Devotional 9-5-08

Read Romans 12:9-21

Love our enemies

There are so many different types of love, each with many sides and aspects to it. It is one of the many flaws of the English language that we have a single word to describe them all, so we often fail to distinguish between that which we feel for our spouses, and that which compels us to feed the poor. Where this linguistic limitation has the most impact is where it tricks us to believing that love is a feeling, and worse, one over what we have no control.

It’s probably true that we cannot choose whom we love romantically. We fall in love and out of love at the whim of our emotions. Since this is the kind of love with which we are the most familiar (and perhaps the most comfortable), we struggle when we hear Jesus speak of “loving our enemies.” A contradiction forms in our mind as we think, “How can I love them? I don’t feel a shred of sympathetic emotion for them at all!”

The love of which Jesus speaks is not a feeling in any sense of the word. It is a decision resulting in action. It is a choice you make that has nothing whatsoever to do with how you feel, and quite often, occurs in spite of a feeling to the contrary. This kind of love judges the needs of a person but never the person themselves, and responds according to the gravity of the need, never the character of the person.

Understand that you must absolutely ignore whatever you feel for a person and treat them with as much compassion and kindness as you would show your own mother or child. This is the kind of love that Christ demands --not a feeling, but rather a spirit of service, selflessness and humility. It is the ability to give to others with no regard to what they can do to repay you, what they feel for you or what you feel for them.

This kind of love is extremely hard. Unlike romantic love, which naturally drives us to do wonderful things for our spouse, loving our enemies goes against what our sinful nature drives us to do. It is far from effortless. Very often, when we stand at the brink of loving our enemies, our sinful nature cries out, “I don’t want to do this!” And stand poised to halt our progress. We have to push through it. We have to resist the notion that something so difficult and so contrary to our natural desire could be called “love.” It is, in fact the greatest kind of love. It is the kind of love that God demonstrated when he saved us while we were his enemies (Romans 5:10).

There are opportunities for each of us to put this kind of love into practice every day, but it takes extraordinary courage and faith to even recognize these opportunities, let alone act on them. Imagine a coworker that you simply cannot get along with who is on the verge of making a huge mistake that will get her fired. Our sinful nature revels in this, and tells us that it serves her right. Let her get fired! Yet, if we are to love as God loves, we cannot let this situation unfold. We must intervene and prevent her from making that mistake despite all objections from our emotions. This is not at all what we will “feel” like doing, and that is why it requires such courage and faith. And what reward will we get? Perhaps she will thank us, or perhaps she will tell us to mind our own business. Yet, our love does not expect her appreciation and our motives are simple and pure-- love her as God loves her.

Remember that this kind of love is not about emotion, it is about action. Never stop looking for these opportunities to act in your life, and don’t give in to the nagging voice which insists that love is always easy and always rewarding. Don’t stop when you’re on the brink of kindness because it doesn’t feel right, for it often doesn’t. This kind of love can be hard and uncomfortable, but it is the most important of all, for it is by this kind of love that others will know that Christ lives in you.

If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother who he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. (I John 4:20)

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with action and in truth. (I John 3:18)

From “Delve into Jesus: Devotionals: Love our Enemies”

Dear Lord,

Be with us as we go through out our daily tasks and remind us that you are there for us to call on when we get into a situation that we should love our enemies, or someone that needs the love of God reveled to them through us. Even when we say, “I can’t do this,” give us the strength to love the children of God. For it is by your strength that we depend on to get us through the day. Thank you for all the blessings you have given to all of us, and let us share the blessing of your love to our enemies, by showing them that “Jesus loves you” through our actions.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Submitted by Melanie Herr

Devotional 1-18-08

"I desire to do thy will, Oh my God." Psalm 40: 8
My faith has always been very personal to me and its hard for me to talk about very personal things. Some people do such a beautiful, natural job of sharing their faith. I wanted to be able to do that-the words just wouldn't come. I felt I was letting God down, letting myself down. So I prayed (and am still praying) for God to use me, to give me the courage, and the faith, and the knowledge that I needed to speak up for Him. I had been writing devotionals for sometime before I realized that maybe this was Gods answer to my prayer-allowing me to share my faith with many without saying a word!

God answers our prayers in ways we do not expect (almost always in my experience!). I had never thought of myself as a writer. Those 500 word essays that were due every Friday for my freshman English class were like a black cloud hanging over my head all week. But, I really enjoyed my first devotional book, and sitting in church the next year when the forms appeared in the bulletin a voice in my head kept saying "You can do this Margaret" and it kept it up until I filled out the form. Gods been helping me write ever since!

First Corinthians 1:1-9 tells us that every Christian has a job to do, a role to take, or a contribution to make and all are important. Be available, and God will use your talents-even some you may not realize you have!

The hymn "Here I Am Lord" asks 'whom shall I send?'. The refrain answers:

Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

Margaret Williams

Devotional 11-2-07

A Lasting Legacy—Remembering Dora
Through nothing of my own doing, I have inherited something of great value; something so precious I cannot put a price on it. I am heir to Dora. By worldly standards, she didn’t leave much. As a matter of fact, she lived long enough that everything she owned was “spent down.” The only material things I have to remember her are an apple butter kettle, a clay pot, and an assortment of Bibles. Dora was rich in the things that mattered, and I am legatee to her vast fortune of love and grace.

Dora was born in a rural farm county in central West Virginia. She lived her entire life in the county of her birth and is buried at the cemetery beside the old church building up the hollow. Dora married and had one child, my father. She was a bible scholar with a disciplined lifestyle that included daily bible study. As she worked in the kitchen, she sang the old hymns. Rock of Ages, Bringing in the Sheaves, Standing on the Promises, Blessed Assurance.

At her church on Sundays, the preacher would call on someone in the congregation for the morning prayer. Often, when I was visiting, he would call on Grandma. I was astonished at her beautiful public prayers—without notes and even without any advance notice. She did not get nervous about the thought of public prayer. For her, it was just carrying on a conversation; a conversation with someone she knew very well.

Dora’s life will not be memorialized in biographies. There will be no buildings or monuments bearing her name. No, her legacy is more lasting than any of that. She quietly and humbly lived the gospel; loving God and neighbor.

Paul said in his letter to the church at Ephesus, “In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory.”

Because of Paul and because of Dora and many other saints like them, we can live our lives for the praise of God’s glory! What better legacy! Thank you, Grandma!

Jeff Taylor

Devotional 9-28-07

Please read Galatians 1:11-24

In this section of Paul’s letter, he is discussing his call by God and how it transformed his life. Through a revelation by Jesus Christ, he recognized that he had been set apart and called by God through grace to share the news with others.

I am struck by verses 22 through 24:

I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; they only heard it said, “The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me.

Look at verse 24 again. “And they glorified God because of me.”

They did not know him, yet because of the radical transformation his life had taken, they praised God because of him. Do others praise God because of you? Has your life been radically change by the recognition of God’s grace in your life and by the power of the Holy Spirit?

We praise God when we notice radical transformations, when we see a life completely turned around by coming to Christ. We celebrate Paul’s conversion. Or the story of John Newton, a slave trader who became convicted of his sin and joined forces with William Wilberforce to abolish the slave trade. His is the story of the hymn, Amazing Grace. We always seem to praise God when someone else—an ex-convict, a reformed alcoholic, a lost son—recognizes their wretched humanness, does an about-face, and dedicates her or his life to Kingdom living. What about you?

I’ll ask the question again. Do others praise God because of you?

If not, then perhaps there is a transformation yet to take place in your life.

What is keeping you from experiencing the nearer presence of God? Are you holding on to the traditions of your ancestors instead of letting go and soaring by the power of the Holy Spirit to where God is leading you today? Are you absorbed in self instead of reaching out to others in love? Do you ask for God’s blessing on what you do, or do you trust in God and obey his will? God set you apart and called Paul, you, and even me, by name since before we were born, by his grace, so that others might know him because of us. I pray that others may know him because of you, and even me.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace. And then, others will praise God because of you!

Anonymous

Devotional 7-12-07

Serving God

Lectionary Readings: Amos 7:7-17; Psalm 82; Colossians 1:1-14; and Luke 10: 25-37.

The lectionary readings this week share a few examples of what it means to be a follower of Christ. The Psalmist urges us to “rescue the weak and needy”. God showed Amos a “plumb line” that would be used to measure the behavior of Israel. In Colossians, Paul recognizes the leadership of Epaphras (founder of the church at Colossae), who led the congregation to “bear fruit” after hearing and believing in the Good News. And in Luke, the story of the Good Samaritan—is almost too well known to retell.

I struggle on a daily basis with the conflict between desiring control and relinquishing control of my life to God. I guess I don’t mind helping others as long as I can choose the time and the place and all the “particulars”. I can contribute from a safe distance with my checkbook and feel that I’ve “done my part”. However, most of Jesus’ examples of servanthood: washing feet, caring for the injured, curing the diseased, etc. demand that we offer ourselves in a more personal nature: with our hearts and hands. The following is an inspirational song about servants from THE FAITH WE SING:

The Servant Song
by Richard Gillard

Brother, sister, let me serve you, Let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to Let you be my servant, too.

We are pilgrims on a journey; we’re together on this road.
We are here to help each other Walk the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ-light for you in the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping; when you laugh, I’ll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow till we’ve seen this journey through.

When we sing to God in heaven, we shall find such harmony,
Born of all we’ve known together of Christ’s love and agony.

If we consider our history, we have had many shining examples of servanthood in the persons of Biblical figures, religious leaders, ministers, teachers, missionaries, family, friends and coworkers. What servant-like actions have we observed that we can model in our own lives? You can rely on the probability that all the best role models provided examples of person-to-person assistance—“up close and personal”. What endeavors, challenges or opportunities for service is God calling us to take on? It may be that a check is all that is required, but it also may be that we need to invest some actual muscle or sweat. Whatever is required, God promises to guide each step. The way has been prepared by those who have showed us their examples. Each of us has unique gifts and talents—What will be our response to God’s call?

Dear Father and Mother who provides all the loving examples for us to follow: Help us to do your will so that we may all be “caught being like Jesus” in our daily walk. Help us to hear Your voice above the din of the world’s noise so that our path may be clear. Thank you for our role models and the gifts of servanthood that they have shared with us. As Jesus taught us, AMEN.

Chyrl Budd

June 8, 2007 Devotional

"It sticks out like a sore thumb!" So goes the old saying to which I had never given much thought until very recently. I mean, why a sore thumb and why would it stick out?

On the way to our vacation destination in South Carolina we spent two nights at the home of our friends in Charlotte. They are just like family to us and it's very much, "mi casa, su casa".

Saturday morning and I'm in the kitchen looking for a sharp knife to slice this large Panera Bread bagel. I found the sharp knife and sliced the bagel.......and a good portion of my left thumb. OUCH!

I'll spare you the gory details of stemming the flow and not going to the Emergency Room as our friends suggested, but for several days it was definitely "thumb(s) up" for me and the thumb did indeed stick out. That's when I found out how important is the thumb. Try doing simple things like buttoning a shirt or tying a shoelace without using your thumb.

I hope you are still with me because I feel there is a message here. Since we are the body of Christ what happens if one of us cannot be used? For one reason or another there are times when we feel spiritually useless in our prayer life and we may be tempted to stop praying but then we are reminded to "pray without ceasing". (1 Thess. 5:17 KJV)

At times we may be discouraged in our Christian witness to others but then there is the charge to "run with patience the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1 KJV)

Each and every one of us has a charge to uphold, a part to play, so "let us not be weary in well doing" (Gal. 6:9 KJV). Just like my little sore thumb the part each of us plays in the Christian life will be missed if we don't continue by God's grace to do whatever He has chosen for us to do.

Thanks to Jeff Taylor for the following:
Dear God, by the Power of Your Holy Spirit, create us anew.
Give us the breath to sing your praises and the faith to soar with you.
Give us power to discern what you call us to be and to do.
Come Holy Spirit, come!
Amen

Jean Dean

June 1, 2007 Devotional

Quoted below are portions of this week’s lectionary readings:
*Psalm 8
**John 16:12-15
***Romans 5:1-5

When I look a your heavens,
The work of your fingers
The moon and the stars
That you have established
What are human beings
That you are mindful of them?
Mortals that you care for them?*

So many times in life
We feel small.
Inconsequential.
We carry the burden of our sins
Of our problems
And feel like an ant
Heavy laden
Sometimes lost
Other times alone
Why would God care about children --
Children such as we are?

Yet you have made us
A little lower than God
And crowned us with glory and honor.*

Sometimes, dear Father
Our problems are like lead
Tied around our necks
Weighing us down.
Our grief and our sorrow
Seem unrelieved
Our worries insurmountable
Our questions unanswerable.

And the son said
Words which still comfort us,
“When the Spirit of truth comes,
He will guide you into all truth;
For he will not speak on his own,
But will speak whatever he hears,
And he will declare to you the things
That are to come."**

We find grace, for you offer us hope
You offer us wisdom
You have given us your presence,
Your spirit has been breathed upon us,
Into us,
And we are borne on wings
Until we can see only your love
Feel only your support
And our flesh tingles
As the air from your sigh
Rushes by us.

Therefore, since we are justified by faith,
We have peace with God
Through our Lord Jesus Christ
Through whom we have obtained access
To this grace in which we stand
And we boast in our hope of sharing
The glory of God.***

Our prayers, our dreams,
Our groaning and our pains
Are relieved
Because we know that you hear them.
You lift them on the wind
As you carry us into your arms,
And we find peace.
Peace beyond understanding
But never beyond reach.

And hope does not disappoint us,
Because God’s love have been poured
Into our hearts
Through the Holy Spirit
That has been given to us.***

O Lord,
Our Lord,
How majestic in your name
In all the earth!*

Kim Matthews