Devotionals

I have mentioned before that Pastor Mary, and I follow the Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings for the passages that we include within these daily devotionals. What I may not have mentioned is how God is always timely with His Truth, and as I prepare to share, sometimes His Truth can be difficult to study and even more difficult to pen for all of you to read. When that happens, I usually know that there is most likely an area of repentance and/or refinement, within me that needs to take place so that I can continue to grow in my own relationship with Jesus and allow Him to strengthen and keep moving me forward in my faith.

So, I recently witnessed fellow believers inside the Church passing judgment on what they probably believed were the sins of others outside the Church. The fellow believers did not know that I observed their interaction, and my immediate reaction was to cry like a baby. I am sharing this situation with you because it directly connects with today’s passage. Also, since I am responsible for my own heart before the Lord, I share this with you because I was not blameless within this situation. I have since repented for my inaction to lovingly talk and pray with my fellow Family inside the Church.

In today’s passage, Paul addresses relationships and sin in the Family of God, “the Church”. He helps us to understand that we need to know the difference between inside the Church or outside the Church.

Paul was writing again to the believers in Corinth (inside the Church) because they were ignoring incest within their community. That is why Paul begins by pointing out sexual sin. He continues to mention many other kinds of sinful actions from people in the world, because the Corinthian believers (as well as us) are not to avoid unbelievers. Rather, believers are expected to have contact with the unbelievers of the world, because that is how we bear witness to Christ in the world and act as His Salt and Light to spread His redeeming message of love. Jesus is the Great Physician Who wants to bring physical, spiritual, and soul affliction healing. He seeks out the lost, and we know this because He ate with the tax collectors, He associated with prostitutes, and He held the lepers. Jesus is the corner stone who brought all of these unbelievers to faith in Him; so, if we say that we live in God, then we should live our lives as Jesus did (1 John 2:6) and seek to also bring the lost to Him.

When we read about “judging” our fellow believers we must remember that “God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him” (John 3:17). This Truth means that our judgement of others is a sinful place of self-righteousness. Paul isn’t telling us to be the judge of one another, rather he is guiding us to love our Family of God, “the Church”, towards the much-needed repentance for the judgement of sin. Continuous sin has no place in the Church and real love confronts sin. Together, as a Family, with the leadership of the Church, we pray and seek for the love of Christ to guide us towards repentance, redemption, and wholeness. If someone inside the Church wants to hold onto sin and continue to sin, then they must go.

1 Corinthians 5:9-13 NLT

9 When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. 10 But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. 11 I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.

12 It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. 13 God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”

Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for not coming to judge, for we are all guilty. Help us to love as You love, and to put away the spirit of self-righteousness and judgement. Give us a heart like Yours, Jesus, so that we may love unbelievers like You love them. Help us to bear witness to You. Guide us with Your courage and wisdom, as a Family, to deal with sin in our own lives and within Your Church. We ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Intro: We serve the God of all comfort; the One who surrounds us with encouragement in the midst of affliction—crushing pressure . Sometimes that encouragement comes through words, but sometimes it comes when someone graciously walks along side us to offer help when we need it most. Comfort is sent by God to strengthen us and to lift our souls [mind/will/emotions] out of a place of pressure, lack, or grief. Comfort brings us courage and the perseverance to press on in faith. When we are sent to comfort others, our mission is to pass on the relief we have experienced. Did you know the Holy Spirit is our divine Comforter—the One who comes along side to help—who brings us the ability to comfort others?

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul is filled with gratitude, because even though he has faced many challenges and struggles, God has covered him with mercy and brought him comfort. Because we are the children of God, we face things that reveal the power and presence of God with us. We are not alone—we have God and one another—so we experience the comfort of our salvation. God gives us grace and one another, so we will have a sense of well-being even in the midst of difficulties.

Are you in a place of lack or grief? If so, invite the Comforter to come and bring you relief. Look around you and reach for a spiritual brother or sister who is ready to help. Realize that God never wastes our suffering, but uses it to lift the next child of His who may need comfort, too.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 NLT God Offers Comfort to All
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 6 Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. 7 We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being my Comforter, so that I may comfort others. If your children are determined to live in righteousness, we will need the comfort you alone can provide. Holy Spirit, please continue to build patience and endurance in me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Preceding our passage for today, the religious elders and leaders once again reveal their spiritual blindness to Jesus when they demand to know by what authority Jesus clears the temple and performs his many miracles. Because they refuse to repent, the leaders cannot understand the Truth of God standing before them. To receive salvation, we must believe in God, repent of our sin, receive the sacrifice of Jesus, and through acts of our faith, welcome the Spirit who helps us become the children of God (John 1:12).

Jesus is the Word or authority of God; therefore, he offends these Jewish leaders when he boldly tells them God’s children are true to their word—they don’t say one thing and do another. To do so reveals hypocrisy. Therefore, these leaders lack integrity and the ability to be forthright. They deny the work of John the Baptist because he proclaims the need for repentance and the arrival of Messiah’s kingdom. These are Words they do not want to believe even though they proclaim to serve God. So, Jesus tells them a parable [a Word story] to help them understand their hearts better.

The authority of Jesus has always been under attack and remains as such, today. People love the idea of Jesus—the loving and indwelling Savior—but we do not necessarily like the way the Word instructs us to live. Most of the time our flesh demands its own way and we find ourselves with a spiritual battle raging within. If we ask God to save us, we need to follow his instructions. And, we need to care about the salvation of others around us.

Matthew 21:28-32 NLT Parable of the Two Sons
28 “But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway. 30 Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go.
31 “Which of the two obeyed his father?”
They replied, “The first.”

Then Jesus explained his meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. 32 For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.

Prayer: Lord, help us to be authentic to your Word and follow in your Way. We do not want to be phony Christians; we want to become the children made in your image. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: In our passage today, the psalmist along with God’s people express their joy as they ascend God’s holy mountain—Jerusalem—the City of Peace. They are making their way to the Temple so they can worship the Lord. The desire for God’s presence overwhelms them; they anticipate God’s goodness and love expressed toward them.
For the Old Testament saints, coming to the Temple is not only where they worshiped, it is how they would experience God’s presence. The journey in coming to God, was difficult and many became weary along the way, but the thought of experiencing God’s presence refreshed them, so they pressed on. Being in God’s house even one day was better than a thousand days living in a world filled with wickedness.

For New Testament believers, every day we can come boldly to God’s glorious throne and receive the mercy and grace we need (Heb 4:16). God’s presence brings great peace to our souls; we can handle life with our Helper. Let’s be real, life can be extremely difficult sometimes; even traumatic. To face those difficulties or trauma without God with us is unimaginable. In God’s presence we experience His goodness, grace, and glory; life from his perspective is unveiled before us. Our spirits are renewed and refreshed in God’s presence. He is ready to provide for us and protect us; the Lord is our Shield.

If you are feeling weary today and your soul needs refreshing, please go boldly to the throne of God, now. You do not need to remain dry or empty. God will never withhold anything good from you if your heart is seeking his righteousness [his way of being right]. Trust him and lean into his goodness.

Psalm 84:8-12 NLT
8
O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer.    Listen, O God of Jacob. Interlude
9 
O God, look with favor upon the king, our shield!    Show favor to the one you have anointed.
10 
A single day in your courts    is better than a thousand anywhere else!I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God    than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
11 
For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.    He gives us grace and glory.The Lord will withhold no good thing    from those who do what is right.
12 
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies,    what joy for those who trust in you.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the privilege of coming into your presence each day. We bow before your love and mercy and graciously receive the refreshing joy of the Spirit in our souls. Be glorified with how we use your grace, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Apostle Paul warned and encouraged the Christians in Philippi that as believers they had been given the privilege of trusting in Christ, but they also had the privilege of suffering for Him too. (Phil 1:29)

In today’s passage, the Apostle Peter also warned and encouraged the same message as Paul but to the persecuted Christians living in five regions of Asia Minor.

These messages were not only for the Christians who were being addressed at those times, but also for Christians for all time. You and I must hold firm to these warning and encouragements of Truth because our Judge is returning. Just as Jesus suffered so must we because we are following Him, and the world wants nothing to do with Him.

As Americans, who currently have the freedom to practice our faith, you and I presently only have to endure a “normal” level of persecution for living in a pagan world: slander, mockery, laughter, hatred, etc. But we must not forget that around the world, our Christian brothers and sisters face a great deal of suffering. According to Open Doors’ World Watch List 2022, an average of more than 16 Christians were killed every day in 2021, 360 million Christians, or 1 in 7 believers around the world, suffered significant persecution for their faith, and there were close to 6,000 total martyrs worldwide. So, 2021 saw a 24% increase in Christians killed for the faith.

I read about these losses, and my heart breaks knowing that today, 16 of my brothers and sister in Christ, somewhere in the world, will die in His Name. It is the sinful hatred of the world for God’s Family that brings us closer and closer to Jesus’ return…and it should bring us closer and closer to Him within our faith.

Friends, I have been mocked for my faith, people have questioned the sincerity of my faith, and loved ones have laughed behind my back and to my face about my faith. Jesus allows me to learn about these moments because I believe He wants to see where I will turn. I always have a choice, either turn to Him in prayer and trust that He will handle it, or turn to the world and attempt to get even? We all go through suffering for our faith, and Jesus is refining us for a time of greater suffering. Each time we trust in Him and allow Him to use our suffering for good, He grows us up in our faith more and more, so we learn to trust in Him more and more, and in return He blesses us.

1 Peter 4:12-19

Suffering for Being a Christian

12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

14 If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 15 If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. 16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! 17 For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? 18 And also,

“If the righteous are barely saved,

what will happen to godless sinners?”

19 So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for Your example of suffering. Help us to cling to You when we feel persecution for our faith. Please fill us and our brothers and sisters around the world with Your strength, Jesus. No matter what this world throws at us, we claim our faith, trust, hope, joy, peace, love, and salvation in You, Jesus. I ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Intro: We live in what Scripture refers to as the last days—the age of grace following the resurrection of Christ and the impartation of the Holy Spirit. The last days and the times of difficulty involve the clash of two kingdoms—the world and heaven. The closer we come to the return of Christ, the more difficult and volatile times will become; sin will be rampant (Mat 24:12). However, we cannot give in to the world’s pressure to reject Christ’s righteous commands of love (Mat 22:37-38).

In our passage today, Paul is instructing Timothy to hold onto sound teaching and to give the Church—the redeemed people of God—a solid foundation to serve Christ and his kingdom. The appearance of godliness is not enough; God cares about the inner attitudes and beliefs of our hearts. Our daily behavior identifies the kingdom we serve. How we treat people matters greatly to God.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 NLT The Dangers of the Last Days
1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly.

Prayer: Lord, help us to set aside our selfish inclinations and genuinely care about people coming to know you. We reject the spirit of pride and look to please you in how we love and serve your kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: In 2012, I stood in the Garden of Gethsemane which is located near the foot of the Mount of Olives. I looked at the Olive Trees all gnarled—noticeably old and weathered. I wondered about the true age of these olive trees. Did you know the existing trees in the Garden might be 900 years old? Actually, research was done in 2012 to three of these trees; they were found to be among the oldest trees known to science. The carbon dating from these three trees reveal they could have been sprouts reviving from the roots of the trees that actually sheltered Jesus as he prayed [olive trees can grow back from roots after being cut down]. There’s a great message in the three olive trees! If God can revive the olive trees after trauma, God can revive us, too.

In our passage today, Luke does not tell us Jesus is in Gethsemane [Aramaic—meaning “oil press”], but Matthew and Mark tell us this Garden is the location for Christ’s agony— his intense struggle with evil (Mat 26:36; Mark 14:31). Christ agonized over the cup of suffering that lay ahead; he prayed for the Father’s will over his own and an angel of the Lord came and strengthened him. In contrast, the disciples fell asleep exhausted from grief even though Jesus warned them about the temptation they would face to deny God’s Word. What made the difference for Christ? Prayer. Prayer brought the Father’s provision—strength—to remain obedient. Whatever you are facing today, pray about it and let God bring you an angel of strength.

Luke 22:39-46 NLT Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
39 Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. 40 There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.”

41 He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. 44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

45 At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the wisdom we find in your Word, today. Help us to pray about everything and trust you will give us the strength to step into victory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: People who spend time in the Word of God understand a day of judgment will one day arrive. Scripture offers us warnings, as well as promises about that approaching day. Prophets have been sent throughout the ages to warn people about being on the wrong side of God—living in ungodliness—while waiting, because the day of judgment for the world is the day of reward for the Church (Mat 5:11-12).

In our passage today, James wants us to be patient with people. To be specific, believers are to be patiently enduring for the glory of God. Patience is frequently developed in the lives of believers during moments of suffering; it is a spiritual fruit that is very desirable to the Lord, but takes time to ripen. Developing patience takes courage and humility. That means we may have to patiently endure mistreatment without grumbling while are waiting on our reward. Let’s be real, suffering mistreatment is a difficult place, because we are dealing with unkind, uncaring, or ungodly people. I don’t know anyone who has endured mistreatment without grumbling except Jesus. Grace is essential for those who want to develop genuine patience; therefore, we must persevere in Christ. How patient are you with people who mistreat you?

James 5:7-11 Patience and Endurance
7 Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. 8 You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.

9 Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!

10 For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for helping us as your children develop more of your character each day while we wait for your return. We ask for you to develop patience within us knowing it means we will experience pressing moments. However, you have promised to use our difficulties for our good and in a way that brings honor and glory to you. Daily

In Psalms 57, 58, 59, and 75 we see a clear distinction between David wanting God to destroy the wicked and to protect the righteous. Today we will be reading and reflecting on Psalm 57. In verses 1 – 6 David is devotedly praying and seeking for God’s merciful protection; and then in verses 7 – 11 David is praising God for His constant love.

Please keep in mind that David was being chased by King Saul who was seeking to kill him. Despite those frightening circumstances, David knew, undoubtedly, Who to turn to for his safety. He cried out to God, the Most High, because he knew that God was faithful, and His love endures forever.

Our faith and trust in Jesus should be like David and not waiver no matter what we are facing. God wants to use our difficult circumstances to draw us closer to Him, to grow our trust in Him, and to increase our faith. At the same time, Satan wants us to be debilitated by anxiety, worry, fear, sadness, loneliness, anger, frustration, doubt, etc. so he can draw us closer to him, decrease our trust in God, and decrease our faith.

We must never forget that both heaven and hell are working hard to gain our attention and trust. If we are anchored in our faith and securely trusting in Jesus, we will not only survive the most frightening of current or future circumstances, but on the other side of them we will prosper as the faithful servants of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 57 GNT
A Prayer for Help

1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful,
because I come to you for safety.
In the shadow of your wings I find protection
until the raging storms are over.

2 I call to God, the Most High,
to God, who supplies my every need.

3 He will answer from heaven and save me;
he will defeat my oppressors.
God will show me his constant love and faithfulness.

4 I am surrounded by enemies,
who are like lions hungry for human flesh.
Their teeth are like spears and arrows;
their tongues are like sharp swords.

5 Show your greatness in the sky, O God,
and your glory over all the earth.

6 My enemies have spread a net to catch me;
I am overcome with distress.
They dug a pit in my path,
but fell into it themselves.

7 I have complete confidence, O God;
I will sing and praise you!

8 Wake up, my soul!
Wake up, my harp and lyre!
I will wake up the sun.

9 I will thank you, O Lord, among the nations.
I will praise you among the peoples.

10 Your constant love reaches the heavens;
your faithfulness touches the skies.

11 Show your greatness in the sky, O God,
and your glory over all the earth.

Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for Your unending protection, guidance, and love for each of our lives. Please increase our trust in You and grow us up in our faith. We need to be bearers of Your Truth, who are unaffected by the chaos of this world. Help us during difficult circumstances to see You moving and working on our behalf and for our good. Keep us tied closely together, as Your Family, so we can bring Your encouragement to one another during the challenges. We ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Intro: The integrity of our words is a big deal with God, because we are reflections of Him and His Word. In Christ, we are called to be the living gospel. When we say we are going to do something, God expects us to follow-through reflecting His character. God is faithful to His Word and we must be faithful to our word, because we belong to Christ. God knows His children, because we turn from evil (v.19). We have no right to change God’s Word [falsely interpret] simply because we want it to read a certain way in order to please our flesh. We must be workers or ministers of the gospel who seek to live a life that pleases God. Never forget, it is God’s will that we bear abundant righteous spiritual fruit with our words and actions (Gal 5:22-23).

In our passage this morning, the Apostle Paul is sharing a lesson with Timothy about staying true to the gospel teaching of Christ. Timothy is to remain faithful in what he shares with others in Jesus’ name. During this time, as is the case today, teachers of false doctrine were using their words to steer people in a wrong spiritual direction. They were people pleasers and the people where living ungodly lives as a result. Paul knew this was going on so he instructed Timothy to interpret the Word as Christ revealed throughout His life as He lead God’s people into godliness—abundant Truth.

As Christians, why is what we say such a big deal? Because we will give an account to the Lord on the day of judgment for our careless or fruitless words (Mat 12:36). This is not just for pastors or teachers, my friends. This passage is a reminder for us as Christians to use every word we speak in a way that reflects and glorifies God. Have a blessed weekend!

2 Timothy 2:15-19 NLT An Approved Worker
15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. 16 Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior. 17 This kind of talk spreads like cancer, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus. 18 They have left the path of truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith.

19 But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for helping us learn the Truth each day about the importance of reflecting you properly. May you have your way in our hearts, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.