Devotionals

From Sticky Souls to Transformed Hearts
God’s command—from the glorious clouds overshadowing the Transfiguration of Jesus in the gospels—reminds us: when we listen and do whatever the Son of God says he will lead us from barrenness due to selfish living into righteous fruit-producing living for the glory of God.  Self cannot satisfy self.  We must hunger for God.

This is basically our journey for Lent, because sinful attitudes and actions try to stick to our souls and destroy our Life with God.  Jesus wants us to produce righteous fruit that bring glory to our King’s rule and reign.

Christian spirituality, the contemplative life, is not about us. It is about God. The great weakness of American spirituality is that it is all about us: fulfilling our potential, getting the blessings of God, expanding our influence, finding our gifts, getting a handle on principles by which we can get an edge over the competition. The more there is of us, the less there is of God.
—Eugene Peterson

Yesterday, our fast involved letting go of a wrong mindset that Lent is some kind of a project to make us better people. It is not. Salvation is a supernatural work that is not accomplished based on our efforts to make ourselves better people. Lent is about choosing to make a journey with Christ; to come into a place of devotion and communion based on our hunger for more of God. Different!

Day 2: Fasting Regrets
We are invited to walk with Jesus and His disciples through even the dark seasons of life. These are seasons we would rather avoid: grief, conflict, misunderstanding, betrayal, rejection, and pain. Our culture celebrates increase, but to enjoy a triumphal walk with Jesus means we must embrace decrease. Some stuff hiding in our souls has to be cut away by our skillful and righteous divine Surgeon. John the Baptist reminds us it is Jesus who must increase; therefore, as his disciples we must decrease (Jo 3:30). Decrease is about letting go. Regret is a bad root that will produce no righteous fruit. Decrease by giving Jesus your regrets.

Today, we will fast regrets. What steals your strength? Regrets can suffocate hope and dreams, because it is a type of self-punishment. We must stop feeding regrets, because God’s mercies are “new every morning (Lam 3:23). Jesus is in the process of making everything new, even while we learn from the mistakes of our past (Rev 21:5).

When we first come to Christ, life is new while at the same time being all together mysterious. We are instantaneously engrafted into the righteous Branch of Christ in order to partake and feast from the roots of his righteousness to produce fruit. Yet, we still have this sinful nature that is learning to decrease. Hindsight helps us learn from the poor endings of our past. Regret is destructive, injures our souls, and works to stop our journey. Do not give regret space. Let it go…and feast on the new beginnings Jesus died to give you.

Jesus’ triumphant entry is about a new beginning in the glorious salvation of God. Receive it and proclaim, “Praise God!”

John 12:12-19 NLT Jesus’ Triumphant Entry
12 The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors 13 took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted,

“Praise God!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hail to the King of Israel!”
14 Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said:
15 
“Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem.
Look, your King is coming,
    riding on a donkey’s colt.”

16 His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him.
17 Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. 18 That was the reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign. 19 Then the Pharisees said to each other, “There’s nothing we can do. Look, everyone has gone after him!”

Prayer: Lord, when it comes to your love, we must love ourselves the way you love us. You desire to spiritually and surgically rescue us from the darkness of our past that tries to suffocate our souls. Otherwise, we will focus inward, loose our strength, and worship self. In recognizing our weakness in this area, we ask you to radiate your Light of Truth as we worship you. Help us see this fast of regret as a way to follow you into our best life walking by the Spirit and into your amazing Grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

From Sticky Souls to Transformed Hearts

God’s command—from the glorious clouds overshadowing the Transfiguration of Jesus in the gospels—reminds us: when we listen and do whatever the Son of God says he will lead us from barrenness due to selfish living into righteous fruit-producing living for the glory of God.  Self cannot satisfy self.  We must hunger for God.

This is basically our journey for Lent, because sinful attitudes and actions try to stick to our souls and destroy our Life with God.  Jesus wants us to produce righteous fruit that bring glory to our King’s rule and reign.

Day 1: Ash Wednesday

“Christian spirituality is not a life project for becoming a better person.”
Eugene Peterson

As a culture, we are suffocating in self, so giving up chocolate or social media for Lent is not going to lead us into awe over Christ’s death and resurrection. God desires for us to grow and develop in spiritual maturity. He cares about what we are becoming as his sons and daughters. Faith is about the surrender of our souls—and our souls can be sticky with selfishness that crave the gratification of ungodly desires, indifference toward unhealthy attitudes or actions, and the greedy acquisition of unlimited possessions. None of these things will grow and intensify our communion with God. So, we are going to set aside the next forty days to honor the Lord our Savior.

Lent is not a project, it is an experiential journey with the Savior. So, in our reading today from the Gospel of John please put yourself as an observer in the story. Note there is Judas sitting in the presence of Christ—a selfish and greedy thief with a sticky soul who pretends to be a disciple of Christ who cares for the poor. Now contrast the deceptive Judas with Mary the worshiper who comes to the Savior with selfless devotion and an extravagant gift of perfume with which to bless him. Your senses are alive with the fragrance of Mary’s worship. She pushes through the veil into the holy place with the Lord. She is determined to remain in this place with her Christ. Will you remain in his presence today?

John 12:1-11 Jesus Anointed at Bethany
1 Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. 2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. 3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

4 But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 5 “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 6 Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.

7 Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

9 When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. 10 Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, 11 for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your generous love and grace. Please forgive our greedy inclinations and lead us into worship. Help us remain with you, today.

Caesarea [Judea] is located on the Mediterranean seacoast and during the 1st-5th centuries, it served as a base for Roman governance. Caesarea Maritime provided a port—a base for the Herodian navy—and scripture teaches Jesus, Peter, Philip, and Paul traveled there. Paul sailed to and from Caesarea during his missionary travels.

When I was in Israel in 2012, I was able to see the remains of Caesarea: a Roman temple and its mosaic floor, an amphitheater, the hippodrome, and the amazing ruins of the aqueduct. The port is mostly hidden underwater due to rough winter gales, earthquakes, and an occasional tsunami. The winter day I was there the waves of the Mediterranean Sea were very high outside the outer harbor and breakwaters. I plan to show you some pictures of this area and more of Israel on Wednesday during Holy Week, so I hope you are planning to join me.

Our passage is a continuation from Friday, as well as Monday and takes place in Caesarea; the home of Cornelius—a Roman centurion. Our lesson continues with Peter and the prejudice God is working to remove from his heart, because it was God’s plan to bring Jews and Gentiles [non-Jews] together to make one new man in the Messiah.

In the passage, Cornelius is waiting for Peter’s arrival; he has notified all his family and friends. This Roman man wants to hear the Good News that saves a person from sin and death; he wants everyone he knows to hear this news, too. Peter knows it is God’s will for him to enter this centurion’s house, but he does not like it and struggles a bit with his personal feelings and perspective of safety. It is hard to break certain mindsets and traditions, but the angel makes it clear based on the sacrifice of Christ, no one is unclean who worships the Lord.

Cornelius honors Peter by bowing when he arrives and by grace Peter points this Gentile to Jesus who alone deserves our worship. Peter enters the house and finds a group of people—probably family, friends, and more Roman soldiers—who may have never worship the Jewish God, but are about to do so! Think about the faith of Cornelius and Peter. God got a message to them both, set up a divine appointment for them to meet, and arranged a receptive audience to receive the Good News of Jesus. Can you imagine inviting a group of people to your home—people who have never heard the Gospel—and telling them about Jesus? That’s what Cornelius did; this is the first time the Gospel is preached to gathered Gentiles and it is just the beginning
.
Acts 10:23-33 NLT Peter Visits Cornelius
23 So Peter invited the men to stay for the night. The next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.

24 They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!” 27 So they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled.

28 Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. 29 So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me.”

30 Cornelius replied, “Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me. 31 He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God! 32 Now send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.”

Prayer: Lord, this is such a beautiful lesson about how the work of the Spirit orchestrates salvation when we join in. Please continue to show us and lead us to reach out to all people who need to know you. We cannot hold such Good News within ourselves; it must be shared. Give us courage and vision to witness to the power of your redeeming love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Yesterday was Transfiguration Sunday, the day when Jesus revealed His divinity to His disciples. We can read about this event in the Synoptic Gospels: Matt. 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-13, and Luke 9:28-36, as well as see it being referenced in 2 Peter 1:16-21. God orchestrated this unimaginably divine event that took place on Mount Tabor in Israel not just for Peter, James, and John as they were praying with Jesus; and not just so Moses and Elijah could appear in presence, but also so believers of every generation could have a divine encounter and experience Jesus’ in His holy brilliance through these passages of Truth.

On Friday, Pastor Mary’s devotion was about another divine encounter that began with Cornelius and an angel of the Lord. Today we continue with that story of transformation, and we see a continuation of divine encounters, all in an effort to grow individuals in their faith and trust in the Lord. If you recall, we left Friday’s devotion with Cornelius sending his messengers to go get Simon Peter, as requested by an angel of the Lord. This was so Jesus could work His grace, love, and salvation through Simon Peter for Cornelius, and I image many others who were firsthand witnesses of these divine encounters.

Today we pick up as Cornelius’ messengers were nearing Simon, the tanner’s home, and Simon Peter was up on the roof praying. During this time, Peter had a divine encounter, or vision, from the Lord. In the vision, the Lord commands Peter to eat all animals, some of which were considered unclean or forbidden creatures for Jewish people to eat. Peter initially tells the Lord that he will never eat anything that is impure or unclean. Then the Lord spoke to Peter three times saying, “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” (v. 15) The point the Lord was making with His vision to Peter is that only God determines what is clean (holy) and what is unclean (sinful), and this cleanliness would apply to the Gentiles messengers Peter was about to meet whom he would need to extend Jesus’ love and grace.

As the messengers arrived, the Holy Spirit instructed Peter what he had to do, and he followed the divine message with obedience, even though he was not sure what God had planned. Keep in mind, Joppa was a mixed town of Gentile and Jewish workers, and even if Simon the tanner had some less concerns with strict Jewish rules, he most likely would still have had concerns of impure table fellowship, and lodging of Gentiles overnight which would not have been acceptable. Yet, Peter invited the messengers to stay the night, and they would return to see Cornelius the next day.

Acts 10:9-23 (NLT)

Peter Visits Cornelius

9 The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, 10 and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. 12 In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. 13 Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.”

14 “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.”

15 But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” 16 The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.

17 Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate, 18 they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there.

19 Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.”

21 So Peter went down and said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?”

22 They said, “We were sent by Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is a devout and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jews. A holy angel instructed him to summon you to his house so that he can hear your message.” 23 So Peter invited the men to stay for the night. The next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your transforming work in and through our lives. Holy Spirit, please stir within our hearts today and bring us revelation of your divine presence. We want You to guide us to share Your love, grace, and the saving work of Your salvation with someone, today! Be with us as we prepare our hearts to enter into Your Lenten season this week. Allow us to be fully transparent with You as we reflect on what needs change and more of You, help us to be quick to repent, and please restore us anew, Jesus. Thank You for all You have done for us, we ask this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

I have been amazed at the number of times God has orchestrated situations to position me in the right place to receive the right information at the right time. It is almost comical at times, because I know God has arranged things for a purpose [which I may not identify immediately]. Keep in mind, these encounters may involve a distraction, detour, or even a dramatic twist to my personal plans. So, these changes escort a temptation to feel a bit frustrated as my plans get set aside. lol! Yet, God knows how to set up divine encounters and we need to be constantly aware of it, because recognizing these moments will become an ongoing part of our preparation and transformation as Christ’s disciples. We must always remember God’s ways are not our ways; God’s ways are higher (Is 55:8). The Lord has a plan and he finishes what he starts! (Phil 1:6).

In our passage today, God orchestrates a divine encounter with Cornelius—a gentile or non-Jew. Cornelius is a good and generous man who believers there is a God, but does not know he needs Jesus as his High Priest and Savior. The Lord sends an angel to guide Cornelius, so a meeting could be set up with a stranger who would share about the saving work of Jesus. How did Cornelius respond to this odd request? Obediently. We must do likewise. Be ready to participate in God’s plan of salvation!

Acts 10:1-8 NLT Cornelius Calls for Peter
1 In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer[centurion] named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. 3 One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said.

4 Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel.
And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! 5 Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.”

7 As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of his personal attendants. 8 He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this reminder from your Word about your miraculous work of salvation. In this way, you pursued Cornelius, so he could meet Peter and receive the Holy Spirit. Your divine encounters are precious and reveal the depth of your love for your creation. Holy Spirit, help us to hear and quickly obey, because it is an honor to be led by you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

When the Gospels teach there is power in Jesus’ name, it means great things are accomplished by the ‘authority’ of our Christ and his Spirit. Before Jesus ascended, he told his disciples he had been given all authority over heaven and earth (Mat 28:18). The Lord has authority over both the spiritual and natural realms. There is nothing the power and authority of Christ cannot do; he is the Creator and Almighty God. Period.

God is working in human lives and in this world all the time through Jesus. Whatever we encounter, as his disciples, is an opportunity to reveal his presence as Truth and power. When something is beyond our power to change or control, it is an opportunity for the miraculous authority of Jesus. We need to call upon the Lord and give him the authority to move and act through us; we partner with him and do whatever he asks. I love our reading for today, because I want and desperately need the authority of Jesus operating in my life, how about you?

Preceding the passage for today, the Spirit has been poured out on the disciples. As an eyewitness, Peter preaches a powerful message about the resurrected Christ and thousands of people become believers. These men and women form a community focused on the agape love of God and begin seeing signs and wonderful miracles happen through and around them.

In today’s passage, Dr. Luke shares his eyewitness story of Peter and John and Christ’s healing of a lame man who has spent his life on a mat at the Temple gate surviving on the generosity of others. To be ‘lame’ in Scripture brings the meaning of flawed, impaired, or unable to heal self. Spiritually and physically, this man is impaired and cannot walk in the Truth so, he sits outside the Temple and begs for help. The man is expecting money from the disciples, but instead he meets the authority of Jesus operating in and through Peter and John; he is instantly physically healed and his spiritual eyes are now open to follow the Truth. People watching were amazed.

Peter stands up and becomes the spokesperson. He rebukes the unbelieving crowd for crucifying their Christ (Messiah). He calls for their repentance. Peter speaks with passion, because he knows all too well his early suffering with lameness when he denies being Christ’s disciple (Lu 22:54-62). So, out of pure love for the Lord and in the power of Jesus’ name, Peter tells the people the Truth of what they have just seen…the miraculous power of Jesus to heal spiritually lame faith and physically sick lives! May God continue to heal our souls each day and use us to proclaim the Truth of the love that is transforming us!

Acts 3:11-16 NLT
11 They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.

Peter Preaches in the Temple
12 Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? 13 For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. 14 You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!

16 “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the wholeness Truth brings to life. Believers are so blessed to be able to enjoy a thriving relationship with you and live for you—being a mouthpiece, arms and legs that go outside the church and share the Truth that heals the lame. May we desire everything you came and died to provide us. We were the lame, but through agape we can walk in the Spirit. We praise you, Lord, for what you alone have done in believers. May we trust you more each day and see the abundant increase in the authority you bring to touch lives through us. In Jesus’ name! Amen.

Every day, believers live before the face of Father God. As well, every day the believer faces temptation to sin. When we try to hide from the Lord, he finds us and disciplines or corrects us. Scripture teaches this holy rebuke leads us on a transformational journey; in this way God loves our souls into wholeness (Heb. 12:6).

The word, ‘rebuke’ in Scripture involves a corrective action; it encourages repentance of sin, a turn toward the Truth, and welcoming the work of the Spirit for transformation. It does not involve tearing down a person or heaping a load of guilt on him or her. The goal of rebuke is restoration. It is accomplished by exposing sin and how it is seeking to destroy souls. When a person turns back to God, forgiveness is given and the work of faith to pursue righteousness is restored.

Believers are called to rebuke one another or speak the Truth in love, as well. This is how we support and encourage one another to press on toward God’s call from heaven through Christ Jesus (Phil 3:14). Because of the constant temptation before us, we can get terribly distracted and wander off course. The world tempts us with a lot of bright shiny objects—something visually appealing but temporal—that draws our attention away from the most important or eternal things in life.

In our passage today, Luke teaches a rebuke must reveal the big picture, because we are not called to point out every sin we may see in a person. We do bring sin to a person’s attention in order to restore him or her to God and many times to others. Forgiveness is the purpose and rebuke helps to accomplish that godly goal. Who needs forgiveness? The answer is everyone! We may not like being confronted with our wrong attitudes or actions, but we all need forgiveness and by the grace of God we can find the Way.

Luke 17:1-4 NLT Teachings about Forgiveness and Faith
1 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! 2 It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin. 3 So watch yourselves!

“If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. 4 Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the tremendous work of the Truth to bring the necessary rebuke to our lives. We need the Truth spoken to us in love, because that is how you raise us as your children. Becoming offended by the Truth causes us to wander longer and experience more suffering. May we be quick to listen to the rebuke of the Spirit, as well as the love motivating our brothers and sisters to get our attention. We can certainly be blind to our own issues and we need your love to save us. Thank you, Lord, for your faithful love and forgiveness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

It can be challenging for Christians to understand the difference between the commands [Heb. Mitzvah] mandated by God compared to the doctrines or teachings adopted by a religious organization. God’s commands are very specific laws about the principles that govern God’s Kingdom in a way that pleases him. God has an expectation about these laws. Doctrines are more generalized and some may be open to interpretation.

In the Old Testament Torah, God gave the Israelites Ten Commandments—moral Laws—of love ( Exodus 20:3-17). These laws involve absolute expectations, social and personal directives, and patterns for leading one’s family. The Israelites struggled to understand and obediently honor these Ten. Yet, later the religious leaders of Israel made things much harder for the people by adding to the Ten Commandments for a total of 613 rules—[Heb. Mishnah Oral law/tradition] —a kind of doctrine for guiding daily life. For example, the Sabbath (Mitzvah #4) was a day of rest to be kept holy, so later the Mishnah sought to define the work that could or could not be done on the Sabbath. The Mishnah was meant to help people better know God, but it complicated a relationship to the point of despair.

In the New Testament, Jesus consolidated the Father’s commands for the people as follows, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ (Mat 22:37-39). We must remember the commands of God have been written on the hearts of believers. When we break God’s commands of love, even if we do not want to acknowledge the Truth, we know it.

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul is addressing the church in Corinth. Love is lacking and Paul rebukes the people for coming to the table to remember and partake of Christ’s love when they are obviously not loving God wholeheartedly or one another as much as they love themselves. The people are gathering for what is called a “love feast” and although they bring food they are far from sharing love.

So Paul gives instructions as to how the Lord’s Supper should be observed as a whole by the congregation: 1) thoughtfully as Christ sacrificially died for our sins; 2) worthily out of reverence and respect; 3) prayerfully to confess our sins and poor attitudes; 4) orderly and in a unified manner. Before coming to the table of the Lord, we are to seek to resolve our differences with others; this removes the barriers that affect our communion with God.

1 Corinthians 11:27-33 NLT Order at the Lord’s Supper
17 But in the following instructions, I cannot praise you. For it sounds as if more harm than good is done when you meet together. 18 First, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it. 19 But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that you who have God’s approval will be recognized!
20 When you meet together, you are not really interested in the Lord’s Supper. 21 For some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk. 22 What? Don’t you have your own homes for eating and drinking? Or do you really want to disgrace God’s church and shame the poor? What am I supposed to say? Do you want me to praise you? Well, I certainly will not praise you for this!

27 So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. 29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.

31 But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. 32 Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

33 So, my dear brothers and sisters, when you gather for the Lord’s Supper, wait for each other.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for sacrificing your life to bring us the New Covenant of Grace. We know your beautiful commandments, because we have them written on our hearts by the Spirit. As our Savior, you fulfilled these Laws on our behalf; we could not have obediently fulfilled them ourselves. Therefore, help us to examine our hearts for unconfessed sin. As well, please help us to look at our spiritual family through the eyes of your love and seek to come to your table not as a ritual, but sincerely honoring the true One—Bread of Life—who heals all of our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 38 is one of several penitential or confessional psalms. Within this Psalm, David allows us to feel the very painful and dark places of his sinful guilt. We experience his physical, emotional, and spiritual pain which he openly expresses to God.

A few years ago, when I initially studied Psalm 38, I asked myself if my relationship with God was as intimate, as David’s was with God, to the point where was I actually grieving when I sinned against Him and others, and was I as honest with God when I sought for His forgiveness?

Friends, David most likely penned this psalm in response to his adultery with Bathsheba and his involvement in her husband, Uriah, being killed at battle so that David could marry her. I think we all can agree that David’s decisions were sinful and most certainly not guided by the Holy Spirit. I also think we can all experience his appeal for God’s forgiveness, and his understanding that he stepped into sinful places that resulted in excruciating pain. David’s plea for God’s forgiveness revealed his trust, faith, and hope that God would not forsake him, and that by remaining obedient to God, He would come and answer David.

The relationship that you and I have with Jesus should surpass all of our earthly relationships. Jesus should come before our biological family, before our spiritual family, and before our friends. Why? Well, when our hearts are in oneness with Jesus, we stand firmly by faith with Him, and thus our decisions are guided by the Holy Spirit and are not moved towards sin, rather our choices reveal the heart of Jesus. This intimate relationship with Jesus, then allows all of our other relationships to be guided by the His pure and holy love.

NOTE: please do not get misled by earthly “thoughts” of the word intimate. I encourage you to look up some synonyms and the Biblical definition. As Christ’s Family, we most certainly want a closeness, togetherness, affinity, rapport, attachment, familiarity, confidentiality, friendliness, comradeship, companionship, amity, affection, warmth, understanding, close relationship, close attachment, etc. with our Lord of Lords, our Kind of Kings, our Healer, and the One Who is forgave us of our sins and is coming back for you and me, JESUS!

Psalm 38

A psalm of David, asking God to remember him.

1 O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your rage!
2 Your arrows have struck deep,
and your blows are crushing me.
3 Because of your anger, my whole body is sick;
my health is broken because of my sins.
4 My guilt overwhelms me—
it is a burden too heavy to bear.
5 My wounds fester and stink
because of my foolish sins.
6 I am bent over and racked with pain.
All day long I walk around filled with grief.
7 A raging fever burns within me,
and my health is broken.
8 I am exhausted and completely crushed.
My groans come from an anguished heart.

9 You know what I long for, Lord;
you hear my every sigh.
10 My heart beats wildly, my strength fails,
and I am going blind.
11 My loved ones and friends stay away, fearing my disease.
Even my own family stands at a distance.
12 Meanwhile, my enemies lay traps to kill me.
Those who wish me harm make plans to ruin me.
All day long they plan their treachery.

13 But I am deaf to all their threats.
I am silent before them as one who cannot speak.
14 I choose to hear nothing,
and I make no reply.
15 For I am waiting for you, O Lord.
You must answer for me, O Lord my God.
16 I prayed, “Don’t let my enemies gloat over me
or rejoice at my downfall.”

17 I am on the verge of collapse,
facing constant pain.
18 But I confess my sins;
I am deeply sorry for what I have done.
19 I have many aggressive enemies;
they hate me without reason.
20 They repay me evil for good
and oppose me for pursuing good.
21 Do not abandon me, O Lord.
Do not stand at a distance, my God.
22 Come quickly to help me,
O Lord my savior.

Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for Your forgiveness. Help us to remain intimately close with You so that we are disgusted by sin. Holy Spirit, guide us to quickly recognize sin before it takes place and to rebuke it in the Name of Jesus. Quicken us, Lord, to seek Your forgiveness and to extend Your forgiveness to others. Thank You for never abandoning us, and for always being available. We ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

God created us and the seasons in our lives to shape us and fulfill his plans for us (Ecc 3:1). Every season of life provides new learning experiences that prepare us for the next—childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, middle age, and retirement—bringing varied opportunities and challenges for discipleship growth. Although life will always serve up a generous portion of unwanted change, there are times and stages in which we grow exponentially because we simply must pick up our cross, adhere to our faith, and follow Jesus one step at a time.

The season I am presently in has brought more spiritual growth than I could have possibly imagined; ways that pushed me to grow in trusting God for his strength. According to Scripture, every season is valuable, but certain stages in life bring situations that apply the most pressure to our souls for the greater outcome. With new levels of growth come new worldly temptations from evil. Yet, we must remain committed to the values of God’s Kingdom of Love—righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit (Ro 14:17).

In our passage today, the aging Apostle John is writing his first letter to reassure believers, through all generations and in every season of life, to place their confidence in God and grow in their faith and love. Yes, John is the apostle we most associate with love. John challenges believers in all seasons of life to make a choice to love one another the way Christ loves us. To love difficult people means we need to lay hold of Christ’s strength, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! (Phil 4:13).

Remember, to love a person with God’s love is to want the Lord’s best for him/her; to help that person by speaking the Truth in love and sharing what we have learned in our relationship with God and through his Word. We seek to shine the Light of the Savior’s love for others, because the world puts up a fierce battle for control. A lust for sensual pleasure, power, and possessions attacks the soul of every human being; we must choose to love God more than self.

John wants us to understand the powerful pull of the world to draw believers away from living in God’s love. We must not allow ourselves to be vulnerable by loving the world’s ways—or the things it uses to tempt us—more than God. Ways to fulfill selfish worldly pleasure is on temptation’s table all the time; things that do not come from God or please him. However, may we crave the things of God more than anything the world has to offer. Eternal life is both a gift and a choice.

1 John 2:12-17 NLT
12
I am writing to you who are God’s children
    because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.[through His name]
13 
I am writing to you who are mature in the faith
    because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
I am writing to you who are young in the faith
    because you have won your battle with the evil one.
14 
I have written to you who are God’s children
    because you know the Father.
I have written to you who are mature in the faith
    because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
I have written to you who are young in the faith
    because you are strong.
God’s word lives in your hearts,
    and you have won your battle with the evil one.

Do Not Love This World
15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gift of eternal life and for the ability to choose to grow in every season of life. We belong to you, Lord, and are grateful for the privilege to serve and honor your righteous plan for our spiritual maturity. Continue to make us strong disciples who faithfully live to please you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.