Category Archives: devotion

Christian, devotion, faith, Fear, Forgiveness, I John, Love, Presbyterian Church (USA), Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace Devotion for May 2, 2017

Devotional Reading: I John4: 7-21

Text; No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and God’s love is perfected in us. (v. 12)

I don’t read a lot of poetry but today’s devotional reading drew me to two poems in Gordon and Gladis DePree’s book of poetry, Faces of God (Westminster Press, c. 1974).

Recognizing the stranger/ As a face of God/ Takes so much of the suspicion and hostility/ Out of Life./ Perhaps I have never met you before…/But if I look at you with an open face,/ Accepting you as a valid person,/ With no need to judge/ Whether you conform to my standards or not,/ Will you really seem to be a stranger?/ Or will we have the vague feeling/ That we must have met somewhere before?’

Somehow viewing the stranger as a face of God/ Changes the other as well as me./ For if I have seen God in the other,/ How can he see less in himself?

*****

When I think of myself/ And you/ As faces of God,/ Praying seems different …/ Should I still close my eyes/ And pray to somewhere,/ Or should we open our eyes/ And look at each other,/ Aware of our mutual life/ And the source of life beyond us both?

What would happen if we prayed about a problem,/ Looking at each other?/ If we prayed about a worry,/ Looking at each other?/ If we prayed about an anger,/ Looking at each other?

It is not as though we pray to each other,/ But how could I look into your face,/ A face of God,/ And be a hypocrite?

When the Old Testament patriarch, Jacob, decided that he had to return home and face the brother he wronged, he was afraid. But for once in his life he decided to trust the God’s Providential Care. He had a fitful night’s sleep, wrestling with a Stranger on the banks if the Jabok River.

The next day, when he met his brother Esau he was surprised to be met not with a sword but with unconditional love. Looking into Esau’s face he said, “To see your face is like seeing the Face of God.” (Genesis 33:10)

Our challenge today, and every day, is to see the face of God in the other for each one of us have been created in the Divine Image. When we learn to love the other, we learn what God’s love for us really is.

Lord, open my eyes that I may see Your reflection in everyone that I meet, even in the faces of those I wish to avoid. Amen.

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Christian, devotion, faith, Holy Spirit, I John, Prayer, Presbyterian Church (USA), Temptation, Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace Devotion for May 1 2017

Devotional Reading: I John 1: 3: 19-4:6

Text: Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. (v. 4:1)

Test the spirits. Not every one of my whims is God given. Nor is every idea divine. I need to test the spirits. When the writer of the letter we call I John gave this advice he knew how easily any of us can be led astray. As Robert Bellah wrote centuries later in Habits of the Heart, we can be fooled by the cultural and non-biblical myth that everything is a matter of personal opinion, belief and preference.

The early Church knew better. They believed that an individual found wholeness only within a greater community. Charismatic leaders can too easily lead us astray (Recall Hitler or do a Google search on Jim Jones, for an example).

There is a sure-fire threefold test that can be used to “test the spirits.”

First, ask if it is biblical. Is there overwhelming evidence of it in the bible’s story of faith.

Second is it God-glorifying as opposed to Self-glorifying. We can do all kinds of mental gymnastics to convince ourselves that what we are doing is really for God. So, maybe we need to ask ourselves, “If I never got the credit, would I still want to do it?” This takes a lot of serious honest soul searching. And, it isn’t foolproof because fools can be very ingenious in fooling themselves.

Third, does the larger community of faith that I am an active part of agree that it meets the first two standards; ie. biblical and God-glorifying?

In Infinite wisdom God decides to create us in the Divine image and make us stewards–responsible for God’s Creation. We are to care not only for all things of the earth but for every living thing for all of it belongs to God. And, we are to care for one another. Not every inkling is Heaven sent. We need to test the spirits.

Lord, give me a heart of wisdom and the courage to test the spirits lest I be tossed to and fro by the fickle winds of the world around men. Amen.

 

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Christian, devotion, Forgiveness, Peter, Presbyterian Church (USA), Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace Devotion for April 30, 2017

Devotional Reading: John 21: 15-25

Text: Jesus said to him a third time, “Simon, do you love me … Feed my sheep.” (v. 17)

This is the last post Resurrection appearance in John’s gospel. It is an exchange between Jesus and Simon Peter in the presence of the other six disciples. The seven had returned to their nets–to their old way of life–but once Jesus enters your life, you can never be who you were.

In some ways this reading an absolution for Peter’s threefold denial of either being one of Jesus’ disciples or ever being with Him. Not only did the Resurrection Lord give absolution but He also gave him a purpose; feed and tend the sheep and the lambs, the old and the young of God’s children.

I believe that that is our call, too. Jesus forgives us for the variety of ways that we deny Him. He restores us into relationship with Him for once He has claimed us, we are always His. We cannot be lost.

Lord, we know that like Your first disciples we not only betray You but deny You. We are thankful that you are more ready to forgive than we are to ask for it. Thank you for Your faithful love that is beyond out wildest imagination. Amen.

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Christian, Country and Western, devotion, Love, Presbyterian Church (USA), Temptation, Temptations of Jesus, Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace Devotional for April 29, 2017

Devotional Reading: Luke 4:1-13

Text: Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan (His baptism) and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness  … (vs. 1)

I have always found it fascinating that Jesus was led into the wilderness of temptation by the same Spirit that descended upon Him at His baptism. My wife once pointed out to me that we are never tempted by those things that we do not desire. The temptations of Jesus are somewhat universal; satisfaction, fame, power.

There is a fine line distinction between temptation and testing, though we often translate and use them interchangeably. As with everything in life, context is important.

Temptation’s intention is to make someone succumb. Testing’s intention is to clarify. A more accurate understanding of Jesus’ experience would be that of testing. His wilderness experience clarified His ministry and purpose. It reaffirmed Mary’s “Magnificat” found earlier in this gospel. Jesus’ Kingdom was not going to be like the world’s kingdoms. His was based on agape Love; a love that respects the other, cares for the other even at our own expense, and sees in the other the face of God.

An old country and western song says that if you don’t know what you stand for, you’ll fall for anything. Jesus knew what He stood for. He challenged those who would take Him seriously to stand with Him.

Lord, give me clarity of purpose and the will to follow in the Way of Jesus. Amen.

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Christian, devotion, Presbyterian Church (USA), Psalms, Song, Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace Devotion for April 28, 2017

Devotional Reading: Psalm 96

Text: O sing to the LORD a new song, sing the the LORD, all the earth. (v. 1)

“Give me the making of a people’s song, and I care not who makes the laws.” The quotation is attributed the the 17th century Scottish writer and politician Andrew Fletcher. It has the ring of truth about it.

Songs move a people, a nation and the world. Recall how “The Star Spangled Banner” united a nation since the War of 1812, or how “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” solidified the North just as “Dixie” united the South during the American Civil War. The Christian Missionary Movement of an earlier time marched into new fields singing the hymn “Onward, Christian Soldiers”*  In my youth, it seemed that the whole world sang, in various languages, Coca Cola’s “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing”.

Have you ever considered making your life a hymn to the LORD? The decisions you make, the attitudes you carry, the words you say have are the lyrics to your life.

Today’s Psalm was used as worshipers entered the Temple but it is also a call to carry the hymn of praise out of the worship assembly into the world. You, too, are writing the psalm of your life every day.

O Sing to the LORD a new song, … write your song, your psalm…to the glory of God.

Lord, You write the music and today and every day, I’ll sing the song of Your glory. Amen.

 

*Contrary to today’s interpretation, it was not a military song, per se, but a call to share the message of Christ.

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Awesome, Christian, devotion, Presbyterian Church (USA), Psalms, Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace Devotion for April 28, 2017

Devotional Reading; Psalm 47

Text: For the LORD, Most High, is awesome, a great king over all the earth. (v. 2)

We use the word “awesome” a lot. It seems that everything is awesome. You’re an awesome person. That was an awesome game. This is an awesome meal. It is always meant as a compliment but something is lost in its overuse. An unassisted triple-play is not awesome. It is rare and impressive, maybe even great, but it is not awesome.

Awesome is not a word that is thrown around casually in Scripture. It is reserved for God. Only God is awesome, that is, worthy of “awe”.

One of the evening Psalms assigned for today is the 113th. At the end it marvels and celebrates how God “raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap”, and sits them beside princes. Only God makes the barren woman the “joyous mother of children.” (vss. 8 and 9). Those are awesome.

Lord God, only You are truly awesome for you give us hope in the midst of despair, courage in the midst of fear, and unconditional love when we are our most unlovable. Thank you. Amen.

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Christian, devotion, faith, I John, Presbyterian Church (USA), Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace Devotion for April 26, 2017

Devotional Reading; I John 2: 12-17.

Text: Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love love the world: (v.15)

When I was in college I had an official U.S. Navy pea coat from the Great Lakes Navel Training Center. It was all wool and quite warm. I accidently left it in a laundromat for just a few minutes as I loaded my clothes into my car. When I returned, it was gone. I hope that whoever took it, needed it more than I did and found warmth and a measure of joy.

Over the years I longed for that pea coat. Finally, a few years ago My wife surprised me with another one; not an official U.S. Navy pea coat but a pea coat, none the less. I wore it for about three winters and grew tired of it. It just didn’t seem “right”. This is not the Viet Nam era. I am not a military veteran. Nor am I 18 any more. I realized that the coat’s attraction was that it was lost, and that I longed to recapture the memories of that bygone day. I took it to the cleaners and gave it to Goodwill, still in good shape.

In I John the writer warned against falling in love with the world. The things of this world are temporary. They can be lost or taken from us in an instant. the letter invites us to invest in things more permanent; love, generosity, relationships–with one another and with God. These are the real things of life. When we focus upon them, we find true purpose each day that we are graced with the privilege of being alive.

Lord, remind me that the things of this world may be attractive but that they are fleeting, puffs of smoke against the reality of eternity. Show me how to live for You and for Your glory. Amen.

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Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for April 25, 2017

Devotional Reading; I John 2: 1-11

Text: Anyone who claims to live in the light of God’s love but hates a brother or sister is still in darkness. (vs. 9)

When my father-in-law died I inherited his rock polisher; a rubber cylinder attached to a system of pulleys and a motor. It was a hobby that he took up in retirement. The way the rock polisher works is that you put selected stones into the polisher, add water and increasingly finer “grit” over a number of weeks, seal the stones in the polisher, turn it one and walk away. It takes time and patience but the finished product is a beautifully polished stone ready to be set in a tie clasp, necklace or bracelet.

I think that the community of Jesus followers–a congregation and the Church–are a lot like a rock polisher. When we commit to a certain fellowship we put ourselves in the mix of others rocks. Through the course of time and experience we begin to rub the rough edges off of one another, by the grace of God. Eventually we become polished stones that reflect the One in Whose Image we are made.

Our job, as a committed community of Jesus followers, is to learn to love one another, even the ones that we think have the roughest edges. Frankly, they probably think that we have some pretty rough edges, too.

Lord God, teach me how to love others just as you love me. Especially teach me how to love those who I do not like or trust. Help me to see that we are all a part of Your great family. Amen.

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Glimpses of Grace Evening Devotion for April 24, 2017

Devotional Reading: John 17: 1-11

Text: Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.  (v. 11b)

While I could talk about how our divisions hurt God (that may be the subject of a sermon), I decided to turn toward Jesus’ prayer for His disciples then and now.  As this day draws to a close it does us good to reflect upon how God “protected” us throughout the day. We may have had a very hard day, with all kinds of bad news and challenges that we did not know how to meet. Or, the day may have been one of relaxation and ease. Probably it was somewhere in between. But no matter what kind of day it was, here we are. The day is done. It is time for us to regroup and consider how we will tackle tomorrow. No matter what the future holds we will tackle it confident of the grace of God and a Holy protection.

I read many years ago that the great baseball announcer, “Red” Barber would end each day with this prayer from the Psalms. I will close this devotion with those words of prayer.

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.  (Psalm 4:9). Amen.

 

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Christian, confession, devotion, I John, Prayer, Presbyterian Church (USA), sin, Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace Devotion for April 24, 2017

Devotional Reading for the Day: I John 1: 1-10*

Text: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (v. 8)

In our weekly worship service we include a prayer called the Confession of Sin and an Assurance of Pardon or Forgiveness. The Confession of Sin is for the world as well as for ourselves. Like the ancient prophet Isaiah we live amongst a people and in a world with “unclean lips.” (Isaiah 6:5)

From time to time someone say that the “Confession of Sin” is depressing.  It’s something that we should not include in worship. I’ve never found it depressing but, rather an exercise in honesty and humility. And frankly, we could use a little more of each right now.

No one is perfect. If we think we are, those nearest and dearest to us can straighten us out on that count!  All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) We participate in evil intentionally and unintentionally, through neglect as well as well-meaning but misguided attention. We can’t help it. We are broken people living in a broken world. And this brokenness is why Jesus came into the world; to extricate us from brokenness; our separation from one another as well as from God.

Health–spiritual and physical–being begins with honesty.

Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34)

Lord, forgive us our debts and our trespasses. Amen.

*I am sorely tempted to write a Glimpse on the Gospel lesson assigned for today in the Common Lectionary and may write an evening entry. But, I John is such a wonderful letter with so many practical teachings. 

 

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