Devotionals

Intro:  Yesterday, we started our reading in Proverbs and discovered how wisdom is asking God to help us see life from his perspective and then choosing to follow him on the path of Truth. Our passage continues in chapter three by drawing our attention to the importance of having both divine wisdom [giving God his proper place in our lives/proper perspective] and divine understanding [knowledge of the Holy One/His ways and character] (Pro 9:10).

Wisdom is like eating ripe righteous fruit from the tree of life.  From the beginning of time, God created us to feed on his wisdom. The Bible really connects humanity and how we are to live in wisdom which is to live in Christ the Way, the Truth, and the Life with God.  When we ask for wisdom and understanding, our lives experience a greater measure of harmony and peace, because God created us to conform to his righteousness; this is the desire of his heart for us.

Proverbs 3:13-18 NLV 13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding. 14 For it is better than getting silver and fine gold. 15 She is worth more than stones of great worth. Nothing you can wish for compares with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand. Riches and honor are in her left hand. 17 Her ways are pleasing, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her. Happy are all who hold her near.

Prayer:  Lord, our hearts long to be filled with your wisdom and understanding.  May we allow  these precious gifts to grow us in your character and in your likeness.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Intro: It would be a natural tendency to think we know what is right or wrong for our lives and call it wisdom, but in reality any inclination or decision that does not have Christ at the center of it is biblically questionable. Wisdom is learning to see life from God’s perspective and trusting him to guide us as we follow. For the children of God, wisdom is associated with godly human conduct—the character of Christ—who “for our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself” (1 Cor 1:30).

Preceding our passage today from the Wisdom Book of Proverbs, God calls to his children, “Store my commands in your heart” (v. 1). God does not call us to memorize his commands, but rather to make his commands an integral part of our being so we are ready to act on them. In our verses that follow, we learn the path of wisdom is the embodiment of God’s Word. If we honor God as the Source of all we have and seek his will in all we do, God will reward and bless the wisdom we demonstrate—an obedient Christ follower receiving God’s covenant blessings.

Proverbs 3:5-9 NLT
5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.
6 
Seek his will in all you do,
    and he will show you which path to take.
7 
Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
    Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 
Then you will have healing for your body
    and strength for your bones.
9 
Honor the Lord with your wealth
    and with the best part of everything you produce.
10
Then he will fill your barns with grain,
    and your vats will overflow with good wine.

Prayer: Lord, information swirls all around us and we can find ourselves grabbing ahold of what impresses us, but void of wisdom. Help us to discern wisely and live to honor your character and name. You are the Source of all things, so thank you for being our Helper and our Provider. May how we live bring you glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

If you were not able to attend yesterday’s time of worship, Pastor Mary used a great visual that applies perfectly to today’s devotion (the image below is an example). First, she held up a red paper heart that had “Me” written on both sides. She explained that when we focus on ourselves and our problems, we forget to focus on God; thus, we allow the enemy in to work on our hearts. As she explained this, she tore the heart into pieces, because let’s face it, the enemy seeks to break our hearts and to leave us broken. Then, Pastor Mary held up another heart that had “Me” written on one side and “God” on the other side. She explained that when we focus on God to take care of us and our problems, He holds our hearts in wholeness and He works to heal and restore them.

God does not get angry with us when we cry out to Him, or when we are honest with Him because He wants us to seek Him at all times. We must remember that this natural world is fleeting, but what Jesus has for us in the supernatural is eternal and available to us now. We need to get to the point where we are instantaneously sharing the good, bad, and ugly with Jesus. Our focus needs to be on God first and foremost all of the time and in all circumstances. We need to be listening for God’s voice, following Him, and obeying His Word. As His people, if we want to be prepared for His return, we need to be in constant communion with Him now, we cannot wait until it’s too late.

Psalm 102:1-17 (NLT)

A prayer of one overwhelmed with trouble, pouring out problems before the Lord.

1 Lord, hear my prayer!
Listen to my plea!
2 Don’t turn away from me
in my time of distress.
Bend down to listen,
and answer me quickly when I call to you.
3 For my days disappear like smoke,
and my bones burn like red-hot coals.
4 My heart is sick, withered like grass,
and I have lost my appetite.
5 Because of my groaning,
I am reduced to skin and bones.
6 I am like an owl in the desert,
like a little owl in a far-off wilderness.
7 I lie awake,
lonely as a solitary bird on the roof.
8 My enemies taunt me day after day.
They mock and curse me.
9 I eat ashes for food.
My tears run down into my drink
10 because of your anger and wrath.
For you have picked me up and thrown me out.
11 My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows.
I am withering away like grass.

12 But you, O Lord, will sit on your throne forever.
Your fame will endure to every generation.
13 You will arise and have mercy on Jerusalem —
and now is the time to pity her,
now is the time you promised to help.
14 For your people love every stone in her walls
and cherish even the dust in her streets.
15 Then the nations will tremble before the Lord.
The kings of the earth will tremble before his glory.
16 For the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem.
He will appear in his glory.
17 He will listen to the prayers of the destitute.
He will not reject their pleas.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for never leaving my side. Holy Spirit, help to open my spiritual ears to hear from the Father and guide me with heavenly wisdom so I may keep on the narrow path that the Father has for me. I do not want to remain in places of despair, rather I want the joy of the Lord to rise up within me. I ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Evangelism is one of those things that we don’t really think about until we are in church listening to a message about evangelism.  In other words, we hear it in the church but we really don’t do anything outside the building.  Evangelism is something that Jesus called us to do.  In the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus says “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (NLT Translation).  Mark 16:15 says that we need to go and preach the gospel to all nations.  In order for us to do that, then we need to be prepared to do that.  That’s the responsibility of the church.  How do I know that? In Ephesians 4:12, Paul reminds the church in Ephesus their responsibility for the people.  He says “Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ.”  Where there is responsibility, there is also accountability.  The local church is responsible for getting their people equipped with what they need to go and share the gospel to all people.  While we share the gospel with others, we cannot be ashamed of it because it is the gospel of Jesus Christ that brings salvation (Romans 1:16).  

Here’s what we need to do: ask God for strength.  While it may not be an easy thing to do, but it is something that is essential to grow the kingdom of God.  Not only ask Him for strength but also for wisdom and guidance.  He said that He is always going to be with you.  No matter where you go, He is always going to be there by your side because He loves you.  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray for Your continuous strength and wisdom as we continue to do the things that You have called us to.  As we grow Your Kingdom, let us not be ashamed of it.  Instead, let us embrace it and let Your word shine before others so that the darkness will flee and Your light will shine through.  In Jesus name I pray, amen. 

Intro: God calls us by name and pursues us for a relationship in order to lead us on the righteous path for our lives. Yesterday, we looked at the call of Abram; to leave what was familiar in order to go to the unfamiliar with God. Today, we look at the call of Moses; to return to an oppressive environment (Egypt) in order to lead more people to the liberating God. Abram’s call was a vocational challenge to build his faith. Moses’ call was a complete reorientation of his life to build God’s people in faith.

Initially, Moses protests God’s call; he is overwhelmed by God’s presence and instruction. Moses experiences the holy One; he sees the supernatural power of God before him in the burning bush that is not destroyed. He feels unworthy to lead God’s people, because he can’t get beyond seeing things from a human perspective. God gives a promise to Abraham; God also gives a promise to Moses. God gives a promise to you and me. Five very important words for us to remember today, “I will be with you!” If God is with you, then you have all you need.

Exodus 3:1-6 NLT Moses and the Burning Bush
3 One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. 3 “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”

4 When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!”

“Here I am!” Moses replied.

5 “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. 6 I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.
7 Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. 9 Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. 10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”

11 But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 God answered, “I will be with you.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the call that rests on your children; you have a plan for each of our lives. We need to follow you and allow your grace to help us because you are all we need. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: It is not unusual for the Lord to lead his children out of the familiar and into the unfamiliar, because this is how we grow. Sometimes, we are called by the Lord out of the familiar yet unhealthy habits or places, because if we stay we will self-slaughter. Still other times, we may be called out of the familiar in order to stretch our faith, trust, and endurance. Out of divine design, venturing into the unfamiliar requires a devotion to the Lord, because it is not a “comfy” journey spiritually, emotionally, or physically.

In our passage today, the Lord calls Abram to leave the familiar, but within that call and suffering there are many promises. If Abram will move toward the unfamiliar, God will provide the grace needed for he and his family to live a blessed life—offering such abundance they will be able to bless others. But there is more. God promises to share his goodness (cup of salvation) or his curses (cup of wrath) with the world one day depending on how others treat his people. Abram is renamed Abraham by God when he was called to be the father of multitudes. Jesus is the true offspring of Abraham; the blessed One of Abraham’s covenant. We are heirs of Abraham’s blessing, because of Jesus.

Genesis 12:1-3 NLT The Call of Abram
12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

Prayer: Lord, when we face the unfamiliar we get anxious and try to figure out how things will work out. Yet, we know we must walk by faith and not by sight. Thank you for blessing us and making us a blessing. Thank you, as well, for dealing with those in the world who would mistreat us as your children. You will have the final say, so we trust you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: The glorious kingdom realm is God’s eternal domain; everything concerning the kingdom or dwelling within it belongs to the Lord. Therefore, God is free to pour his goodness and favor out upon his followers and leaders as he pleases. Scripture reminds us again and again, God views rewards for leadership from a very different perspective than the world. In God’s kingdom, a true leader is humble and quick to serve others—no task too small if God requires it—because he or she loves and values people the way God does. A genuine leader—as a follower of Christ—should model for others the proper attitude followed by humble action.

In our passage today, the mother of James and John requests the honor of her sons sitting next to Jesus in his glorious Kingdom. In all fairness to James and John, Jesus has just shared a previous teaching with his disciples about what to expect when the world is made new and he sits upon his glorious throne. Jesus tells his followers they will sit with him on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Mat 19:28). All by itself, the vision Jesus sets forth in that verse sounds attractive (Mat 19:28). Yet, we find out in the verses that follow, such places of honor—ones greatly rewarded by the Father—are for those who suffer for the sake of righteousness (Mat 19:29-30). For the greatest, suffering and reward go together.

Matthew 20:20-28 NLT Jesus Teaches about Serving Others
20 Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. 21 “What is your request?” he asked.

She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”

22 But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?”

“Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”

23 Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”
24 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant.
25 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Prayer: Lord, please groom us to be servant leaders for your kingdom. Help us to push away from worldly ambition, so we can bring glory to your name. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Encouragement is a blessing every human being needs to experience. That is why the spiritual gifts God has given his children are so precious; such a treasure. Some of God’s children have a wonderful and weighty gift of encouragement they joyfully share with the spiritual family. Encouragement is strengthening; it builds up and gently nudges one forward.

In the Old Testament, we find many priestly blessings of encouragement for God’s people. This was not only a spoken spiritual blessing from faith leaders, it was a provisional blessing because the people’s needs were practical. They needed food, water, health, children, protection, and security; so, a blessing was prayed over the people and, by faith, they began to look for their supernatural God to provide in some way.

The world speaks cutting, shaming, judging, criticizing words over people every day; it is anti-God. To use our words to build and strengthen the hope and trust of others in Christ—our living Lord—brings forward the love of God that unites us in Christ. We care about helping one another. Encouragement helps the weak and weary to gain strength in the Lord. Jesus was always encouraging his followers by nudging them forward toward greater transformation in their lives. In Christ, may we be encouragers of one another.

In our passage today, the writer of Hebrews shares a priestly blessing to encourage believers to stay focused on their relationship with God and his involvement and favor operating in their lives. Our Good Shepherd not only laid down his life for us, he continues to provide out of concern for us as his family; those who do the will of the Father. Our needs matter to the Lord. He has promised to provide strength and equip us to share his goodness with others in spiritual, as well as practical ways.

Hebrews 13:20-21 NLT
20
Now may the God of peace—
who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great Shepherd of the sheep,
and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—
21
may he equip you with all you need
for doing his will.
May he produce in you,
through the power of Jesus Christ,
every good thing that is pleasing to him.
All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.

Prayer: (Num 6:22-26) May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

If you joined us yesterday for worship, you may recall that we spent time in Psalm 23 and John 10. We were reminded by David, in Psalm 23, that the Lord is our shepherd and that His goodness and unfailing love will never stop pursing us because it is gravely important to God that we ultimately reside in His House for all eternity.

Then Jesus, in John 10, uses a parable about how He is the Good Shepherd, and we are His sheep. At the end of John 9, Jesus was debating with those who objected to Him giving sight to a man who was born blind. Jesus is still speaking to those criticizers, but they tell Jesus that they do not understand what He is saying. “So, He explained it to them: ‘I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.’ Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through Me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (John 10:7, 9-10)

Today’s Psalm is “A Psalm of Thanksgiving”, and it invites all of the earth to shout with joy to the Lord. Remember, Pastor Mary helped us yesterday to understand that the enemy will do anything to steal our joy. But, handing over our joy is a chose we have, because Jesus lives within us, and He is our joy. So, even though the enemy is always around, he has no power to take our joy, unless we give it to him, because Jesus, Who is divine and holy power, resides in you and me.

Psalm 100 is meant to encourage us to acknowledge God and His vast power that created us. It is directly connected to Psalm 23 and John 10, because we are God’s people, the sheep of the Good Shepherd’s pasture. As His sheep, you and I must enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with joyous praise because His love will never fail and will continue for all eternity.

Psalm 100 (NLT)

A psalm of thanksgiving.

1 Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!

2 Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.

3 Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for being our Good Shepherd. Help us to hold firmly onto our joy. We do not want to hand anything that is of You over to the enemy. Thank You for being our gate, the One Who welcomes us into our eternal Home. We ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Intro: Every person develops a reputation—the opinion people have about us—over time based on the behavior that is demonstrated in our relationships whether personal, work, leisure, etc. If we have a habit of acting unjustly, disrespecting others, or making negative or condemning statements, we will develop a bad reputation. Depending on how often we display this poor character, we can gain a bad reputation very quickly. Unfortunately, it is hard to lose or repair a bad reputation once we have set it into motion. Only humility and grace can bring healing and restoration.

In our passage today, the tax collectors—those working for the Roman government—have established a bad reputation of corruption with the Jewish people. In fact, any Jew who became a tax collector was consider a traitor, as well as a thief—a notorious sinner. Jesus was aware of all these accusations, but the bad reputation of these tax collectors did not detour him from spending time with them. Jesus was determined to be a Voice of Truth for the sinners; he was not worried about his own reputation being soiled. However, the religious leaders and Pharisees saw the tax collectors as unworthy of God’s love, so sharing a meal with them was considered unthinkable, as well as spiritually defiling. The Pharisees’ image of their piety was as wrong as the tax-collectors’ image of their corruption, so Jesus reminded them every person’s way of life needs to be changed.

Jesus uses a parable to explain why he was willing to spend time with sinners: He felt deep sorrow for them because they were like lost sheep in need of a shepherd. In the Old Testament, God is pictured as the Shepherd of Israel who cares about his people’s well-being (Ps 23). In the New Testament, Jesus refers to himself as the Good Shepherd. Since the religious shepherds of Israel failed to show concern for God’s people who were lost in sin, Jesus proved faithful as the Shepherd who laid down his life for the lost (John 10:11).

We can all wander away from our Shepherd and the protection of his care; however, we may face the difficult consequences of our sin when we do so. May we never forget the gift of mercy and grace, as well as the goodness of God to come and find us in order to lift us from sin and restore us in relationship with Father. May we live with gratitude that God changes our identity by making us his children, so our reputation can begin anew when we are born again. In Christ, we are a new person—the old life is gone…a new life has begun (2 Cor 5:17). Have a blessed weekend! Hope to see you Sunday!

Luke 15:1-7 VOICE
1 Jesus became increasingly popular among notorious sinners—tax collectors and other social outcasts. 2 The Pharisees and religious scholars noticed this.
Pharisees and Religious Scholars: This man welcomes immoral people and enjoys their company over a meal!

Jesus (with another parable): 3-4 Wouldn’t every single one of you, if you have 100 sheep and lose one, leave the 99 in their grazing lands and go out searching for the lost sheep until you find it? 5 When you find the lost sheep, wouldn’t you hoist it up on your shoulders, feeling wonderful? 6 And when you go home, wouldn’t you call together your friends and neighbors? Wouldn’t you say, “Come over and celebrate with me, because I’ve found my lost sheep”? 7 This is how it is in heaven. They’re happier over one sinner who changes his way of life than they are over 99 good and just people who don’t need to change their ways of life.

Prayer: Father, as your children, may we care greatly about the reputation we are developing while we are in this fallen world. Our lives need to emulate your beauty and holiness. Please continue to bring change to our lives, so by our attitudes and actions we begin to emulate your character and reputation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.