I'm SO Hungry...

SCRIPTURE

Job 5:8-27 (NRSV)
Seek God

"As for me, I would seek God,
and to God I would commit my cause.
He does great things and unsearchable,
marvelous things without number.
He gives rain on the earth
and sends waters on the fields;
he sets on high those who are lowly,
and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
He frustrates the devices of the crafty,
so that their hands achieve no success.
He takes the wise in their own craftiness;
and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.
They meet with darkness in the daytime,
and grope at noonday as in the night.
But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth,
from the hand of the mighty.
So the poor have hope,
and injustice shuts its mouth.

"How happy is the one whom God reproves;
therefore do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
For he wounds, but he binds up;
he strikes, but his hands heal.
He will deliver you from six troubles;
in seven no harm shall touch you.
In famine he will redeem you from death,
and in war from the power of the sword.
You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue,
and shall not fear destruction when it comes.
At destruction and famine you shall laugh,
and shall not fear the wild animals of the earth.
For you shall be in league with the stones of the field,
and the wild animals shall be at peace with you.
You shall know that your tent is safe,
you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing.
You shall know that your descendants will be many,
and your offspring like the grass of the earth.
You shall come to your grave in ripe old age,
as a shock of grain comes up to the threshing floor in its season.
See, we have searched this out; it is true.
Hear, and know it for yourself."

DEVOTION

Today’s scripture is a wonderful reminder that when we seek God, we find that God has always been near. God is as near to us as the beating of our hearts and the breath in our lungs. It is only when we begin to “seek God,” however, that we come to this realization.

When I was a little girl I used to hear the old church mothers saying, “Chile, God is a gentleman. He won’t kick down the door of your heart!”

God is gentle and kind. God is patient and loving. God stands at the door of our hearts and knocks…We have to make the choice to open the door and invite God to come in.

Once we open the door and acknowledge the depth of our spiritual hunger, God’s handiwork becomes more and more visible to us!

We begin to notice God’s awesome provision, as we sit at the table to eat. We begin to be grateful for God’s spirit of peace, which comforts us in the midst of the storms of life. We begin to notice God’s power to reconcile, as our relationships are mended with God’s love.

I could go on and on, but I am sure that if you take a good look around you will notice that God has been generously pouring out God’s blessings day by day!

And let me share some more really GOOD NEWS with you! Even when we fall down, miss the mark, or just plain ole do wrong, God is right there, holding out hands of grace and mercy, inviting us to trust God with our sorry and repentant hearts.

As we run into those arms, I pray that we will not be fooled into thinking that there will be no consequences for our poor choices. Of course there will! But, God will stand right by our sides, as we face the consequences of a harsh word spoken that broke somebody’s heart or a poor choice on the job that caused us to get fired. No matter what the consequences of our poor choices, God will never leave us nor forsake us! God will always help us to set things right and start again!

Now, ain’ta that good news?!

How have you noticed the handiwork of God in your life?

Great and Awesome God, you are amazing! As I look around at all that you have made and all that you have blessed me with, I know that you are generous beyond measure! I am filled up with joy as I become more and more aware of your presence in my life. Please help me to share this joy with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Good News Living Book Club will be reading Hinds Feet On High Places by Hannah Hurnard during March. You can purchase the book by clicking the link to the right. Please mark your calendars for our very first book club meeting to be held on Saturday, March 28, 2009, at 9:00am.

You are invited to leave comments or questions regarding today’s devotional. These comments are public.

EACH ONE--REACH ONE! To share GOOD NEWS with a friend please click the "Share With Friends" button to the right! Thanks for reading and please come again.

Pastor Yolanda extends a very special welcome to our friends reading outside of the United States of America! We are honored that you are sharing with us today.

from Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com

"THAT'S AGAINST THE LAW!"

1 Kings 14:1-18 (NRSV)

Ahijah receives Jereboam's wife

Oh my goodness! Today’s scripture reading is just down-right depressing to me. It makes me so sad to read about those times when God’s anger burns against a person, family, or people group. It makes me feel terrible to bear witness to the sinfulness of humanity as evidenced by our inability to love God with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

In this case, Jeroboam angered God by bowing down to false Gods and by forsaking his relationship with God-Almighty. As a consequence, God allows Jeroboam’s son to die and takes the stewardship of Israel away from his family.

In my faith tradition these types of scriptures are referred to as Law. Law means that we have sinned. Law means there are consequences for sin. Law means that the penalty for sin is death. What bad news! For we know that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)!

But, Law is never left to stand alone this side of the cross.

Law is always paired with Gospel or GOOD NEWS! God knows that by ourselves we are not capable of living up to the requirements of the Law. God knows that our sin-full nature will rise up and be greedy, adulterous, and unfaithful. So God sent GOOD NEWS from Heaven.

Jesus is our GOOD NEWS! No longer are we bound only to the Law. We are now also bound to Him who is GOOD NEWS. Jesus’ death upon the cross was the once and for all sacrifice, or atonement for our sin. God has made things right. God has restored our broken relationship with God. God proved once and for all how much God loves us! Isn’t that wonderful?!

And let me tell you, this GOOD NEWS is free! We can’t do anything to earn it and it’s available to all. But, in response to such love, given so extravagantly, our hearts can do nothing less than love and serve God in return.

Look, today’s scripture shows us exactly what life would be like if we were still bound only to Law. Jeroboam’s whole house was cut off and his entire people group was scattered! This is the consequence of sin my friends! But, thanks be to God that we now pair Law with Gospel in Jesus Christ.

We do our best to live holy and righteous lives following the commandments of God, but when we fall down and then confess our sin, Jesus picks us up again, dusts us off, kisses us on the head, wraps us up tight in arms of love and sends us on our way with the admonishment to, “Do better next time!”

We don’t have to be afraid of the God who made us, loves us, and died for us. We have been set free in Christ to love God and neighbor with great joy and great passion! Now, ain’ta that good news?!

In what ways do you need to become more aware of GOSPEL—GOOD NEWS—in your life?

Loving and Forgiving God, how I praise your name! I confess that I have tried to live a “lawful” life all by myself and I have failed. Thank you so much for the GOSPEL—GOOD NEWS—that fills my heart up with joy! I am loved! I am forgiven! I am saved! This is something I cannot keep to myself...Help me to share GOOD NEWS with others today. In Jesus Name, Amen.