Pastor Mary Haley

Intro: In our passage today from the gospel of Luke, the newborn Jesus is taken to the temple and presented or consecrated to the Lord. This obedient act of Joseph and Mary fulfills the ceremonial law and is a public announcement that this baby belongs to God (Lev. 12:2-3). Jesus is approximately one month old at this time.

While the holy family is at the temple, first we meet Simeon—an elder and prophetic man of God. Simeon’s arrival to the temple is ordained and orchestrated by God who is planning a miraculous blessing for this righteous man. Simeon has been waiting a long time to witness the consolation of Israel—the coming of the Messiah to remove Israel’s sorrow and comfort the nation.

Can you imagine Simeon’s exuberant joy to the revelation that he is holding the Messiah? The One for whom he had waited years to arrive—the One who will set God’s people free from sin, evil, and error—rests in his old and weary arms. As Simeon holds his Savior, the peace of God fills his soul. He is overwhelmed by this honor.

Simeon bubbles over with a prophetic message for Joseph and Mary. I am sure the message is bittersweet to their hearing and understanding. Simeon shares a promise, as well as a warning. He prophesies that Jesus will have a different affect on the heart of people—he will be accepted by some and rejected by others. Jesus will be the target of evil, because he brings the message of life with God.

Next at the temple, we meet the widow Anna—a prophetess—who speaks the Word of God and proclaims the truth. Like Simeon, Anna hangs onto her hope to see the Messiah. God has arranged for Anna to be there, because she will now share the Good News and truth with others that the Redeemer has indeed arrived. The glorious Hope of the world has come to the rescue!

I find it inspiring these two elderly saints never loose their hope in the promises of God. If you have invited Christ into your heart and life, you have the Living Savior as your Friend and the Holy Spirit as your Companion. So, whatever is going on in your life, never forget the Savior now holds you in his mighty arms and he has promised to deliver you into his eternal goodness. He has come to rescue you from sin, evil, and error, as well as give you eternal hope!

Luke 2:25-38 NLT The Prophecy of Simeon
25 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him 26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 
“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace,
    as you have promised.
30 
I have seen your salvation,
31 
    which you have prepared for all people.
32 
He is a light to reveal God to the nations,
    and he is the glory of your people Israel!”

33 Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. 35 As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”

The Prophecy of Anna
36 Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. 37 Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. 38 She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.

Prayer: Lord, I know I hold you in my heart, but a greater reality is that you hold me in your righteous arms and actually invite me to dwell in your holy heart. Thank you for loving me and giving me the right to use your name, Jesus! Amen.

Intro: Scripture often speaks to the eternal majesty or glory of God. All glory is of God and is manifest through his perfect character and attributes. God created all things for his glory (Is. 43:7). As I look out the window by my desk this morning, I notice the beautiful sun rising, the gentle breeze blowing, the palm trees swaying rhythmically to the wind, the birds singing, and the sounds of created life stirring around me. These things are not God, but all things find their source in him; in his glory. How precious is the love of God for us to allow his creation to experience his glorious attributes in tangible ways such as these?

According to Psalm 8:5, human beings were made in the image of God and crowned with his glory. Sin robbed the glory, but Jesus came to restore our connection to God, so we may once again behold the glory of God. Despite the many ways humanity may disappoint or reject God, he is still concerned for all of his creation; all of it belongs to God. He remains faithful even when we are not. If you struggle to understand your worth to God, I want you to think about the divine glory made available to you today in Christ. The glory of the sovereign Lord is restored to whosoever will by faith receive salvation in Jesus the Christ. As a redeemed son or daughter you have new life in the glory of God. So, our challenge is to move beyond our flesh and live revealing and releasing the glory of God’s presence in us.

What is the believers daily response to God’s glory? According to Scripture, the answer is confession, worship, and praise. When we confess our sin, we are recognizing the righteousness and justice of God to whom all creation is accountable. When we worship God with our lives, we are revealing the importance we place on our relationship with God by demonstrating honor and obedience to him. And, when we praise we are giving weight to the faith we have in God’s glorious goodness to perfectly care for his own.

My friends, if we are honest, we have all sinned by exchanging the glory of the eternal God for the favor of temporal human beings. This world, our nation, and communities have the invitation to connect in the glory of God. We make the choice based on our faith in who God has revealed himself to be in the Word. What God proclaims as sin, is simply the truth because he is holy and knows what aligns with his glory. What God proclaims as righteous is what we must embrace, because he has become our first Love. God is the eternal King ruling over his kingdom. So do not take the glory of God for granted. Humanity is but a vapor. We are here and have human life for a little while and then we vanish; but God is the Sovereign [supreme ruler] and nothing and no one is more powerful (James 4:14).

Psalm 93
1 
The Lord is king! He is robed in majesty.
    Indeed, the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength.
The world stands firm
    and cannot be shaken.
2 
Your throne, O Lord, has stood from time immemorial.
    You yourself are from the everlasting past.
3 
The floods have risen up, O Lord.
    The floods have roared like thunder;
    the floods have lifted their pounding waves.
4 
But mightier than the violent raging of the seas,
    mightier than the breakers on the shore—
    the Lord above is mightier than these!
5 
Your royal laws cannot be changed.
    Your reign, O Lord, is holy forever and ever.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for inviting me into your glorious presence. With your help, I will walk with unshakeable faith knowing you reign over all things and your promises are true. I confess my need for your forgiveness and I reach for your righteousness and strength in order to live for you. I worship and honor your position in my life; be exalted. I praise you for your faithful love extended to me. Throughout your creation, may your glory be manifest in your sons and daughters, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

May 23, 2022

You may wonder how the passages are chosen each day for the devotionals, and the answer is that we follow the Lectionary. If you aren’t familiar with the Lectionary, it’s a guide (or layout) of scripture that can be used by Christians to understand the whole counsel of God, or the entire Word of God, and typically the guide is over a three-year cycle. Essentially, if you follow its selections, within three years, you will have gone through pretty much the entire Bible. Each day we are provided with an Old Testament passage, a passage from the prophets, and a New Testament passage and that is how we come to share with all of you.

So, as I share yet another passage from the Book of Revelation, I realize that this is becoming a common bi-weekly occurrence for me. If I am being completely honest, several months ago, if I had the choice, I would not have gravitated towards writing from Revelation. However, with each passing week, and as God has guided me to spend more and more time within this part of His Truth, I am growing closer to understanding His eternal love for all of creation.

In the Book of Revelation, we know that God is revealing to John what is to come; and just prior to today’s passage sin and evil will have been defeated, Satan will have been banished to hell, and everyone who sided with him, and rejected Christ, will also have gone straight to hell with him. Following the great judgement of chapter 20, God says to John, “Look, I am making everything new!” and He also tells him that “It is finished!” Some theologians believe this means that all of creation will be destroyed and re-created, while others believe that God will renew (or re-condition) existing creation.

Regardless of how God chooses to conclude this sinful earth, I see today’s passage as a clear roadmap for you and me that we need to be following right now. See, verses 6 and 7 tell us who will be filling up heaven, and verse 8 tells us who will be filling up hell. So, if you’ve ever asked yourself the question, “who will be in heaven and who will be going to hell”, God clearly tells us in today’s passage. Every single one of us has either thought or talked about “what happens when we die.” Well, my friends, God tells us what happens when we die in verses 6 through 8, and so we must be thirsty to return to our Creator, God, in heaven. God is very clear that we must NOT be fearful (cowardly), lack in faith (have unbelief), dishonest (or corrupt), sinful against others (by murdering with our thoughts, words, actions, or unforgiveness), immoral, follow the wicked ways of the world, idolize anything other than God (like people, things, places, emotions, etc.), or be a liar.

Revelation 21:5-8 NLT

5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” 6 And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.

8 “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Prayer: Father, thank You for leaving a roadmap for us so we know what we need to do in order to be able to return Home to You. Please help us, Father, to do, say, and act in ways that are pleasing to You. Strengthen us to steer away from sin. We want to keep growing closer to You. We ask this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Intro: How are true believers identified in a sinful world? Our passage today is a continuation of the passage from yesterday and it reminds us true believers are covenant keepers; those who faithfully agree and cling to the eternal promises given by the Lord Yahweh. To agree to the covenant means to submit to the rule of God by binding oneself to His commands which lead to a common goal of redemption—the action [prompted by God] of being saved from sin, error, and evil. Although believers are still tempted by sin and struggle to live according to the commands of God, in Christ we are “the forgiven” and that makes all the difference in the world. In Christ, we never stop asking for forgiveness, mercy, and help/grace; we just keep persevering in faith as God works to reveal himself in and through our lives.

A covenant keeper seeks to know the heart of Creator God and learn His ways by studying His Word. If we need further understanding as we read the written Word, we can always pray, ask for the Spirit’s help, and study the life of Jesus because He is the Living Word. After all, Jesus is the Christ [the anointed Savior], as well as the perfect example of a covenant keeper. “God created everything through the Word; nothing was created except through Him. The Word gave life to everything that was created and his life brought light [holiness/goodness] to everyone” (John 1:3-4).

A covenant keeper loves Father God and obeys His righteous guidelines for human life. God created us, so it is wisdom for us to invite him into our lives to help us live true to who we were created to be for his glory. Only a covenant keeper can receive the wisdom from God; the world sees God’s Word as nonsense, but for believers we know it is through the covenant that we are saved, as well as enjoy and experience God’s beautiful presence and protection.

Proverbs 2:6-8 NLT

6 
For the Lord grants wisdom!
    From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 
He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.
    He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.
8 
He guards the paths of the just
    and protects those who are faithful to him.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for granting wisdom to Your covenant children. Help all believers walk in integrity and wholeness with you, today. You are our treasure! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: What resource for healthy living do you treasure the most? People want a sense of well-being—the vital state or condition that we are benefiting from good things in life. As believers, we all want to experience the activity of God’s goodness in our lives.
Sometimes people would rather believe in a fantasy rather than the reality of God’s goodness, but today I am praying our passage from God’s Word spiritually slaps each one of us upside the head. We need to understand how godly wisdom connects us with the goodness of God. Solomon wants his readers to understand the true value wisdom brings to a person’s life WHEN godly wisdom is what a person values the most. When we treasure godly wisdom, it opens our ears to hear truth and it renews our minds with the right understanding of God’s goodness—a goodness that involves righteousness in action or doing what is right.

If you want to experience a right sense of well-being, enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ who has been made godly wisdom for us and taste the goodness [beneficial quality] of God. Christ values every person who comes to him for salvation. When Christ comes to live in human hearts, he becomes the godly wisdom we so desperately need (1 Cor 1:30). If we tune our ear to hear wisdom and obey it, we will live more wisely. In Christ, we get to know the goodness of God from whom all blessings flow…

Proverbs 2:1-5 NLT The Benefits of Wisdom
1 
My child, listen to what I say,    and treasure my commands.
2 
Tune your ears to wisdom,    and concentrate on understanding.
3 
Cry out for insight,    and ask for understanding.
4 
Search for them as you would for silver;    seek them like hidden treasures.
5 
Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,    and you will gain knowledge of God.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the benefits of wisdom found in Christ the Savior. Help me to live in your goodness and reflect your righteousness in word and action. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: What do you think of when you hear the word “expert?” Most people have an image of someone who not only has extensive knowledge in an area, but also has the skill to apply and perform it in excellence. An expert is someone you would call if you needed assistance in their field of study or occupation. There are plenty of people who may proclaim to be experts in certain areas, but as my mother would say, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating!” In other words, the truth is revealed in firsthand experience.

In our passage today, Jesus is approached by an “expert” in the law who wants to know how to make sure he has eternal life. This expert sums up the law verbatim as Jesus did on a previous occasion. Therefore, we witness the expert has proper knowledge. So, Jesus stretches the faith of this expert by inviting him into a performance application of his understanding; “…do this!” The proof of our loving God, neighbor, and self according to the law—the proof of our pudding—is revealed through our attitudes, words, and actions. Would we want to eat that pudding? Since we all fail to perform as experts before God, may we seek the mercy of God and ask for the Spirit’s help in making us more like Jesus—the TRUE EXPERT!

Luke 10:25-28 NLT
25  An expert in the Law of Moses stood up and asked Jesus a question to see what he would say. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to have eternal life?”
26 Jesus answered, “What is written in the Scriptures? How do you understand them?”
27  The man replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.’ They also say, ‘Love your neighbors as much as you love yourself.’ ”
28  Jesus said, “You have given the right answer. If you do this, you will have eternal life.”

Prayer: Lord, let my life be more than just giving someone a right answer. May my life reveal the truth of my heart to love You, my neighbor, and myself in a righteous way. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: In our passage for today, we will listen to the lyrics of a song written by David. You will notice the word harmony is key to his song. Therefore, we need to explore the biblical meaning/context in order to find and apply the harmony God wants for our lives. This harmony is essential for all humanity to understand; it involves eternity.

In our passage, Israel’s unity has to do with spiritual harmony [Heb harmonia] which essentially means to incline one’s ear (listen) and find oneness with God. David, as Israel’s leader, knows this harmony is essential if Israel is going to experience the abundant grace of God. David, a man after God’s heart, knows to leave God out of Israel’s rule, will actually lead them to self-destruct. How does David know? He remembers and knows Israel’s idolatrous history and God’s action against their sin. Never forget God’s wrath is in perfect harmony with his holy attributes; God destroys sin to preserve holiness. We need oneness with God (John 17:21).

Today, our national unity may be a talking-point goal for politicians, but it will always be superficial tolerance at best until the nation’s spiritual harmony with God is the foundation of our lives. We must bow to God’s commands. David describes the anointing—the precious oil of blessing—that sets people apart in order to bring honor and service to God. This anointing brings a refreshing for the weary soul. Therefore, David wants the people in his care to take notice of God and become one with Him. David knows when God’s people incline their ear (listen and obey) they will taste the goodness of God. I pray for our country’s leaders to wake up to that truth and, like David, genuinely care for the people in their care!

Yet, God always faithfully cares for his own. So pray and praise our Maker; incline your ear and listen to God, because he wants to anoint you and bless you, today. Seek harmonia in Messiah!

Psalm 133 A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.
1 
How wonderful and pleasant it is
    when brothers live together in harmony!
2 
For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil
    that was poured over Aaron’s head,
    that ran down his beard
    and onto the border of his robe.
3 
Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon
    that falls on the mountains of Zion.
And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing,
    even life everlasting.

Prayer: Father, thank you for the spiritual harmony that can be found in you. Help me serve with my words a healthy portion of harmony everywhere I go today as a way to witness to your presence with me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

May 16, 2022

Two weeks ago, on Monday, May 2nd, our devotion was on Acts 9:18-31. If you recall, Saul of Tarsus, was on the road to Damascus, eager to kill the Lord’s followers. On that journey, he had a life changing encounter with the Lord, and Saul (who would later be called Paul…a.k.a. the “Apostle Paul”) was saved and his life would be eternally devoted to the Lord. During that time, as Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with believers, but they were afraid of him. Rightfully so, as Saul spent much of the first half of his life persecuting Christians. Barnabas even had to vouch for Saul with the apostles. So, the apostles agreed to send Saul home, and he remained there for an estimated seven to ten years.

In our passage today, the leaders of the church in Jerusalem hear that more and more Gentiles are coming to faith. So, they send Barnabas out to see what is happening. Remember, prior to Saul’s conversion to Christianity, his persecution of the church in Jerusalem caused many Christians to flee in fear. These Christ-followers took their stories of Jesus with them, and they shared and shared them with others. Barnabas realizes that these Gentiles have faith in Christ, and they need help being taught about Him. So, he sends for Saul in Tarsus, and this is where Saul’s work among the Gentiles truly begins. From this point, the Book of Acts turns to Saul, or within chapter 13 he uses the Greek variation of his name, Paul, and his evangelistic work explodes for the Kingdom. The Lord gave Paul and Barnabas this command, “I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.” (Acts 13:47).

You and I need to hold firm to Paul’s teaching in Galatians 2:20 that “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So, I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” This Truth needs to be our daily motivator to share the love of Christ with others. Evangelists, share the love of Christ with others. They reveal the kindness, encouragement, forgiveness, and honesty of Christ, which is revealing the heart of Christ. So, really, we all are evangelist for Christ, in one way or another, we are all called to be the light of Christ and to spread salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.

Acts 11:19-26 NLT
The Church in Antioch of Syria

19 Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews. 20 However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus. 21 The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.

22 When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. 24 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.

25 Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26 When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the evangelistic spirit that the Apostle Paul has and teaches us to have for You and Your Kingdom. Help me, Lord, to be bolder when sharing Your love with others. I cannot thank You enough for what You have done and continue to do for me, and I want to lovingly share Your light with others. Be my guide, Lord. I ask this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Intro: The Bible is filled with many announcements of God’s purpose and many promises of his faithfulness. God wants his creation to know his intentions and plans about salvation, as well as judgment. Such is the case in our passage from the Book of Revelation today. The Apostle John has a vision in which the angel of the Lord is sent to make an announcement, but it is a bitter-sweet message for humanity—the final judgment of God is coming upon the earth. All of creation—sea, land, and sky—will experience the result of this judgment. Where the previous seal and trumpet judgments of God were limited, this judgment will be complete (Rev chs. 6-9).

In our passage, the Apostle John is instructed to eat the scroll of judgment. It reminds me of a vision Ezekiel had when he was also told to eat the scroll of judgment against the nation of Israel (3:1). We must always remember God’s judgment brings destruction to sin and selfishness, because God exalts the rule of Truth. He places (symbolic of eating) his Word in willing human vessels to issue his warning. For believers who “eat” and “live” the truth it will be a sweet and encouraging announcement. However, it is clear believers will also experience a burden/sour stomach for unbelievers facing the righteous judgement of God. That is why it is so important we witness the Truth of Christ with our lives, because God does not want anyone to perish (John 3:16-17). For those who reject God and his Word, it will be the final warning for repentance—turning to God for salvation.

Believers do not need to worry about tomorrow or about the future, because God has already revealed to us how we are to live in all circumstances. No fear; only faith in his love for us. We are to be people of the Word; to live revealing the Truth of God’s love with our lives in such a way that others want to know our loving and gracious God, too. It is not our place to make others eat the Truth we believe (symbolic of the scroll); however, our lives ought to reveal what produces the righteous fruit of God’s love and what does not. There should be a mark of excellence and integrity on God’s children; righteous influence should permeate believers because we are carriers of our divine Maker and Master. It saddens me when people make life solely about their rights for temporal pleasures and power, because God has made humanity for so much more—to enjoy divine fellowship as we carry his anointing and glory. God’s Word tells us how this is done and the Spirit leads the Way! Put your faith in God’s protective provision found in Christ.

Revelation 10:1-11 The Angel and the Small Scroll
1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, surrounded by a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face shone like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire. 2 And in his hand was a small scroll that had been opened. He stood with his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. 3 And he gave a great shout like the roar of a lion. And when he shouted, the seven thunders answered.
4 When the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write. But I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Keep secret what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down.”

5 Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand toward heaven. 6 He swore an oath in the name of the one who lives forever and ever, who created the heavens and everything in them, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it. He said, “There will be no more delay. 7 When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God’s mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as he announced it to his servants the prophets.”

8 Then the voice from heaven spoke to me again: “Go and take the open scroll from the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.”
9 So I went to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. “Yes, take it and eat it,” he said. “It will be sweet as honey in your mouth, but it will turn sour in your stomach!” 10 So I took the small scroll from the hand of the angel, and I ate it! It was sweet in my mouth, but when I swallowed it, it turned sour in my stomach.

11 Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”

Prayer: Lord, help us, as your children, to speak the Truth in love in order to influence others toward your protective salvation. We are desperate for your love and work of grace in our lives. Please empower us to stay strong and faithful amidst the raging tides of a rebellious and angry culture in which many hate your Word. May we joyfully live the Truth for your honor and glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.