THE LORD ALONE!

Scripture

Isaiah 2:12-17 (NRSV)

Pride shall be brought low

For the Lord of hosts has a day
against all that is proud and lofty,
against all that is lifted up and high;
against all the cedars of Lebanon,
lofty and lifted up;
and against all the oaks of Bashan;
against all the high mountains,
and against all the lofty hills;
against every high tower,
and against every fortified wall;
against all the ships of Tarshish,
and against all the beautiful craft.
The haughtiness of people shall be humbled,
and the pride of everyone shall be brought low;
and the Lord alone will be exalted on that day.


DEVOTION

What strikes me very clearly in Isaiah's prophesy is the statement, "The haughtiness of people shall be humbled, and the pride of everyone shall be brought low; and THE LORD ALONE will be exalted on that day."

Won't that be a grand day?! No longer will money, fame, power, and/or privilege be lifted up; instead, the lord alone will be exalted! No longer will houses, cars, phones, tennis shoes, and purses be coveted; instead the Lord alone will be exalted. No longer will vacation homes, cabins, boats, cruises, and private airplanes be cherished, the Lord alone will be exalted. No longer will politicians, musicians, businessmen, and actors be applauded; the Lord alone will be exalted...

I could go on and on, but I know you get my point! It will be a great and glorious day when all of the stuff that we put false hope in falls away and all that is left is THE LORD ALONE.

We can live into the promise of that great day by choosing to humble ourselves before Almighty God and seeking to have a right--and stewardship--relationship toward all of our possessions. If we only remember that all that we have, and all that we are, belongs to God, we will quickly realize that if anyone should be glorified--it is THE LORD ALONE.

When I was growing up we sang a song; its chorus was "To God be the glory! To God be the glory! To God be the glory, great things He has done!"

Today, let us steadfastly fix our hearts on exalting THE LORD ALONE, as we do so, our lights will shine in darkness and others will come running asking, "What must I do to be saved?!"


Let us pray: Oh holy one! Give me a heart and mind to exalt only you and to banish from the real estate of my heart anything that I have set up as an idol for worship. I don't want to wait for you to humble me; give me the courage and wisdom to humble myself as I share the good news that, Christ has died! Christ has risen! Christ shall come again! In His Name, Amen.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

The Lord is in the Right

SCRIPTURE

2 Chronicles 12:1-12 (NRSV)

King Rehoboam humbles himself

When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he grew strong, he abandoned the law of the Lord, he and all Israel with him. In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, because they had been unfaithful to the Lord, King Shishak of Egypt came up against Jerusalem with twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand cavalry. A countless army came with him from Egypt - Libyans, Sukkiim, and Ethiopians. He took the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem. Then the prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam and to the officers of Judah, who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, "Thus says the Lord: You abandoned me, so I have abandoned you to the hand of Shishak." Then the officers of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, "The Lord is in the right." When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying: "They have humbled themselves; I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. Nevertheless they shall be his servants, so that they may know the difference between serving me and serving the kingdoms of other lands."

So King Shishak of Egypt came up against Jerusalem; he took away the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king's house; he took everything. He also took away the shields of gold that Solomon had made; but King Rehoboam made in place of them shields of bronze, and committed them to the hands of the officers of the guard, who kept the door of the king's house. Whenever the king went into the house of the Lord, the guard would come along bearing them, and would then bring them back to the guardroom. Because he humbled himself the wrath of the Lord turned from him, so as not to destroy them completely; moreover, conditions were good in Judah.


DEVOTION

It takes a truly humbled person to say, "The Lord is in the right."

As human beings we often attempt to justify our poor and sinful behaviors. We try to put the blame on anyone besides ourselves--and that even includes GOD from time to time.

But, when we look into ourselves and truly repent of our sin, then we will declare, "The Lord is in the right." We will be willing to take on the consequences of our bad behavior and we will strive to do better in the future, with the help of God!

I am so grateful that God loves me so much that God is willing to allow my correction when I go astray. I am so glad that when I am misbehaving, God is willing to "pull my ear" and get me back in line. I am so relieved that when I was sinking so deeply in my sin that I could not get out, Love lifted me, by turning my face to the cross where Jesus hung, bled, and died, to make atonement for my sin and gift me with eternal life!

And I am so JOYFUL that Jesus did not stay dead, but rose on the third day victorious over sin, death, and the grave on our behalf!

Sin is an atrocious thing and it grieves the heart of God. But, God loves all of us so much that God made provision for our sin by allowing Jesus to live, die, and rise again. And God continues to pour that same love out on us, day by day, by forgiving our sin and filling us with the Holy Spirit, that we might make good and holy choices in the future.

God is a wonderful and loving parent! I am so grateful to be God's child!


Let us pray: Oh Lord, you are in the right and I have been in the wrong! Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I can walk in your way and do you will on earth until Jesus comes from heaven. I pray this in His Name, Amen.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

Humble Service

SCRIPTURE

Time after Pentecost - Lectionary 22
Luke 14:1, 7-14 (NRSV)

Invite the poor to your banquet

On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. ...

When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, 'Give this person your place,' and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher'; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

He said also to the one who had invited him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."


DEVOTION

Today I am struck by the call to humility and Christian service in today's Gospel lesson.

It is a simple thing--humility--but so hard to live out, for it is our human nature to desire the respect and admiration of those around us.

The world teaches us that in order to gain that respect and admiration we must be rich, famous, and socially acceptable.

As we claw our way up the social ladder, we often fail to even notice the people whose heads we crush as we blindly pursue that which will never satisfy the emptiness in our hearts.

I have heard it said that inside of every human being is a God-sized hole that nothing but God can ever fill (Pascal). Sadly, we attempt to fill it with money, drugs, alcohol, sex, fame, stuff, stuff, and more stuff, but it never works!

Instead, the more we acquire, the less satisfied we feel and the more we are required to continue our tireless quest.

Today, scripture teaches us that true happiness occurs when we step off of the treadmill and run into the arms and will of God.

It is God's desire that we walk in humility and that we respect and welcome all of God's children as Christ! As we are able, we are called to serve the least of these amongst us. In Jesus' day it was the poor, crippled, lame, and blind. In our day, it is the hungry, thirsty, naked, homeless, sick, war-ravaged, AIDS infected, drug addicted, depressed, suicidal and/or penniless amongst us.

Wouldn't The Church of Christ be a sight if we really lived into the commandment to welcome these to our banquet table? Wouldn't our churches look vastly different than the world if we put aside race, national origin, color, sex, age, class, and/or ability and instead looked into the eyes and heart of all of God's children created in the image and likeness of God?

We could truly be a Light unto the nations, if church folks would just stop scrapping for stuff and start loving everybody, as Christ loved us...

It will be a great day when we stop allowing worldly divisions to tear us asunder and we choose to live in humility, love, and service all the days of our lives.

Lord, may it be so, in Jesus' Name!


Let us pray: Lord, please give me a loving, humble, and servant heart, as I follow you. Please help me to put aside selfish gain and petty vanity and seek to do your will on earth until you come from heaven. I love you so much; please take my life and help me to use it in service to The Kingdom of Love. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

RIGHT HAND MAN...

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 20:20-28 (NRSV)
A request for seats of honor

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." He said to them, "You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."

When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."


DEVOTION--Today is Saturday Psalmody; the mediation is offered as a psalm from my heart! If you would like a more traditional devotion, please search the archives for a title that appeals to you! (smile)



RIGHT HAND MAN...

You've certainly made a mistake, Lord
This cannot be my seat
I was supposed to be in the place of honor
Remember, I did right by you
when others did not
People should be chanting my name--
I mean our names--
I mean your name
And I should be sitting right next to you
Taking what I deserve
for being such a faithful follower
Where you go
I will follow
Unless you go where I do not
want to go
Or I'm uncomfortable going
Or if the journey
costs me too much
In that case,
I will sit on my throne
at your right hand
and oversee things
until you return
Yeah, Man,
You can count on me
to be
right where I want...
I mean,
YOU want
me to be
At your right hand.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

Radical Hospitality

SCRIPTURE

1 Peter 4:7-11 (NRSV)

Be hospitable to one another

The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.


DEVOTION

Today I've been giving a lot of thought to the concept of radical hospitality. I was first introduced to the book and concept when I was in seminary.

Later, I had the opportunity to actually get to know many Benedictine nuns in my community who daily live out the idea of "welcoming all as Christ," which is radical hospitality at its best!

After reading today's scripture, I am struck by the words, "be hospitable to one another without complaining." Later, we hear, "serve and speak" to the glory of God!

It occurs to me that many in our churches need to get a-hold of these important concepts! It is a sad day when a non-Christian, or non-member shows up and is ignored and/or treated with contempt.

If we all made up our minds that every person who came through the door would be welcomed as if they were Jesus, how different our ministries would be!

Whether the person was African, European, American, Australian, or Asian, they would be welcome! Whether the person was rich, poor, employed, unemployed, homeless, housed, sane or insane, they would be welcome! Whether the person was young, old, abled, or differently abled, blind, deaf, or mute, they would be welcome!

Ah! This was the way our Lord and Savior, Jesus welcomed everyone--without respect of persons. All were equally welcome...

In his day, Jesus reached out to those who were unwelcome by society--women, children, lepers, Samaritans, sick, and disabled folks who just needed the touch of unconditional love and amazing grace!

As followers of Jesus, our mandate is simple. We must follow JESUS! If it was good enough for him, it's good enough for us!

I can't wait for that great day when all of our churches are an accurate reflection of ALL of the members of our communities! May each of us take up the work of Jesus Christ, welcoming all as Christ, in our churches, homes, and communities--today and everyday!


Let us pray: Oh God! Give me a heart to love everybody and to treat all of your children with kindness and respect. Please give me the spirit of radical hospitality so that everyone whom I meet will experience your love through me. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen...

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta


RECOMMENDATION

I highly recommend the book "Radical Hospitality: Benedict's Way of Love." You may purchase it on Amazon by clicking the link below! Enjoy; It changed my life!

With CHRIST...

SCRIPTURE

1 Peter 3:8-12 (NRSV)

Repay abuse with a blessing

Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called - that you might inherit a blessing. For
"Those who desire life
and desire to see good days,
let them keep their tongues from evil
and their lips from speaking deceit;
let them turn away from evil and do good;
let them seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."


DEVOTION

Yesterday I had the privilege of teaching a class on prayer. We talked about the importance of praying for ourselves, family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors, then we talked about the imperative to also pray for our ENEMIES as well!

It is not an easy thing to pray for your enemies. Our flesh desires their evil, but the Spirit desires their good. Flesh desires their destruction, but Spirit desires their construction. Flesh wants revenge, Spirit wants reconciliation.

Ah! Today's scripture says do not repay evil for evil, or abuse for abuse, rather repay both with a blessing...

As Christians we are called to do the impossible thing through CHRIST. That is why I am glad that the Bible promises that, "we CAN do all things through Christ, who gives us the strength that we need."

It is true; in our own strength, it is hard to bless our enemies who do evil and commit abuse against us. But with Christ, we can love our enemies, bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who use and persecute us.

In yesterday's study I jokingly said, "I actually love to pray for those whom I know would hate for me to do it..." (giggles)

I think that this is the greatest revenge! As I pray for those who would not want it, I get into alignment with God's will for their lives, as I seek their total transformation, petitioning God to send forth the Holy Spirit who is capable of filling them with the love, joy, and peace that they truly need!

Won't you pray for your enemies today?


Let us pray: Oh God! Please help me to love my enemies and pray for their good. Please forgive me for those times that I have sought revenge, rather than your will and your way. Please help me to be a faithful intercessor for all of your children. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

THROW AWAYS?

SCRIPTURE

Bartholomew, Apostle
John 1:43-51 (NRSV)

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

DEVOTION

Ah! It gives me great pleasure to know that God KNOWS me intimately and still invites me to follow him.

I know that it is not because I am so perfect, godly, or holy. Just like everybody else, I am a sinner, saved only by God's Amazing Grace and Unconditional Love.

So, what is it about us? Why won't God just let us go? Why doesn't God give up on us? Throw us away? Strike us with lightening?

I was asked these questions yesterday by a woman in great distress. My answer was simple. "You're a mother. When your child messes up do you want to kill him? Throw him away? Abandon him?"

She looked mortified as she answered indignantly, "OF COURSE NOT!"

I answered, "Neither does God..."

She looked positively shocked. I think that we forget that God is our Heavenly Parent and loves us more than our earthly mother and father combined.

God is not going to leave or forsake us just because we've messed up! God has elected to stick closer than any brother and when that wasn't enough, God ransomed us with His own blood by dying on the cross to make atonement for our sin and gift us with eternal life!

I can't even begin to imagine why everyone doesn't love and serve a God like this! This is none like our God!

Despite the fact that we screw up time and time again, God still says, "I know you...follow me."

It is the greatest honor of my life (and yours) that God has use for me and that I am invited to be an ambassador of the Kingdom of Love and an emissary of the good news message that, "Christ has died! Christ has risen! Christ shall come again!"

Be not dismayed. Throw yourself into the net of God's Amazing Grace and trust that Love will catch you every time.

You are not junk. You are not trash. You don't need to be thrown away. All you need is to accept the free gift of God's love and grace toward you and to put all of your hope in God.

If you could just see yourself through the eyes of God, you would realize how beautiful and wonderful you truly are!

Be at peace friend. GOD LOVES YOU.


Let us pray: God, please forgive me for thinking that you made a mistake when you made me. I know that you love me more than I could dare to hope, dream, or imagine. Please help me to trust your love and grace toward me. Please help me to believe that you are daily forgiving my sin when I ask. And please help me to know--and believe--that Jesus' death upon the cross was more than enough to atone for my sin and gift me with eternal life. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

First Place

SCRIPTURE

Ezekiel 20:18-32 (NRSV)

Israel become like the nations

I said to their children in the wilderness, Do not follow the statutes of your parents, nor observe their ordinances, nor defile yourselves with their idols. I the Lord am your God; follow my statutes, and be careful to observe my ordinances, and hallow my sabbaths that they may be a sign between me and you, so that you may know that I the Lord am your God. But the children rebelled against me; they did not follow my statutes, and were not careful to observe my ordinances, by whose observance everyone shall live; they profaned my sabbaths.

Then I thought I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness. But I withheld my hand, and acted for the sake of my name, so that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out. Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries, because they had not executed my ordinances, but had rejected my statutes and profaned my sabbaths, and their eyes were set on their ancestors' idols. Moreover I gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live. I defiled them through their very gifts, in their offering up all their firstborn, in order that I might horrify them, so that they might know that I am the Lord.

Therefore, mortal, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: In this again your ancestors blasphemed me, by dealing treacherously with me. For when I had brought them into the land that I swore to give them, then wherever they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices and presented the provocation of their offering; there they sent up their pleasing odors, and there they poured out their drink offerings. (I said to them, What is the high place to which you go? So it is called Bamah to this day.) Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: Will you defile yourselves after the manner of your ancestors and go astray after their detestable things? When you offer your gifts and make your children pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I be consulted by you, O house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord God, I will not be consulted by you.

What is in your mind shall never happen - the thought, "Let us be like the nations, like the tribes of the countries, and worship wood and stone."


DEVOTION

It may seem strange to us to imagine that people made idols out of wood and stone. In our self-righteousness we may say, "I would never do anything like that! How could they!"

But, it occurs to me that if we are honest with ourselves, we would admit that we can relate to this statement--even in 2010.

For example, do we make idols out of paper (e.g., money)? Do we make idols out of steel (e.g., cars)? Do we make idols out of bricks (e.g., our homes)? Do we make idols out of cows (e.g., leather hand bag)?

I could go on and on, but I think we get the point.

An idol is ANYTHING that you love and/or prioritize more than God. An idol is any person, place, or thing that holds first place in your heart.

This is why I believe that most of us could probably admit that at one time or another we have bowed down before false gods, choosing to serve "the made" instead of The Maker.

Today, I want us to take stock of our lives and ferret out anything that we love more than Almighty God. Then I hope we will be able to offer that thing to God with repentance in our hearts, trusting that God is faithful and just to forgive our sin and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.

God has been gracious and merciful toward us, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love! We are so blessed by God's Unconditional Love that gave Jesus to die on the cross to forgive us of our sin and gift us with eternal life--NO STRINGS ATTACHED.

Let us live into this most gracious inheritance by sharing the good news and living into love, joy, and peace everywhere that we go!

There is NO-thing--and no one--more important than God, who first loved us! Let us fix our eyes steadfastly upon Him who has never let us down! Amen!


Let us pray: Oh God! I confess my sin to you this day. I have bowed down to false and man-made idols. Today, I give you first place in my life and my heart. Please help me to dedicate my whole life to declaring your praise. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

For the Sake of My Name...

SCRIPTURE

Ezekiel 20:1-17 (NRSV)

The people profaned the sabbath

In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, certain elders of Israel came to consult the Lord, and sat down before me. And the word of the Lord came to me: Mortal, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them: Thus says the Lord God: Why are you coming? To consult me? As I live, says the Lord God, I will not be consulted by you. Will you judge them, mortal, will you judge them? Then let them know the abominations of their ancestors, and say to them: Thus says the Lord God: On the day when I chose Israel, I swore to the offspring of the house of Jacob - making myself known to them in the land of Egypt - I swore to them, saying, I am the Lord your God. On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands. And I said to them, Cast away the detestable things your eyes feast on, every one of you, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the Lord your God. But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me; not one of them cast away the detestable things their eyes feasted on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.

Then I thought I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt. So I led them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. I gave them my statutes and showed them my ordinances, by whose observance everyone shall live. Moreover I gave them my sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, so that they might know that I the Lord sanctify them. But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness; they did not observe my statutes but rejected my ordinances, by whose observance everyone shall live; and my sabbaths they greatly profaned.

Then I thought I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to make an end of them. But I acted for the sake of my name, so that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out. Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands, because they rejected my ordinances and did not observe my statutes, and profaned my sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols. Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I did not destroy them or make an end of them in the wilderness.


DEVOTION

I am struck by the repeated refrain, "But I acted for the sake of my name..."

Over and over God declares that he rescued and pardoned his people, "for the sake of his name."

It is not hard to imagine why God is so forgiving, merciful, and graceful to us time and time again; after all God's Name is LOVE.

LOVE caused God to create the heavens and the earth, and all that exists, including humanity. LOVE caused God to love the Israelites so much that he chose to rescue them time and again. And LOVE ultimately gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life.

For the sake of his name God because our rescuer, healer, and deliverer. For the sake of his name God does not leave us, nor forsake us, even when it is our own sin that leads us into temptation and sin. For the sake of his name God offered up his only begotten son to ransom us from sin, death, and the grave. For the sake of his name God sent forth the Holy Spirit to empower and equip the church to do acts of love throughout the earth. And for the sake of his name, God will send Jesus back to the earth to redeem his people and establish the new Jerusalem at the end of days!

Aren't you glad about the Name of God?! Don't you feel a spirit of praise welling up in your heart as you think on the one who is called LOVE?!

I daily rejoice as I think about all of the ways that God has rescued me--for the sake of his name.

It is my prayer that all of us would do all that we can to lift up the Name of God within our spheres of influence so that all my be introduced to the KING OF LOVE.


Let us pray: Oh God! Your Name is LOVE. Please help me to live for the sake of your name. Please help me to lift up your name that others might come running asking what must they do to be saved. Your name is Wonderful! Your Name is Love! And I adore you...I pray this in Your Name, Amen.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

THAT ALL MIGHT BE FED...

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 58:9b-14

58:9b If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,

58:10 if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.

58:11 The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.

58:12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.

58:13 If you refrain from trampling the sabbath, from pursuing your own interests on my holy day; if you call the sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs;

58:14 then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Luke 13:10-17

13:10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

13:11 And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight.

13:12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Woman, you are set free from your ailment."

13:13 When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.

13:14 But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day."

13:15 But the Lord answered him and said, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water?

13:16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?"

13:17 When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.

SERMON

Today we encounter Jesus teaching in the synagogue. We are not privy to what he was teaching on that day. We are not given a scripture or text to look at and appreciate in Luke’s narrative. All we know is that Jesus is teaching and people are gathered to listen and to learn.

Now, whilst Jesus was teaching a woman came forward who was “crippled by a spirit that would not allow her to stand up straight.”

This narration by Luke has always intrigued me. I wonder, did she have osteoporosis? Did she have scoliosis? Did she have some other physical ailment that doubled her over?

Or did she have a mental or spiritual ailment? After all, scripture says that she was “crippled by a spirit?” Was it a spirit of depression? Anxiety? Worry? Was it a spirit of low self esteem or self worth? Was that why she was staring at the ground?

Or was it a societal ailment? Perhaps she was unable to straighten her back because the community had rained down so many blows upon it…after all, she was a woman. She was a sick woman. Was she also a single woman? We don’t know…

We know NO-thing about this woman except that she showed up on the Sabbath day, interrupted his homily by stepping forward and showing herself to Jesus.

Now, here’s something I do know because my Mama told me. People will always learn more by what you DO, than by what you SAY.

Perhaps Jesus’ Mama told him the same thing because he elected to stop teaching and to call the woman to him in front of the others. He spoke eight simple words to her that undid eighteen years of unbearable pain and shame.

He simply said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” Then he laid his hands on her, helping her to stand up straight!

What an amazing moment that must have been for that unnamed woman! As she stood she began to praise God, presumably with a loud voice! You would imagine that everyone present would be rejoicing with her! After all, Jesus had wrought a most wonderful miracle in front of the people…

But, isn’t it sad, that human nature is such that we don’t always rejoice with others, especially if their joy upsets our status quo, undermines our power, or lifts up those who are subjugated to us?

It is sad; yet it is true. That is why there were some in the crowd who had the audacity to say that Jesus had no business healing on the Sabbath for we know that Jewish law demands that one rest on the Sabbath day in order to keep it holy.

In response, Jesus turned on the naysayers and said in essence, “You are hypocrites. You work on the Sabbath day when it is in your interest; I will work on the Sabbath day when it is in mine.”

See, it was in the interest of his naysayers to take their beasts to water even on Saturday, so that they would not dehydrate and die. And it was in the interest of Jesus to heal the bent-over-woman, so that he could show forth the power of LOVE and incite the crowd to worship His father in heaven!

It occurs to me that most western human beings prioritize things, rather than people. We invest in property, rather than in relationships.

I recently read on the internet that we should USE THINGS, and LOVE PEOPLE. Rather than loving things, and using people! Ah! What good and holy advice.

Jesus knew that it is always a good time to show forth the power of LOVE. Love is the very reason that Jesus was sent into the earth to make atonement for our sin and gift us with eternal life.

Love is always in order whether or not it is Sunday, Wednesday, or Saturday. Whether it is the Sabbath day or any other day, it is always a wonderful time to show someone that you are willing to love and care for them.

This is an important lesson for Christians everywhere because I believe that some of us—and many of our neighbors—are bent over with the crushing weight of worry, fear, anxiety, or powerlessness.

Within our congregation--and in our cities--we can see people who are being crushed to the ground by the stress of being new refugees in America, recently laid off from their jobs, tossed out of their homes because of foreclosure, hungry without money to eat, stressed out about an impending divorce, discriminated against because of the way they look, dress, or worship, pressed down by the weight of illness, and/or exposed because of a tragic mistake or sin in their past.

We can see these people if we dare to look and are willing to stop what we are doing and notice them in the crowd.

This is what our Jesus did! He was teaching. He was busy. He had an agenda. He had a crowd to please. But, none of that was more important to him than the bent-over-woman, who had been suffering eighteen years, who simply needed someone to notice and touch her with the power of LOVE.

As 21st Century Christians, we are called to be the hands, feet, heart, and mouth of Jesus in our world.

Isaiah 58 states, “If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday…You shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if this were our reputation as Christians! Wouldn’t it be a glad and holy day if all people were rejoicing about the wonderful things God was doing—in and through Christians—as we cause light to shine in darkness, gloom to be chased away, and breaches between people to be repaired?

We are called to be this people and it is not hard to earn this reputation! We are already well on our way with all of the outstanding mission and ministry that we do in The Church.

But, today I believe that we are challenged by the Holy Spirit to boldly move beyond charity and into relationship with those whom we serve. We feed the hungry and they should be present with us in our coffee hour on Sunday. We help house the homeless and we should see some of them sitting in the chairs in our worship services. We care for the orphan and widows and we should invite them to our mid-week Bible Study. We speak out about injustice and we should invite those who face discrimination to sit next to us as we worship and to enter our homes for coffee during the week.

See, the church has done great good in the earth and praise be to God. But, especially here in America, Christians tend to hold those whom we serve at arms length. It is good to serve them Monday—Saturday, but we often want them to come back later when they appear on Sunday morning.

That is why we do not see them on Sunday, sitting amongst us—dirty, stinky, unbathed, with unkempt hair, insane, penniless, hungry, thirsty, naked, sad, confused, angry, and/or depressed. (Well, ok, some of us are sad, confused, angry, and/or depressed but we work hard to hide from others…)

Isaiah 58 says, “If you refrain from trampling the sabbath, from pursuing your own interests on my holy day; if you call the sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs; then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth…for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

It is imperative that the “least of these” come with us to the Banquet Feast of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Each and every human being needs to feast on the bread of life which is God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Everybody ought to know that LOVE gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life. All of us need the freedom that is ours when we acknowledge that we have been set free by Christ from sin, death, and the grave and made able to stand up straight as we live in the Light of God!

In just a few moments we will all pray together, “Send your Spirit upon us and upon this meal: as grains scattered on the hillside become one bread, so let your Church be gathered from the ends of the earth, that ALL might be fed with the Bread of Life your Son, JESUS…”

Jesus chose to notice the least of these. His eyes found them in the crowd. His mouth called them to himself. His hands touched and healed them with the power of LOVE.

This was Jesus’ way, interest, and affair—and it must be ours as well.

May God grant that we follow the example of Jesus, noticing, touching and healing in the Name of LOVE, today and always.

Amen.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

SABBATH BLASPHEME

SCRIPTURE

Luke 6:1-5 (NRSV)

Picking grain on the sabbath

One sabbath while Jesus was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked some heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them. But some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?" Jesus answered, "Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and gave some to his companions?" Then he said to them, "The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath."



DEVOTION--Today is Saturday Psalmody; the mediation is offered as a psalm from my heart! If you would like a more traditional devotion, please search the archives for a title that appeals to you! (smile)


SABBATH BLASPHEME

Did he just say
He's Lord of the Sabbath?
LORD...
SABBATH...
Blaspheme!
He has no idea
who he is talking to
messing with
upsetting
status quo
at times like these.
We should wash his mouth
with soap
And beat his back
until it bleeds
Working on the sabbath
Picking on the sabbath
EATING on the sabbath
well, of course eating...
hunger...
David...
He compares himself
to our David?
Who does he think he is?
Greater than David?
Indeed!
Eating, I mean picking, I mean working
I mean...
LOVING
on the Sabbath
Indeed!

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

BE PERSUADED...

Acts 17:1-9 (NRSV)

Paul preaches Christ on the sabbath

After Paul and Silas had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three sabbath days argued with them from the scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This is the Messiah, Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you." Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. But the Jews became jealous, and with the help of some ruffians in the marketplaces they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. While they were searching for Paul and Silas to bring them out to the assembly, they attacked Jason's house. When they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some believers before the city authorities, shouting, "These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus." The people and the city officials were disturbed when they heard this, and after they had taken bail from Jason and the others, they let them go.

DEVOTION

"These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus."

Don't you just love the above quote! The Christians were actually accused of "turning the world upside down!"

How I wish people were making similar claims today! Wouldn't it be grand if in cities, states, and/or countries around the world people began to take notice of the life-changing work of Christians all over the world?

Wouldn't it be grand if people were talking about all of the ways that Christians were speaking truth to power, declaring Jesus as Lord, stirring up discussions about faith, and causing people to look to Jesus as the author and finisher of their faith?

In some places, people are saying these things; but in many others--particularly in the United States--I fear that we have not been as bold about sharing the good news because we take our religious freedoms for granted.

When was the last time you laid it all on the line for Jesus? When was the last time you took a real risk while sharing the good news? How is it that you're willing to give up everything for the sake of the Gospel?

Paul and Silas were willing to give their very lives to bring Jesus to the hearts and minds of the people whom they encountered.

I pray that we would also feel so compelled to declare the good news that Jesus lived, died, and rose again on the third day to forgive our sin and gift us with eternal life!

When people get a-hold of this good news some will turn away, but MANY MORE men, women, boys, and girls will be persuaded that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior of the world!

We must not be afraid to hold up the blood stained banner of Christ and to declare with boldness, "Christ has died! Christ has risen! Christ shall come again!"

Let's pray: O God! Please let someone say that I have turned the world upside down for you! I want to be bold and fearless as I declare the good news about Jesus. Please make me unashamed in my proclamation and help me to be willing to risk all of the sake of the cross. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

I Will Love You Still...

SCRIPTURE

Hebrews 12:3-17 (NRSV)
Call for endurance

Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children -
"My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
or lose heart when you are punished by him;
for the Lord disciplines those whom he loves,
and chastises every child whom he accepts."

Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline? If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not his children. Moreover, we had human parents to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not be even more willing to be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness. Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.

Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and through it many become defiled. See to it that no one becomes like Esau, an immoral and godless person, who sold his birthright for a single meal. You know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, even though he sought the blessing with tears.


DEVOTION

Yesterday I had the opportunity to cause much harm to some folks who consider themselves my enemies. These folks have done all that they know to do to harm me and to destroy my reputation. I was presented a perfect chance to pay them back evil for evil yesterday and I simply could not do it!

Long ago I determined that I would attempt to love those who hate me and pray for those who seek to do me harm. So instead of hurting them as they hurt me, I did what they did not deserve and chose to love and protect them at all costs.

In today's scripture reading the author of Hebrews writes, "Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble..."

This is wise advise indeed!

It is my desire to be at peace with everyone; I am aware that non-Christians will know that I am Christian by my love. It is my prayer that I will pursue holiness through the power of the holy spirit and that I will never let the root of bitterness spring up in my heart.

There will be many who do us harm, but we can choose how we respond to them. As we choose love instead of hate, help instead of harm, blessing instead of cursing, we may have the opportunity to win them to Christ!

I am not perfect and I'm going to screw up in my pursuit of peace from time to time, but when I do I will confess my sin, receive God's forgiveness, and try-try-again!

Someone once told me, "I hate you, what you are you going to do about it?" I answered, "I will love you still..."

This is what our Lord and Savior chose to do when he died upon the cross to atone for our sin and gift us with eternal life and it is what I am trying to do every single day in response to my own enemies.

Let us pray:

Lord, please help me to love the unlovable and to serve those who hate me with joy! Please help me to pursue peace with everyone and never to allow the root of unforgiveness and bitterness to spring up in my heart. Please help me to be the hands, feet, heart, and smile of Jesus to everyone whom I meet. I pray this in Your Name, Amen.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

Be Glad in the Lord

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 32 (NRSV)

Prayer for forgiveness

Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

While I kept silence, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
Selah

Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,"
and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Selah

Therefore let all who are faithful
offer prayer to you;
at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters
shall not reach them.
You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.
Selah

I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle,
else it will not stay near you.

Many are the torments of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

DEVOTION

Today's scripture reading reminds me of the importance of coming clean with God when we mess up.

Of course, when we confess our sin, we are not telling God something that God does not already know.

Rather, we are humbling ourselves before Almighty God, acknowledging that we have sinned against God (and perhaps others) and seeking forgiveness for failing to live into love.

When we do not confess our sin--if we are people of conscience--we feel miserable, guilty, and sick. When we confess our sin, God is faithful and just to forgive our sin and cleanse us of all unrighteousness!

Forgiven people are happy people. Forgiven people are joyful people. Forgiven people are glad people!

It is never healthy to carry around a burden of guilt. It will eat you up from the inside.

It is always better to cast yourself into the net of God's amazing grace and unconditional love.

Remember, you can never ever do anything to make God stop loving you. You can't out sin, out fox, or out run the love of God that has been revealed to us in Christ Jesus!

Here's the simple good news in plain language. God's great love for us led Jesus to die on the cross to pay for our sin and gift us with eternal life.

This gift is free. It is available to all. Anyone can receive it. All that we are required to do is trust the gift of LOVE, as we place all of our hope in Jesus!

If you would like to put all of your hope in Jesus, confess your sin, and accept the free gift of eternal life, let us pray:

Dear God, I know you love me and I love you too. I believe that Jesus died on the cross and that you raised him from the dead! Please forgive all of my sins and fill me with your Holy Spirit. I truly want to be right with you and to experience the gladness that comes from knowing and loving Jesus! I pray this in Your Name, Amen.


SPECIAL NOTE

If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, today, you are saved! Let me encourage you to tell a Christian friend that you just put all of your hope in Jesus. Ask him or her to help you find a Bible that is easy for you to understand and to find a good Bible believing church where you can be baptized and make new friends who will walk with you on your Christian journey!

I would be honored if you would take a moment to click "YES" in answer to the survey question "Did you put all of your hope in Jesus today?" located at the top-right-hand corner of this blog.

Congratulations and Happy Re-birthday! Your salvation is our GOOD NEWS, please go and share the GOOD NEWS with others!

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta