Category Archives: devotion

Christian, devotion, faith, Lenten Devotion, The Gospel of John, Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace for the 12th Day of Lent, 2017

Devotional Reading: John 4:43-54. Morning Psalm–34; Evening Psalm–25

Text: The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way (vs. 50b)

I am drawn to the father in today’s reading. I am a father and grandfather. I have been scared for my children and grandchildren. I know the kind of fear that drove him to Jesus. What I am most struck with, though, is his faith. He believed and went home to whatever awaited him. Fortunately, by the time he returned home, his child was well. Things do not always work out this way, though.

“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1 RSV)

     When a new follower of Jesus comes to me and wants to know what he or she should do, I suggest that they devotionally read the letter to James. I call it “Christianity 101”. It talks about the practical application of faith in every day life. It tells someone how to “walk home” holding on the “word” that Jesus “spoke.” James foundational statement for me is found in the very first chapter. “If any of you lack wisdom, ask God who gives generously. But ask without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wind tossed sea. Do not be double-minded.” (vss. 5 & 6) While he talks about wisdom, I believe that it applies to every aspect of our faith journey.

We do not always get the answer that we want. Bad things happen. That is a part of the Lenten season–it leads to the Cross. But we must never doubt that God is faithful.

Lord, give me the faith of the father. Let me ask boldly and live with confidence, sure of your presence whether I be on one of life’s mountaintops on in the valley of shadows. Amen.

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Christian, devotion, Lenten Devotion, Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace for the 11th Day of Lent, 2017

Devotional Reading: Romans 1: 1-15. Morning Psalm–145; Evening Psalm–121

“Devotional reading” means to ask God to speak to you as you read a given passage.  When something jumps out inviting you to pause and reflect for a moment or two, do it. In the devotional reading for today verse 14 gave me such an invitation; “ I owe a great debt to you and to everyone else, both to civilized people and uncivilized alike; yes, to the educated and uneducated alike.” (Today’s Living Translation)

When I reflect upon my own life I realize that I have been shaped by a great many people and experiences. You have, too. Some people I would have preferred to avoid, but even they taught me something. (As the quip says, “If you can’t be a good example, at least be a good warning!) There are others I wish I could have spent more time with. It has been said that the teacher appears when the student is ready. I think this is true.

Years ago I wrote a letter to a university professor who had a great influence upon my life. I forgot about the letter until I received a phone call from the professor’s attorney. The professor died in an automobile accident. Being without wife or child, it was left to the attorney to settle the estate, including opening his lock box. Inside the box the attorney found the letter that I had written year earlier. He called to tell me that the letter must have meant something to the man.

As a part of your Lenten discipline today, write a letter to someone who greatly touched your life. Let them know what their touch meant to you. Do it today. Tomorrow may be too late.

Lord, like the apostle Paul I owe a great debt to many people. Thank you for their touch upon my life. Nudge me to set aside the time to write them a note of thank you–for your glory. Amen.

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Christian, devotion, faith, Lenten Devotion, Parable of the Sower, Sowing Seed, Uncategorized

Glimpse of Grace for the Second Sunday of Lent, 2017

Devotional Reading: Mark 3: 31-4:9. Morning Psalm–84; Evening Psalm–42

Text: “Listen! A sower went out to sow.” (Mark 3: 3)

I’ve always been fascinated by the parables of Jesus. Perhaps you have, too. The thing that I discovered about Jesus’ parables is that they are mirrors reflecting not only the nature of God’s Kingdom, but where we are in life. So many times I’ve approached this parable cautioning listeners not to be like “the path”, “the rocky” ground, or the weedy” patch.  But then I realized a couple of things that I never saw before. First, soil cannot change itself. Second, only the gardener or farmer can change the nature of the soil.

Maybe the point of this parable is not the ground, per se, but the sower. Maybe Jesus is telling us that we are the sowers of the Kingdom presence. Maybe this is a parable about faithfulness; being faithful to our task.  In the parable the sower scattered seed broadly without even thinking about the soil. His job was not to judge but to simply be persistent in sowing seed.

Could it be that that  is what we are called to do, too? Maybe we need to worry less about the soil and leave that to God.

Lord God, make me slow to judge and quick to forgive. Give me the strength to be faithful in sowing the seed of Your Kingdom at all time and places. And if our words fail, let our action proclaim Your Promise. Amen.

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Christian, devotion, Lenten Devotion, The Gospel of John, Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace for the 10th Day of Lent, 2017

Devotional Reading: John 4: 1-26. Morning Psalm–43; Evening Psalm–31

Text: Jesus said to her: I am he, the one who is speaking.” (John 4: 26)

So often the most important things happen “behind the scenes”. Slow service in a restaurant it is not the waitresses fault; she’s at the mercy of the cooks–or chefs, in high class establishments. If a scene doesn’t go quite right in a play, more likely than not–unless an actor forgets a line–it is the fault of the director or one of the stage hands.

The exchange between the Samaritan woman at the well and Jesus gets into a deep theological discussion very quickly; living water vs. well water, where and how “our” people worship, etc.  Finally Jesus says quite clearly Who He is; “I am he, the One who is speaking. (The Christ). That is good to know, but what happens next is arguably more important, and it is off stage of today’s reading. The woman goes back to her village and tells everyone she sees, “I have met the Christ.” She then brings them to Jesus.

Many, if not most, “mainline” Christians know that Jesus is the Christ, but they keep it a secret. We simply don’t tell others; we don’t tell others that we are a Jesus follower but we also don’t tell others how He touched our lives and changed them. It is fine, well and good for us to know who Jesus is, but Jesus says that we have this knowledge because we are His “witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Christ does not want undercover agents but heralds of God’s Kingdom.

Lord, having revealed Yourself to me, show me how to be a witness to Your life-changing presence.  Amen.

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Christian, confession, devotion, faith, Lenten Devotion, sin, Temptation, Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace for the 9th Day of Lent, 2017

Devotional Readings: Hebrews 4: 11-16;  Morning Psalm-22; Evening Psalm–130

Text: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness that  we may receive mercy for our failures and grace to help in the hour of need. (Hebrews 11:15, 16)

    To be reminded of our mistakes, short-comings, indiscretions or whatever we want to call it, is uncomfortable for most people. Like Adam and Eve trying to hide their nakedness, it seems that our default mode of operation is to deny, lie and cover up. All this does, though, is separate us more and more from God.

Each week, at the church I serve, we join together in a Prayer of Confession of Sin. From time to time someone will tell me that the Confession is depressing. Owning our sin is very counter-cultural. We often enter this part of the service by reminding worshipers of the words of  I John.  “If we say we are without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”(1: 8)  The apostle Paul wrote that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3: 23) Whether we like to hear it or not, we are sinners living in a state of sin. Period.

Today’s reading from Hebrews reminds us that sin does not have the last word, though. Like us, Jesus was tempted in every way but unlike us, Jesus did not fall. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness that  we may receive mercy for our failures and grace to help in the hour of need.  As the Incarnation of God, Jesus knows who we really are and has compassion upon us. With the confidence of a child standing before a loving parent, we can confess our sin and the part that we play in the world’s sin knowing that we will receive mercy and grace.

Lord, with David I can ask for Your forgiveness. It is against You and only You that I have sinned. Give me the courage and the wisdom to mend broken relationships without harming myself. Heal my wounds of the spirit and draw me more and more into the likeness of Christ. Amen.

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Christian, devotion, John 3: 16, Lenten Devotion, The Gospel of John, Uncategorized

Glimpse of Grace for the 8th Day of Lent, 2017

Devotional Readings: John 3: 16-21; Morning Psalm-27; Evening Psalm 126

Text: This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so the no one need be destroyed. (John 3: 16,17a The Message)

When I was about 8 or 9 years old, the church that I attended with my folks decided that it would be a good idea for the children to memorize a few Bible verses. I’ve always had difficulty with memorization but one of the first verses that I learned, thanks to my mother’s persistance, was John 3: 16, King James Version, of course!  It wasn’t until I became a pastor that I discovered that John 3: 16 only tells part of the Story. It told the What but not the Why. It wasn’t until I read verse 17 that I discovered the Why; “For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” Revised Standard Version) God sent the very embodiment of God’s eternal Love into the world to save it, not to judge it! God’s purpose is and always have been to save, redeem or rescue the world–choose whichever word you wish.

When the early Christians questioned why Jesus did not return before now, the writer of Second Peter replied, “The Lord is patient toward you, not wanting anyone to perish but all to change their hearts and lives.” (II Peter 3:9, Common English Bible)

In this season of Lent we have a lot to be thankful for, most notably God’s eternal Love that never gives up on us and God’s Patience that is willing to wait a lifetime and beyond for us to change our hearts and lives.

Lord, let me reflect Your Love and Your Patience today and every day in the season and Lent and all the days of my life. Amen.

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Christian, devotion, faith, Lenten Devotion, Temptation, Temptations of Jesus, Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace: The First Sunday in Lent, 2017

Devotional Reading: Matthew 4: 1-11

I always thought that temptations were a bad thing. At various times in my life, whenever I faced a major decision and didn’t know which way to go, I would pray, “Lord, if you do NOT want me to do a certain thing, then please don’t tempt me because I am weak and I will fail.” I truly knew what the apostle Paul was talking about when he wrote, “I do not understand my own action. For I do not do what I want, but the very thing I hate.” (Romans 7: 15-20) Like Paul, I stumble a lot.

But then, in reading today’s text, I realized that Jesus was led into the wilderness of temptation by the Spirit–the Holy Spirit. Temptations, then, are not bad. They are clarifying. They help me discover the essence of my character. As an old Country song says, “If you don’t know what you stand for, you’ll fall for anything.” Jesus’ temptations clarified for Him, the Early Church, and us today what gives our lives meaning. In life we “do not live by bread alone”. We must not “put God to the test”. And only one Being is worthy of our worship. (Matthew 4: 4,7&10, respectively).

These are basic principles by which we can live our lives. These are the principles we can use when we face temptation.

Lord, Jesus told us that when we pray we ought to pray not to be led into temptation. But when we are tempted, help us to stop and ponder Christ’s lessons–we do not live by bread alone, we must not put God to the test, and only one thing truly deserves our worship. Amen.

 

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Christian, devotion, faith, Lenten Devotion, The Gospel of John, Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace for the 4th Day of Lent

Devotional Reading for the Day: John 1: 43-51

Text: (Jesus) found Philip …(John 1:43)

I find it interesting that the gospel writer in John made a point of having Jesus find Philip.

When I was a young man there was an evangelism push that swept  America called, “I Found It.” There were billboards, bulletin inserts and even campaign-like buttons. A lot of churches bought into the movement. There was something about it, though, that made me uneasy. Then someone pointed out to me that “It” wasn’t lost. I was. We are lost. It is God who finds us not us who finds God.  This is true from Adam and Eve in Garden onward. “I once was lost but now am found” the old hymn* says.

Philip, like Andrew before him, told other about how Jesus came into his life and changed it. Suddenly, he was on a great journey discovering what it means to be really alive. During this season of Lent, this time of reflection in preparation for the celebration of Easter, we would do well to think about how Christ came into our lives and made a difference. We’d do better by sharing this “good news”–this “gospel”–with someone else.

Prayer: Lord, do not allow me to keep private how you touched my life and opened my eyes to the true reality of life. Give me the wisdom, the words and the courage to share how you changed me with a “Nathaniel”.  Amen.

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Christian, devotion, faith, Lenten Devotion, The Gospel of John, Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace for the Third Day of Lent

Reading for the Day*: John 1: 35-42

The grace seen at the baptismal font, a grace that claims us before we even know that we belong to God, is a lifelong call.

When John the Baptist saw Jesus he said to two of his disciples, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” The two left John, and immediately followed Jesus, not yet as disciples, but at a distance. At this point they were just curious and cautious. “Is this what the Lamb of God looked like? He wasn’t all that different from John, or themselves, for that matter.”

Jesus turned to them and asked what they were looking for. “Where are you staying,” they replied. “Come and see,” Jesus said. Walk with me. Live with me. Learn for yourself Who I am. The walk of Christian discipleship is not about “head” knowledge. It is not about the accumulation of facts or verifiable proofs. It is about experience. It is about a willing commitment that leads to ultimate trust.

One of the disciples, Andrew by name, had a brother named Simon Peter. Filled with insight and excitement he hurried to Simon Peter and said, “We have found the Messiah, the Christ, the Lord.” The discovery of who Jesus is, is found in community though it may appear to be individual revelation.

Jesus’ invitation still echoes. Come and see. Go and serve, to the glory of God.

“Our hearts are restless until they come in rest in you, O Lord.”** Remove our restless hearts, O God. Take away anxious thoughts. Give us wisdom throughout all of the events of today; great and small. Amen.

*These readings are from The Book of Common Worship of the Presbyterian Church (USA). To read the assigned lesson of the day in a devotional manner simply means that you read it not to finish the reading itself but with the attitude that God is speaking to you in the reading. You may not finish the whole reading. A particular word or phrase may give you pause. If that happens, pause and reflect upon it. You need not finish the rest of the reading. Such a pause will not necessarily happen every day but when it does, enjoy the moment.)

**From St. Augustine’s Confessions.

 

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Ash Wednesday, Christian, devotion, faith, Lenten Devotion, Uncategorized

Glimpse of Grace-Lenten Devotion for Ash Wednesday, 2017

ASH WEDNESDAY March 1, 2017

Suggested reading from the Daily Lectionary, Presbyterian Church (USA): Jonah 3: 1-4:11; Hebrews 12: 1-14; Luke 18:9-14

Remember you are dust and unto dust you shall return.  (Genesis 3: 19)

I remember visiting a country cemetery a few years ago, near the first church that I served. In the midst of that cemetery stood a weather-worn obelisk marker. On my most recent visit, some 30 years after the first visit, I saw that the weather and nature completely erased any lettering. It was a sobering moment. And so it shall be with all monuments made with human hands. Despite our best efforts and money, everything is temporary.

Remember you are dust and unto dust you shall return.

A part of the funeral liturgy used at the graveside says, We know that if this tabernacle were dissolved that we have a home, not made with human hands, eternal in the heavens. (II Corinthians 5:1)

Our journey into Lent begins with the acknowledgement of the reality that life is both frail and brief. We received ashes to remind us of this. Every day is precious. Every person is precious; yours, mine and theirs.

Lord God, help me to remember that I am the creature and You are the Creator. Open my eyes so that may recognize my commonality with others. Allow me to walk through today with eyes open to the wonder of both the eternal and the temporal. Allow me to be a blessing to others. Grant that today, I may glorify you with my thoughts, labor and acts. Amen.

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