Devotionals

Intro: Humanity wants to do what the flesh desires; it is our natural inclination. We fight for the right to do things our own way; to fulfill our human desires not matter the cost. Our hearts need the work of the Word to bring transformation and renewal. I often hear people talk about following their hearts, but friends that is not biblical. We are to follow the Living Word of God into New Life and more times than we care to admit that may mean a sacrifice to our flesh not fulfillment or satisfaction of it. The sooner we face the reality that our hearts [the core of our being] are fickle when it comes to loving obedience to God, the sooner we will find ourselves living in a greater measure of the Truth. Faith leads our hearts into righteousness.

In Jeremiah 17:9 the prophet tells us the human heart is deceitful and wicked apart from the Lordship of Christ. King Solomon tells us we must guard our hearts, because it really determines the direction for our lives (Pro 4:23). And, the Apostle Paul teaches us we must immerse ourselves in Christ, so that our former identity [old unredeemed person] is not awakened and given power because the flesh has unrelenting desires to be satisfied (Rom 13:14). If we give into the selfish or sinful desires of our hearts, we will not be expressing the godliness Christ intends for us.

In our passage today, Jesus is speaking to the crowds. He basically reminds them their hearts are simply indifferent to the grace he offers. John the Baptist offered a wedding and rejoicing, but the Pharisees rejected it. They did not want to dance in the Spirit of Christ; they preferred the dead ways of their religious traditions void of the Christ. They could sacrifice animals instead of their flesh. Our hearts must embrace the true vision of God’s intent for the Son; to call people into true joy and satisfaction as they become expressions of his godliness.

Luke 7:31-35
31 Jesus continued, saying, “How could I describe the people of this generation? Can’t you see? 32 You’re like children playing games on the playground, complaining to friends, ‘You don’t like it when we want to play Wedding. And you don’t like it when we want to play Funeral. Why will you neither dance nor mourn?’

33 “When the prophet John came fasting and refused to drink wine, you said, ‘He’s crazy! There’s a demon in him.’ 34 Yet when the Son of Man came feasting and drinking, you said, ‘Look at this man! He is nothing but a glutton and a drunkard. He spends all his time with tax collectors and other notorious sinners.’

35 “Nevertheless, the wisdom of God [presence of salvation] will be proven true by the expressions of godliness in everyone who follows me.”

Prayer: Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable and pleasing to you each day. Help me to guard my heart, so I make the right decisions that honor your purpose for me. I chose the righteous path with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: I am presently recovering from a nasty bug; today is a much better day…thank you, Jesus! When we are suffering it is difficult to be fully present to the Lord, because we are focused on our present challenge, right? I am praying for those in our nation who have just been through a horrible run of tornadoes; my issues are minuscule in comparison. The devastation from the storms seem overwhelming. However, for believers, no matter what is going on in our lives in a given moment, we are to remain focused on the greater purpose of Christ. Getting silent helps us listen, so we can participate with Christ in healing hearts.

In our passage today, Paul [as a prisoner] has finally been physically transported to Rome. Preceding his arrival, Paul endures a corrupt trial in Jerusalem, a storm at sea off the African coast that lasts for days, a shipwreck, and a poisonous snake bite on the island of Malta. With each challenge, Paul is present to be a source of encouragement, guidance/wisdom, and support, as well as an example of living in fellowship with the resurrected Christ. None of the things that rise up against Paul consumes or shakes him. Instead, he focuses on God’s purpose in the midst of it all—to be a witness for the resurrected One to the unbelievers [Gentiles/non-Jews]. Paul desires for those around him to understand the value of life with Christ. We must always remember we are witnessing to the value of life in Christ, as well.

Our passage ends Luke’s narrative about the Acts of the Holy Spirit, but those acts continue through you and me. Whatever we face, we can shine the Light of the indwelling Savior to the world. The world will continue to be troubled by the Truth; Scripture assures us of that battle and reality. But, we are more than conquerers and we are strong and vibrant in the Spirit. So, like Paul, we must stay focused on the bigger picture. May we shake off whatever things of this fallen world that try to take dominion over us. We must rise up in the power of the Spirit and never be robbed of an opportunity to be a source of encouragement, guidance, or support to others who need the Savior abiding in us.

Acts 28:23-28
23 So they set a time to meet with Paul. On that day an even greater crowd gathered where he was staying. From morning until evening Paul taught them, opening up the truths of God’s kingdom. With convincing arguments from both the Law and the Prophets, he tried to persuade them about Jesus.

24 Some were converted, but others refused to believe. They argued back and forth, 25 still unable to agree among themselves. They were about to leave when Paul made one last statement to them: “The Holy Spirit stated it well when he spoke to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah:

26 ‘I send you to this people to say to them, “You will keep learning, but not understanding. You will keep staring at truth but not perceiving it. 27 For your hearts are hard and insensitive to me—you must be hard of hearing! For you’ve closed your eyes so that you won’t be troubled by the truth, and you’ve covered your ears so that you won’t have to listen and be pierced by what I say. For then you would have to respond and repent, so that I could heal your hearts.” ’

28 “So listen well. This wonderful salvation given by God is now being presented to the non-Jewish nations, and they will believe and receive it!”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the wonderful way you use even the things the enemy sends to distract or destroy us to produce goodness around us. You bring us beauty for ashes and you are so faithful to your love for us. May your children stay the course and look for good opportunities to flow out of the ashes in order to glorify you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Many times, during this Advent Season we have reflected, as a Spiritual Family, on the prophetic words of the Old Testament Prophet, Isaiah. Today we continue with reflective time on his prophesy of “A Branch from David’s Line”. Isaiah tells us that this “Branch” will grow as a shoot out of the stump of David’s family, and that it will be “a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.” The cut down stump represents David’s obscurity as the ancestral line of the Messiah. It is fitting that out of this lowly stump a single shoot will rise, and “the Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him”. We are comforted that this “Shoot” or “Branch” is Jesus.

Isaiah not only saw the lineage of the Messiah, but he also saw how the Spirit would guide Him throughout His life and in His ministry. He describes the Spirt as wisdom, counsel, and knowledge. The Spirit is what directly connects us to Christ, and since that “Branch” lives within us let’s dive deeper into the Word for more Truth:

Spirit of Wisdom – when the Apostle Paul was writing to the church in Ephesus he prayed for their spiritual wisdom. We need that same prayer because divine wisdom is what must guide our every step, thought, word, and overall life. So, we must be “asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.” (Ephesians 1:17)

Spirit of Counsel – the Apostle Paul speaks of Jesus’s Great Counsel when he wrote to the Romans. He says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28) This Truth helps us to understand that the wisest counsel within our lives isn’t a “human person”, but rather it is the Holy Messiah who works everything out for good within our lives as we call on Him, and Him alone, not this world.

Spirit of Knowledge – In Matthew 11, Jesus prays a prayer of thanksgiving. He reminds us that: “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.” (Matthew 11:27)
Matthew reminds us that Jesus came to reveal the Father to us, because He is within the Father. With this knowledge, and through the gift of our acceptance of salvation, we stand in awe of the Lord.

Isaiah continues, in our passage today, to give a clear description of who he saw the Messiah to be. We must seek to hold onto this same description for our own lives, because Jesus lives in us.

Isaiah 11:1-9 (NLT)
A Branch from David’s Line

1 Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—
yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.
2 And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
3 He will delight in obeying the Lord.
He will not judge by appearance
nor make a decision based on hearsay.
4 He will give justice to the poor
and make fair decisions for the exploited.
The earth will shake at the force of his word,
and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.
5 He will wear righteousness like a belt
and truth like an undergarment.

Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for coming that we might be saved. Please grow Your spirit of wisdom, counsel, and knowledge within us today. We long for Your return! In the meantime, please grow us closer and closer to You. I ask all of this in Your Precious and Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Written by: Jennifer Auer, Pastor Mary Haley’s Assistant

Intro: Sometimes God allows life to stretch our faith. This stretching is always a spiritual blessing in the life of a believer even though it does not feel like one at the time. We must use our faith to lay hold of the promises of God; without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6). God is wanting to get something good to us all the time. Therefore, we must believe he is a Rewarder of those who seek him and believe nothing is impossible for him (Matt 19:26). Our faith in the Father’s love and goodness is what sets Christ’s followers apart in the world.

In our passage from Luke, Zechariah knows what it feels like to have his faith stretched by God. As a priest, he would have continually prayed for the Messiah to come; but he and all of Israel wait patiently. As a man who wanted a child of his own, he would have continually prayed for a biological son. Zechariah is praying for the impossible—he and his wife are old and way beyond childbearing years.

While Zechariah is burning incense in the sanctuary, he is visited by an angel—Gabrielle. The angel tells Zechariah, “God has heard your prayer.” I think we can all testify we sometimes pray for things, but our faith is not engaged in real belief or trust that the prayer will be answered. We have facts and feelings that race in and cause us to entertain doubt.

Zechariah struggles, because none of it makes sense to his natural mind. Because of Zechariah’s verbal doubt, God silences him for nine months; he cannot speak until it is time to circumcise and name the child. However, in the midst of Zechariah’s silent times, his faith grows within him; he has learned a great deal about the God he serves while he is silent. His faith has been successfully stretched to welcome the impossible. In obedience, Zechariah names the child, John, as instructed by the angel. Joy unspeakable fills Zechariah as he steps into obedience and the first words he is able to speak are praises to the Lord. If you are praying for God to do something miraculous in your life, stay in peace and don’t lose hope. Bringing Joy to our hearts is God’s specialty.

Luke 1:57-66 (TPT) The Birth of the Prophet John
57 When Elizabeth’s pregnancy was full term, she gave birth to a son. 58 All her family, friends, and neighbors heard about it, and they too were overjoyed, for they realized that the Lord had showered his wonderful mercy upon her.

59 When the baby was eight days old, according to their custom, all the family and friends came together for the circumcision ceremony.[celebrating w/joy another child born under the covenant of God] Everyone assumed that the parents would name the baby Zechariah, after his father, 60 but Elizabeth spoke up and said, “No, his name is John!”

61 “What?” they exclaimed. “No one in your family line has that name!”

62 So they gestured to the baby’s father to ask what to name the child. 63 He motioned for a writing tablet, and to the amazement of all, he wrote, “His name is John.”[name translates God’s gift]

64 Instantly Zechariah could speak again. And his first words were praises to the Lord.

65 The fear of God fell on the people of their village, and the news of this astounding event traveled throughout the hill country of Judea. Everyone was in awe over it! 66 All who heard this news were astonished and wondered, “Since a miracle brought his birth, what on earth will this child become? Clearly, God’s presence is upon this child in a powerful way!”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for stretching our faith and helping us learn to receive the many, many blessings you have awaiting us. You are so good to us and we praise you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Yesterday, I enjoyed planting a few new things in my deck containers. When I first put the new plants in they looked a bit wilted and limp, but now they look like they are thriving and healthy. These plants appear to be confident in their new soil, as well as the love and care I am giving them. I pray that thriving health continues.

God is raising up worshipers; that is his work of salvation and redemption. As humans, we can appear spiritually wilted and limp, too, but as we spend time with our Creator and Savior, our lives perk right up! Our connection to Christ—the Source of Life—causes us to thrive. A true worshiper is confident in God’s love and care. We want the name of the Lord to be exalted, because we know we cannot save ourselves. We have God’s peace that he is our salvation in all things; therefore, we do not live afraid while in this world. If salvation was up to us or other humans we would be afraid, but our salvation is found in God alone. This level of trust in God is a decision of the will; it is not based on emotions or feelings. We make a conscious decision to take God at his Word to be our salvation, strength, and song [joy]. This is what it means to use our faith. Glory to God in the Highest!

Isaiah 12:2-6 (TPT)
2 
Behold—God is my salvation! [the One who gives me victory]
    I am confident, unafraid, and I will trust in you.”
    Yes! The Lord Yah is my might and my melody;
    he has become my salvation!
3 
With triumphant joy you will drink deeply
    from the wells [springs] of salvation.[the Savior]
4 
In that glorious day, you will say to one another,
    “Give thanks to the Lord and ask him for more! [ask him for help]
    Tell the world about all that he does!
    Let them know how magnificent he is!”[proclaim and exalt his name]
5 
Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done marvelous wonders,
    and let his fame be known throughout the earth!
6 
Give out a shout of cheer;
    sing for joy, O people of Zion,
    for great and mighty is the Holy One of Israel
    who lives among you!

Prayer: Lord, when you come to reign on the earth, we will hardly be able to contain our joy. We will be vibrant beyond measure and we will thrive for all eternity. Thank you, Lord, for this promise that awaits your followers. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

December 8, 2021

Intro: Do you struggle with doubts or worries? When we try to figure everything out about Jesus purely using our human sense of reasoning, we are going to struggle. It can be exhausting and an utter waste of energy. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are not offended because of me!” (Matt 11:6). We are blessed when we do not fall away from the faith just because things do not make sense in the natural. Remember, we walk by faith not by sight (2 Cor 5:7). Faith is acting like we believe the Living Word of God (Christ) is the Way, Truth, and Life with God (John 14:6). Immanuel means God with Us (Matt 1:23).

When we come to Jesus for salvation, we come with an idea of who he is and how he will respond to all earthly things, don’t we? However, when those ideas do not align with our present circumstances we can find ourselves confused and doubtful about his love for us or the salvation Jesus actually offers. Satan waits for such unsettled emotions to surface, because he knows it is a slippery slope into rejection. Therefore, we must submit ourselves to God’s will, resist the work of Satan through patient endurance, and he will flee (James 4:7). Satan cannot overpower your devotion and trust in Christ, my friends.

In our passage today, John the Baptist has wrongfully and unjustly been placed in prison; he longs for political deliverance. He questions “why” he is in prison and “what” is going to become of him. Did he believe in the wrong Messiah? John believes Jesus is coming to take on the powers of darkness of which he is a victim. Yet, Jesus leaves John in prison and instead tells his disciples to report back to John about more and more miracles Jesus is doing.

Believers must face every fear and doubt with faith that God sees something we do not. In the shalom of God we must deal with doubt and unbelief. In the power of the Prince of Peace we confront fear and doubt with growing faith, because “holding on” to our Peace is worth the effort. In his First Coming, Jesus became the suffering servant for deliverance; to break the power of sin and death from his followers. In his Second Coming, Jesus will be a triumphant Ruler and Judge to take down Satan and his followers from positions of power once and for all.

Luke 7:18-23 (TPT) The Prophet John’s Question
18 John’s disciples reported to him in prison about all the wonderful miracles and the works Jesus was doing. 19 So John dispatched two of his disciples to go and inquire of Jesus. 20 When they came before the Master, they asked him, “Are you the coming Messiah we’ve been expecting, or are we to continue to look for someone else? John the prophet has sent us to you to seek your answer.”

21 Without answering, Jesus turned to the crowd and healed many of their incurable diseases. His miracle power freed many from their suffering. He restored the gift of sight to the blind, and he drove out demonic spirits from those who were tormented.

22 Only then did Jesus answer the question posed by John’s disciples. “Now go back and tell John what you have just seen and heard here today. The blind are now seeing. The crippled are now walking. Those who were lepers are now cured. Those who were deaf are now hearing. Those who were dead are now brought back to life. The poor and broken are given the hope of salvation.

23 And tell John these words: ‘The blessing of heaven comes upon those who never lose their faith in me, no matter what happens.’ ”

Prayer: Lord, please help us to put effort and patient endurance to our faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Yesterday, I picked up some Christmas wrapping paper while at the store. I enjoy wrapping the few gifts we buy for family and friends; it makes me smile to see a beautifully wrapped package nestled under the Christmas tree. Honestly, I am filled with joy as I read our passage for today, because it reminds me of God’s many wrapped packages throughout the Kingdom. Every day God’s Word helps me turn my thoughts from the temporal things of this world and instead cast my gaze upon the eternal wonder of his love and grace.

God has provided us with the greatest Gift we could ever receive—the Christ. Not only is he the Son of God, he is the Tree of Life and he came to offer us his life in exchange for our death; his righteousness in exchange for our sin…our filthy rags in exchange for his glory. God wraps us into Christ; he covers us with grace and godliness like a beautifully wrapped package. Because we are wrapped in Christ, we have everything we will ever need for the rest of our lives on earth and for eternity in glory. We are simply required to open ourselves up and to appropriate all we need through faith and obedience to God’s Word. Now, truly this is Good News for a miraculous Christmas celebration, indeed (Eph 1:3)!

2 Peter 1:2-15 (TPT)
God’s Generous Grace
3 Everything we could ever need for life and godliness [complete devotion] has already been deposited in us by his divine power. For all this was lavished upon us through the rich experience of knowing him who has called us by name and invited us to come to him through a glorious manifestation of his goodness. [glory] 4 As a result of this, he has given you [us] magnificent promises that are beyond all price, so that through the power of these tremendous promises [faith releases the power of the Word of God] we can experience partnership with the divine nature, by which you have escaped [been acquitted] the corrupt desires that are of the world.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for wrapping me in the perfect way; your wrapping makes this physical package of mine beautiful and desirable to your heart. As I move forward during this Christmas season, may I remember your generous grace that has provided me the perfect Christmas experience every day for the rest of eternity. I want more of Christ in my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

December 6, 2021

As Christians, you and I are miracles! Truly, when you consider the restorative process that salvation has brought to your life, to free you from the slavery of this world and to return you into the loving arms of your Creator, don’t you think of yourself as a miracle? If you and I were to remain in awe of our “miracle status” we would always be on fire for the Lord; but far too often we find ourselves getting bored and needing to be renewed. We want the initial “fire” back, or more than that, we want a future that is even greater.

In today’s Psalm, we are reminded that Israel felt the same as us. In verses 1-3, when the Lord brough the Israelites back to Jerusalem after being exiled, “it was like a dream”. There was so much joy and worship for the “amazing things the Lord has done for them”. It sounds like the excitement that you and I have felt and proclaimed about our Christian “miracle status” through our salvation. But then, in verse 4, we see Israel asked the Lord to “restore our fortunes” comparing their current city to a desert that needed to be renewed by streams. Again, it sounds like the renewal process that you and I seem to always need for our faith. When our faith gets stale, we need the renewing baptismal water of the Living Christ to flow through and over us. Finally, in verses 5-6, we see that the Israelites understand that the Lord is a rewarder of those who “plant in tears” as they return with the harvest. The Israelites waited with anticipated hope for the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world. You and I now know the Savior, we have a personal and intimate relationship with Him, and we too are waiting on Him…but now for His Return. Thus, we must remain focused on living for Eternity right now, today and every day, because we know the end of the Book, Revelation, is a time of crying out and singing as we are a part of His Great Harvest that returns Home to Him.

Psalm 126 (NLT)
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

1 When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem,
it was like a dream!
2 We were filled with laughter,
and we sang for joy.
And the other nations said,
“What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”
3 Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us!
What joy!

4 Restore our fortunes, Lord,
as streams renew the desert.
5 Those who plant in tears
will harvest with shouts of joy.
6 They weep as they go to plant their seed,
but they sing as they return with the harvest.

Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for the gift of my salvation. As I continue to grow closer with You, please help me to remain on fire with the work of Your Holy Spirit. I do not want to grow board or stale in my faith. Help to guide my faith walk to stay renewed in You. I long for Your return, and I want to be ready, Lord. Help me to be ready. I ask all of this in Your Precious and Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Written by: Jennifer Auer, Pastor Mary Haley’s Assistant

Intro: Yesterday, in our passage from Luke, Zechariah shared about how God had moved in sovereign and miraculous ways throughout history. He shared about God’s faithfulness to redeem Abraham, David, and all who would fear the Lord; God promised to bless all people and help them conquer sin. Today, Zechariah’s praise and prophecy becomes more personal. Zechariah speaks a prophetic word over his baby son, John (the Baptist). God had chosen John for a special role in the ministry of the Messiah. John would be a prophetic preacher proclaiming every person’s need for salvation and leading them to Jesus who would bring them into his shalom [peace/well-being/reconciliation]

Jesus truly does illuminate our paths with shalom. First, he brings us peace or reconciliation with God, because sin disrupts shalom. Second, Jesus brings us peace or reconciliation with others, because we need help moving beyond oppressive tendencies, greed, and arrogance in our social relationships. Third, Jesus brings us peace or reconciliation within our own hearts. We can experience inner security, an emotional sense of well-being, and rest in confidence because God is with us. Now, we wait for God to reconcile all things to himself through Jesus Christ the Lord (Col 1:20).

Luke 1:76-79
76 
And to you I prophesy, my little son,
    you will be known as the prophet of the Most High.
    You will be a forerunner,
    going before the face of Lord Yahweh,
    to prepare hearts to embrace his ways.
77 
You will preach to his people the revelation of salvation,
    the cancellation of all our sins, to bring us back to God.
78 
The splendor-light of heaven’s glorious sunrise
    is about to break upon us in holy visitation,
    all because the merciful heart of our God is so very tender.
79 
The word from heaven will come to us
    with dazzling light to shine upon those
    who live in darkness, near death’s dark shadow.
    And he will illuminate the path that leads to the way of peace.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the way you have worked through obedient people in the past, to bring us into a future where we can experience your holy presence and shalom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Can you imagine not being able to speak for months and then all of a sudden you open your mouth and praise for God just comes rolling out like a flood? Such is the case with Zechariah; he was temporarily deaf and mute. While he was silent—as a consequence of doubting the Word of the Lord—he had a great deal of time to connect the OT prophecies regarding the coming of the promised Messiah. So, when Zechariah is released to speak and he realizes he is smack dab in the middle of Christ’s revelation, this man of God cannot stop sharing what he has learned about the Lord’s promises.

Life is full of experiences, right? Sometimes we view our experiences as terribly negative, but in the midst of even the most difficult times of life, we can find something positive if we will look for the Lord in the midst of the pain. Zechariah decided if his faith could take him through this difficult and silent time and deliver him on the other side of the challenge, that he would proclaim the goodness of God and help others connect their lives in the fulfillment of prophecy—to proclaim the advent of the Christ.

Our challenge today is to understand we serve the God of Israel—the God of ALL Hope. We are the redeemed who are saved and rescued from our spiritual enemies. We are free to live in Christ’s righteousness. Our hope is not built upon doubt; rather, our hope is built upon the righteousness and faithfulness of God to fulfill his promises—to bless and reward his people. And, always remember not one of God’s promises is impossible for him. ”Praise the Lord, the God of Israel!”

Luke 1:68-75 (NLT)
68 
“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
    because he has visited and redeemed his people.
69 
He has sent us a mighty Savior
    from the royal line of his servant David,
70 
just as he promised
    through his holy prophets long ago.
71 
Now we will be saved from our enemies
    and from all who hate us (Ps. 106:10).
72 
He has been merciful to our ancestors
    by remembering his sacred covenant—
73 
the covenant he swore with an oath
    to our ancestor Abraham.
74 
We have been rescued from our enemies
    so we can serve God without fear,
75 
in holiness and righteousness
    for as long as we live.

Prayer: Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus. To reach out and touch him and say that we love him. Open our ears, Lord, and teach us to listen. Open our eyes Lord, we want to see Jesus! Amen.