sinful desires, and that is why desires should not be acted out. Nevertheless, sinful desires are just as damaging to obedience. Left unchecked, wrong desires will result in wrong actions and turn people away from God.

Jesus didn’t mean literally to gouge out your eye, but he was conveying the seriousness of this offense. We sometimes tolerate sins in our life that, left unchecked, could eventually destroy us. It is better to experience the pain of removal (getting rid of a bad habit or something we treasure) than to allow the sin to bring judgment and condemnation. 

Divorce is as hurtful and destructive today as in Jesus’ day. God intends marriage to be a lifetime commitment. We are always to be looking for reasons to restore the marriage relationship rather than excuses to leave it.

Personal Worship Option:

Examine your life for anything that causes you to sin and take every necessary action to remove it from your life.

Daily Devotion for August 8, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 5:21-26.

A driver rudely cuts you off on the freeway, and you blast the horn to show them what you think of their driving. Someone says untrue things that have hurt you, and you’ve spent months being angry over it. Anger can be incredibly caustic when we let it simmer in our hearts. It can eat away at marriages, relationships, and friendships. Anger can ruin a career in one foolish outburst. Jesus warns us that if it is left unchecked, anger can escalate from name-calling, hostility, and even murder. We may think we are obeying God’s law against murder if we don’t kill. But Jesus warns that the root of murder lies in our heart if we let anger fester.

How do we deal with anger? Jesus calls us to be active in seeking reconciliation with our neighbors. Even if they are the ones who have wronged us, we are called to take it upon ourselves to make things right again. That is so hard to do in real life. Jesus set the example by making peace with his enemies, which includes us. While we were yet sinners, Jesus died to reconcile us to his Father. If we show God’s love, He will take away the anger in our hearts.

Personal Worship Option:

God, In our pride we often hate those who have wronged us. You showed supreme love and humility by dying for us even when we were your enemies. Help us to be willing to do the same. Amen.

Daily Devotion for August 7, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 5:17-20.

The devotions this week have touched upon the Scriptures that open the Sermon on the Mount. In today’s passage, Jesus is reacting to those persons who were accusing him of teaching a new religion, one that declared that the old law has been invalidated by Jesus. But Jesus assures the listeners that he hasn’t come to “abolish the law, but to fulfill it,” or to take it to the next level. Jesus “kicks it up a notch” as Chef Emeril Lagasse would say, and he gives examples in the following verses of the higher standard to which he calls us.

The higher standard to which Jesus calls us is all about love: love of God and love of neighbor as the highest ideal. When we are all about living into that “deep, deep love of Jesus” we are “moving on toward perfection,” moving closer to the God who seeks relationship with us and moving closer to the coming of God’s will to be done “on earth as it is in heaven.”

Personal Worship Option:

Take a moment to sit quietly then pray, “O God, help me to love you and love others as you love me. Help me to live my life as an example of your love in such a way that others will want to know how to gain the kind of peace and joy that comes from living into your love. Amen.”

Daily Devotion for August 6, 2024

 

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 5:13-16.

OK, how many of us get really excited when we see a bag of chips or a box of crackers that says, “reduced sodium”?

Well, probably none of us.

Because salt is delicious. It’s why chips and crackers and French fries and pizza and many other things taste good. Salt exists to make food better. That is one of its God-given purposes.

In this passage Jesus says we are “the salt of the earth” . . . and “the light of the world.” He doesn’t say we “can be” or “should be” these things. He says we already are, by way of our new identity in him. Jesus expects us to bless people, to build them up, and to do what we can to help meet their needs. He expects us to use our words and our actions to stick out in this dark world, pointing people to the kingdom of God.

This isn’t limited to formal ministry in the church. The ways we treat our spouses, talk to our coworkers, and use our resources or engage with social media are all examples of how we are called to be salt and light. Every sphere of life presents us with salt and light opportunities.

If we walk in step with Christ, putting his desires ahead of our own, we are like a welcome seasoning to enhance the taste of good food, or like a beacon of light shining in this dark world.

Personal Worship Option:

Father, help me to be salt and light in my community, and to use my words and my actions to show the world what you are like. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.