Devotionals

Friends, our greatest joy is found in just how much we trust God and allow His guidance for our lives.

In Psalm 32, David reminds us that true joy can only come from the Lord. Within this powerful psalm we witness David’s expression of great relief that came from the Lord’s forgiveness of his sins. Think about the weight that David carried from attempting to hide his sins from the Lord. David had an affair with Bathsheba, he murdered her husband, Uriah, who was one of his loyal soldiers, and he attempted to cover it all up (2 Samuel 11). David initially refused to acknowledge his sins, and he described the torment he experienced until he finally confessed, and the Lord graciously forgave him.

Friends, when our sins seem too weighty to carry, we need to remember that God’s grace is so much greater. David reminds us within today’s passage that all we need to do is come with honest hearts before the Lord, humbly confess our sins, and ask Him to forgive us. It is within this liberated place from sin that then we can hear, see, and receive more clearly from the Holy Spirit, and allow God’s guidance to lead our path. We must also remain obedient to God’s Word. Remember, the world is rebellious to God’s Word and enjoys lawlessness, but we are faithful to follow His Word and within this place God can use us to lead others into His loving arms.

Psalm 32 NLT

A psalm of David.

1 Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!
2 Yes, what joy for those
whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,
whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
3 When I refused to confess my sin,
my body wasted away,
and I groaned all day long.
4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Interlude

5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude

6 Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time,
that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.
7 For you are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory. Interlude

8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.
9 Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”

10 Many sorrows come to the wicked,
but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.
11 So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for the gift of Your forgiveness. Help each one of us to come humbly to confess our sins to You. Holy Spirit, please shine a light on the areas of our lives that need to change. We do not want to hide anything from You. We want to live as one with You, Jesus, and to not carry sin. Your joy is what each of us wants, and we know that comes as we are cleansed by You of our sins. We ask all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

In our world, there are many “sensitive, controversial, or even difficult” topics people avoid talking about; they are like “hot potatoes” because to discuss them is “risky.”  Yet, there are many topics we need to discuss, anyway; the most important being salvation in Christ.  The world needs Jesus and it is the work of believers to share the Truth. Without Jesus, humanity will face the consequence of sin (Romans 6:23). 

In the Old Testament Book of 1 Samuel Chapter 4, the Philistine army is at war with Israel and because of Israel’s apostasy the Lord allows Israel to be defeated.  But, instead of placing their faith in a relationship with God, the Hebrew elders decide to bring the Ark of the Lord into battle thinking the object will save them from their enemies.  All it does is cause the Philistines to fight harder; after all they had heard about the Ark of God and how the Egyptians were destroyed with plagues.  

So, the Philistines defeat Israel again and capture the Ark of God.  They are excited to get the Ark, because they practice the worship of many gods.  Adding one more god to their collection would make things better, right?

In our passage today from 1 Samuel Chapter 5, the Philistines place the Ark of God next to their chief pagan god, Dagon.  God does not share space with other gods, so Dagon takes a nosedive and the people in the vicinity of the Ark begin to get sick.  The people realize the power of the Ark of God and decide to shuffle it around to other capital cities, but no matter where they take the Ark it brings people chaos, pain, sickness, and tumors—perhaps the bubonic plague due to mice.

The Philistines struggle and ask, “What should we do with the Ark of the God of Israel?” It’s like a hot potato no one wants.  Instead of submitting their lives to God, the elders decide to get rid of the Ark…the shuffling continues.  If the Philistines would have submitted to God, the Ark would have become a beautiful blessing.  But, the people’s rejection of God made the Ark a curse that brought judgment.  The Old Testament foreshadows a deeper meaning in the New Testament.

The New Testament teaches the rejection of Christ will bring the consequence of judgment (Luke 10:16; John 12:48).  Jesus is the Messiah bringing the necessary salvation for people to be spared judgment. We need a relationship with Jesus. So, according to Scripture those in our world who reject Jesus will not experience the blessing.  That hot potato should bring a sobering thought and quick repentance…

1 Samuel 5 NLT  The Ark in Philistia

1 After the Philistines captured the Ark of God, they took it from the battleground at Ebenezer to the town of Ashdod. 2 They carried the Ark of God into the temple of Dagon and placed it beside an idol of Dagon. 3 But when the citizens of Ashdod went to see it the next morning, Dagon had fallen with his face to the ground in front of the Ark of the Lord! So they took Dagon and put him in his place again. 4 But the next morning the same thing happened—Dagon had fallen face down before the Ark of the Lord again. This time his head and hands had broken off and were lying in the doorway. Only the trunk of his body was left intact. 5 That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor anyone who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod will step on its threshold.

6 Then the Lord’s heavy hand struck the people of Ashdod and the nearby villages with a plague of tumors.[a] 7 When the people realized what was happening, they cried out, “We can’t keep the Ark of the God of Israel here any longer! He is against us! We will all be destroyed along with Dagon, our god.” 8 So they called together the rulers of the Philistine towns and asked, “What should we do with the Ark of the God of Israel?”

The rulers discussed it and replied, “Move it to the town of Gath.” So they moved the Ark of the God of Israel to Gath. 9 But when the Ark arrived at Gath, the Lord’s heavy hand fell on its men, young and old; he struck them with a plague of tumors, and there was a great panic.

10 So they sent the Ark of God to the town of Ekron, but when the people of Ekron saw it coming they cried out, “They are bringing the Ark of the God of Israel here to kill us, too!” 11 The people summoned the Philistine rulers again and begged them, “Please send the Ark of the God of Israel back to its own country, or it will kill us all.” For the deadly plague from God had already begun, and great fear was sweeping across the town. 12 Those who didn’t die were afflicted with tumors; and the cry from the town rose to heaven.

Prayer: Lord, your gospel is a warning and message for the world.  It is Good News that is either accepted or rejected.  We pray for human hearts to be open and for the harvest of souls saved for your Kingdom to be multiplied exponentially.  You bless us all the time, Lord, and we want to be a blessing by sharing salvation in you.  Empower us, Lord.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

“More people would learn from their mistakes if they weren’t so busy denying them.”

[anonymous]

Humanity desperately needs a Guide [Plumb Line] for behavior; consequences—positive or negative—are a part of effective learning. We learn self-control from facing our mistakes. Cause and effect for wrong choices is purposeful and should be a powerful teacher. Consequences for unrighteous and unjust actions toward others must be enforced; otherwise, people will not be motivated to turn toward the holy and Almighty God who can forgive them, empower them, and guide them into abundant living (Jo 10:10).
Our culture is struggling and deteriorating, because it needs to learn a new way of living—the righteous way of Christ. Jesus is the Teacher for Life, because he is Life itself. Jesus is also the Judge of Life, because he is the Judge every human being will one day face (Mat 25:31-46). Scripture reminds us every person will one day kneel before Jesus the Christ and give an account for how he or she has lived on earth (Ro 14:12). It doesn’t matter whether we believe this is the truth; our faith or lack of faith does not change what God has ordained in his Judgment. Denial will not exist. As our Creator, every life will be weighed by Almighty God (Rev 20:11-16).

In our passage today, the writer of Hebrews reminds believers they know the Truth—Jesus. Therefore, there is no excuse for denying our mistakes or sinful living. The Lord is not only Life and Judge, he is also Love. Yet, this Love put into place consequences so we will learn from them. Believers and unbelievers will face consequences. Those who honor and live by the Lordship of Christ will face rewards. Those who spurn the authority of Christ over their lives will face punishment.

Brothers and sisters, when we know Jesus—the Living Word of God—we have the Truth. We must not accept into our lives what God rejects. Instead, we need to choose to follow the Holy Spirit into deep love, respect, and devotion to our Lord. As believers, we all make mistakes and the Spirit challenges us to learn from them. It is such a gift to have a Guide who wants nothing but holy abundance for us.

Hebrews 10:26-31 NLT
26 Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. 27 There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. 28 For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us. 30 For we know the one who said,
“I will take revenge.
    I will pay them back.”
He also said,
“The Lord will judge his own people.”
31 It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the work of the Spirit to guide us into the Truth and away from denial. We need to be real with you and trust you will lead us toward spiritual maturity. Thank you for the consequences we have faced in the past that have helped us grow in your character. Continue to help us reach for the abundant life you offer. We honor your authority, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The season in which we presently live is a “God-season” and whether we realize it or not we live at the crossroad of grace every day.  We must decide to follow God’s path for us, because it is easy to become distracted by the world.  Time moves forward each day and we must move in synchronicity with the eternal Spirit to manifest Christ’s anointed love in real time. 

As the redeemed of the Lord, we must be about our Father’s business to love the world and reveal salvation in Christ. We cannot afford to find ourselves going backward or off to the sidelines. We are Christ’s witnesses. Living in his salvation is the agenda every day. 

How we live and treat people each day is not only important it is a place of judgment for our very own souls.  The Church needs to take this God-season very seriously.  To do or not to do…that is the question.  What is the right thing to do in order to reveal Christ’s way of living? Do it!

In our passage today from Dr. Luke, Jesus is teaching his disciples about the urgency to be ready for his return.  Think about that for a minute…just under two thousand years ago Jesus is teaching his servants about the urgency of their work and the potential for reward.  Jesus presses the point that no one knows when the Son of Man will return by sharing an illustration with his disciples and instructing them to be ready.

Peter asks a question that I find fascinating, because I believe some folks today think like him.  Is the illustration Jesus shared just for his small group of disciples? We are either faithful disciples living the Word of God and proclaiming Christ for salvation with our very lives pointing the way to Truth, or we are religious people who think simply caring for our own salvation is sufficient—a false gospel.

Believers are recognized in the world by the righteous Light and passion he or she brings to all of life. We are constantly allowing the Word to feed us, so we can turn to feed others the true love of God. Worldly love never satisfies. Jesus has high expectations for his followers, because we have been provided grace to fulfill our commission. We can share Christ in power and passion each day, we simply must choose to do so.  

A faithful servant of Christ not only gives his or her heart to the work of the Lord, a believer’s entire life revolves around the understanding that we are blessed to be a blessing.  The blessing of the Lord is not simply to enrich our lives—although it certainly does so.  The blessing of the Lord is the power to be Christ’s ambassadors in the world, as well as welcoming humanity to his holy table to eat the Truth.  What will we do today to reveal our love and faithfulness to Christ with all that we have been given? 

Luke 12:41-48 NLT  41 Peter asked, “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?”

42 And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 43 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 45 But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 46 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.

47 “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. 48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for our passage today that reminds us about the empowerment of our salvation.  Please forgive us when we make salvation about anything we may bring to life.  We are simply recipients who should do the right thing each day to reveal the love of Christ in a dark and wicked world.  If we are honest, as believers, we know what is righteous and what is not.  So forgive us when we have not chosen wisely and help us to stay moving faithfully forward to your call and commission.  You truly have entrusted your disciples with life itself.  May that understanding humble us today and help us to look at each day with the same urgency you did years ago.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Good Morning!  I have missed writing and sharing the devotionals with you; however, in my absence, Jen has shared the Word of God beautifully and I have enjoyed being on the receiving end of her devotionals this past month.  The Spirit moves through us all as we open ourselves up to the work of the Word to stir and increase our faith.  Thank you, Jen!

In our passage this morning, we continue with the letter to the Hebrews that began, yesterday.  These heroes of the faith are described as calculating—in Gk. λογισάμενος or logisamenos—meaning through logical thought they weighed the circumstances before them and they formed a conclusion to stand in a place based solely on what they had experienced or understood about God’s character and power written in His Word and lived through previous generations.  Conclusion:  If God revealed his faithfulness in miraculous ways in the past, he will be faithful to reveal himself and manifest his promises to every child of faith. Period.

These heroes are not standing on the foundation of wishful thinking, they are firmly placing their present hope in what the Word of God has revealed to his people in the past while looking for his goodness to manifest in the present and future.  How far into the future will that faith need to sustain God’s people?  Well, for many of these biblical heroes they had to hold onto their faith for a very long, long time.  Some even died holding onto their faith in the work of God through future generations.

Our faith isn’t just important to our Author; it is His passionate life-giving work.  Jesus died to rewrite our lives according to the living Word of God—the character of Jesus.  Spiritually, we arrive into this world lost and blind. Jesus comes to open our eyes and help us see through experiential learning opportunities that God exists and is a rewarder of those who seek him (Heb 11:6).  The more we pursue God, the more we understand his character and desire to emulate him.  

We were created to bring honor and glory to our Maker….our Creator.  Without the saving work of Jesus, the guidance of the Spirit, and the confident application of our faith in the Lord’s goodness and purpose, we are incapable of pleasing God.  So, let’s continue to pursue our Lord and increase our faith, today, because we are seeking to understand a very BIG God who loves to release unfathomable grace to his children!

Hebrews 11: 17-28 NLT  17 It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, 18 even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.”[a] 19 Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.

20 It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau.

21 It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.

22 It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left.

23 It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command.

24 It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. 27 It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. 28 It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.

Prayer:  Lord, when we are actually called according to your name, it requires an act of our faith to follow you.  Thank you for rewriting our lives in your love.  Thank you for stretching our faith as we pursue your goodness by choosing to allow your passionate work to bring holy love to our lives. Change is never easy and having the faith to believe you have only better things for our lives will be our challenge.  Yet, we want you and the life you died to provide us.  So, continue to refresh us in the Spirit and motivate us to want all you have for us.  Make us heroes of the faith who prevail in your power and grace.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Friends, our faith is directly connected to our obedience to God and to His Word! Pastor Mary often says that “Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith” and that means that our faith is a big deal with God.

In today’s passage, the writer of Hebrews uses some of the Biblical Heroes of Faith to remind us of what Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah did, because we too need to be great examples (or heroes) of faith. These Biblical brothers and sisters lived by faith, not by their own physical sight, but rather by God’s spiritual sight and His guidance. They believed in God and His Word to navigate in the Spirit, because within the physical realm things seemed impossible, but by their faith, and with God all things were possible.

Friends, with God, all things are possible for us too. Even when moments seem bleak, we must press into our faith, remain obedient, and patiently trust and wait on God to unfold what He has for us. Within the first verse of today’s passage, we find the Biblical definition of faith, “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” This means that our faithfulness to God requires that we are obeying His Word for every aspect of our life. Thus, we cling to the reality of our hopeful faith in Christ Jesus and submit our souls to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In this faithful place we disconnect from this physical/temporal realm (earth) and we become more and more connected to our Eternal Home (in Heaven) with God.

Hebrews 11:1-12 (NLT)

Great Examples of Faith

1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. 2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

4 It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.

5 It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. 6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

7 It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.

8 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. 9 And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. 10 Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.

11 It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. 12 And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for being the perfect example of faith. We want to be like our Biblical brothers and sisters of faith. Holy Spirit, help us to grow in our obedience to You and to Your Word. We want to be champions of faith for You not only so that we trust You with our lives, but also so that You can use us to extend Your love to others. We want to help grow Your Kingdom and leave a legacy that is all about You, Jesus. We ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Friends, if we are being completely honest, there is not one of us who has never felt the need to defend ourselves. So, when we go to defend ourselves, do we seek for God’s guidance? There are many places throughout the Word where God permits self-defense from both physical and/or spiritual danger, but His Word always guides us to defend with wisdom, restraint, and righteousness, through the Holy Spirit, Who does not harm others, but guides our souls (minds, wills, and emotions) and hearts with love and never with revenge.

Prior to today’s passage Stephen was falsely accused of blaspheming God, Moses, the Law, and the Temple. In today’s passage, Stephen begins his defense, as he is on trial before the Jewish council of approximately 70 Pharisees and Sadducees (High Priests). Stephen had been performing miracles, and most likely healings, and all in Jesus’s Name. Men were paid to spread lies about Stephen to stop him and to get him on trial. Our passage reveals how the Holy Spirit moved through Stephen to give a defense, and what better way than to walk them (the High Priests) through the early history of Israel. Stephen confronts the Jewish council (the Sanhedrin) and demonstrates how Jesus is their Deliverer Whom they rejected. He talks about God’s covenant with Abraham and how from the very beginning, Israel, was God’s chosen people who continued to be disobedient instead of remaining faithful.

Friends, Jesus is our Deliverer, and we need to remain faithful to Him, obedient to His Word, and be willing to defend His Holy Name.

Acts 7:1-8 (NLT)

Stephen Addresses the Council

1 Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these accusations true?”

2 This was Stephen’s reply: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me. Our glorious God appeared to our ancestor Abraham in Mesopotamia before he settled in Haran. 3 God told him, ‘Leave your native land and your relatives, and come into the land that I will show you.’ 4 So Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran until his father died. Then God brought him here to the land where you now live.

5 “But God gave him no inheritance here, not even one square foot of land. God did promise, however, that eventually the whole land would belong to Abraham and his descendants—even though he had no children yet. 6 God also told him that his descendants would live in a foreign land, where they would be oppressed as slaves for 400 years. 7 ‘But I will punish the nation that enslaves them,’ God said, ‘and in the end they will come out and worship me here in this place.’

8 “God also gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision at that time. So when Abraham became the father of Isaac, he circumcised him on the eighth day. And the practice was continued when Isaac became the father of Jacob, and when Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs of the Israelite nation.

Prayer: Jesus, help us to remain faithful to Your Word, and to be willing to defend You. Holy Spirit, guide us to be more like Stephen, and to have faith and trust like Abraham. We ask all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

There are many things that stand out to me when I think about Pastor Mary’s teachings. However, one thing that I absolutely love is how she makes sure that we understand the fear of the Lord and the importance it has on our current faith walk and our walk into eternity with Jesus.

In our passage today, the psalmist reminds Israel, the fear of the Lord is what brings good things to a nation, to God’s people. God is sovereign, faithful, and He protects His people. But God’s people must acknowledge that He is their God, and they must humble themselves and fully trust Him.

Friends, we are God’s people, we must trust Him and place all our hope in Him as His unfailing love truly does surround each one of us. Remember, God watches over you and me because we fear Him, our hearts are fully submitted to Him and we love Him beyond what our words can ever express.

Psalm 33:12-22 (NLT)

12 What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord,
whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.

13 The Lord looks down from heaven
and sees the whole human race.
14 From his throne he observes
all who live on the earth.
15 He made their hearts,
so he understands everything they do.
16 The best-equipped army cannot save a king,
nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.
17 Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—
for all its strength, it cannot save you.

18 But the Lord watches over those who fear him,
those who rely on his unfailing love.
19 He rescues them from death
and keeps them alive in times of famine.

20 We put our hope in the Lord.
He is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,
for our hope is in you alone.

Prayer: Jesus, please forgive us for we have not always trusted You, and when we’ve leaned on our own understanding. We need You, Jesus, to be our hope and our shield, today, and every day after, until we come face-to-face with You. Thank You for being all that we need, Jesus. We ask all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

If you were not able to join us for worship on Sunday, we looked at Luke 12:13-21 which was Jesus’s Parable of the Rich Fool. We know that Jesus was most likely teaching in an outdoor public setting in Judea, as He was on His way to Jerusalem, and a man asked Him to settle a dispute over an inheritance. Jesus refused and He warned against choosing earthly greed over a rich relationship with God. We talked about how earthly inheritances include money, property, assets, etc. and these are all things that are temporal and fleeting. We also talked about how a heavenly inheritance includes spiritual blessings that are passed on from God to His people as God always fulfills His promises, and His spiritual blessings are eternal, and they last forever.

Today’s passage follows Sunday’s passage. Jesus had just finished the Parable of the Rich Fool, and now we see that He is talking to His disciples. Friends, please keep in mind that Jesus’s message is the same today for you and me as it was for the disciples that walked with Him almost 1,900 years ago. We are Jesus’s disciples, and He does not want us to worry about anything. Jesus illustrates how God cares for the birds and flowers, to help us understand that God cares for all of His creation, which includes you and me. Jesus does not want us to chase after the securities of this world, as they are fleeting; rather, He wants us to seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and to trust God with all of our needs. Fully trusting in God and resting in His hands as we pursue His plan for our lives is the highest and best for each one of us. So, let’s try and do that today with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Luke 12:22-31 (NLT)

Teaching about Money and Possessions

22 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. 23 For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. 24 Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! 25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

27 “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. 30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.

Prayer: Jesus, help us to not worry, but to trust in You. We know that You have our highest and best interest at heart, yet we allow worry to creep in. Forgive us, and help us to rest in You, to trust in You, and to fully submit to You. Holy Spirit, help us to seek God’s Kingdom first, and allowing everything else that we need to be provided by You. We ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Paul wrote his Letter to the Colossians while he was imprisoned. He knew that false teachings were threatening the Church. So, we see that the first portion of his letter (Chapters 1 and 2) emphasizes Christ’s supremacy and sufficiency. He wants believers to understand that we are complete in Christ Jesus. In the second, and final, portion of Paul’s letter (Chapters 3 and 4), he no longer focuses on doctrine but wants to provide believers with ways of practical Christian living.

Today’s portion of Paul’s letter includes his final instructions for our Christian lives. First, Paul talks about our devotion to prayer. Notice how he specifies that we are to pray with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Paul is instructing believers to connect with the Holy Spirit in prayer, meaning we are to attentively pray with gratitude and intention. God deserves our undivided attention, our entire heart, and our time with Him should be meaningful, not distracted and routine.

Next, Paul asks the Church to pray for him and his team so that God will give them many opportunities to speak about Jesus. Even from prison, Paul is focused on spreading the Gospel message about Christ Jesus and His eternal love. Paul’s example means that you and I should certainly have no problems sharing the Gospel message.

Finally, Paul guides the Church not to be weird, uninviting, disinterested, disassociated, etc. with non-believers. Rather, we are called to live wisely amongst non-believers, making the most of every opportunity that Jesus places within our time together. We are to be loving, gracious, meaningful, truthful, and attractive (meaning our interactions are seasoned with salt) so that non-believers are attracted to Jesus within us and want His light and are eager to learn more about Him and from Him.

Colossians 4:2-6 (NLT)

An Encouragement for Prayer

2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 3 Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. 4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.

5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for helping us to remain devoted to You in prayer. We want our prayer time to deepen so that we are growing closer to You and able to witness how we can pray more diligently for others. Holy Spirit, we need Your wisdom to guide our interactions with non-believers. Help us to led with Your grace and love in our actions, in-actions, speech, etc. Open doors for us today, so we can share about Your love, Jesus. We ask all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.