Loving Jesus Style

  Scripture: Lamentations 3:21-24 (ESV) 21           But this I call to mind, and therefore, I have hope:             22           The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;             23           they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.             24           “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore, I will hope in him.”   Devotion:                         These verses are perhaps the only words from Lamentations with which we are familiar. This book has fallen on hard times in our modern world. The title does not resonate with our modern sensibilities, so we ignore it. Its pages, however, are filled with God-breathed truth for any time and place. Today, we may seek advice in proverbs or comfort and solace in the Psalms. The book of Lamentations offers another way to pray grounded in God’s character.               God's character is not confined to a single aspect. He is not just a God of

Scripture: Psalm 23:4 (KJV) 4      Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Devotion:             As we have seen, God sees and hears us; today, we explore what it means for God to be with us. These words from the beloved Psalm 23 speak loudly to today’s culture. We live in a world where threats seem to be on every side. No matter where we turn, there are threats to our property, freedoms, and even our very lives. Violence seems to have this world in its grip. Whether it is violence between countries, on our streets, or even in our homes, it seems that nowhere is safe anymore.             David, the writer of this psalm, offers solace and hope with these words. He proclaims that even in the face of imminent death, we need not be afraid. God has pledged to journey with us through all the seasons of life, leading us to our final resurrection and eternal bliss with Him in

Scripture: Jonah 2:1-2 (ESV) Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, 2  saying,         “I called out to the Lord , out of my distress, and he answered me;        out of the belly of Sheol, I cried, and you heard my voice.   Devotion:             In this scripture, we find the prophet Jonah inside a great fish. Jonah had disobeyed God and wound up being tossed off a ship that was carrying him into the sea. God, however, was not content to let Jonah die for his foolishness and dramatically rescued him. Jonah’s rescue proved to him that God indeed hears prayer and sometimes chooses to act in ways that seem impossible to our modern understanding of the world. We all disobey what we know to be God’s will for us from time to time, sometimes purposefully, as Jonah did.             Jonah’s tale is meant to reassure us that God hears our prayers. If you are anything like me, prayers for God’s assistance are a last resort. Once we have tried everyt

Scripture: Genesis 16:13 (NIV) 13  She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” Devotion:             The context of today's scripture is the narrative of Hagar, Sara’s slave, who had fled due to Sara’s mistreatment. What strikes us is the profound care God shows for Hagar in these verses. In the dialogue between the Angel of the Lord and Hagar that precedes this verse, God not only hears but also sees Hagar in her distress. He reveals to Hagar that she is with child and will bear a son named Ishmael. This revelation moves Hagar to the heartfelt exclamation we read in the verse above.             Today, our culture does not do very well at genuinely seeing people for who they are. We are too engrossed in our phones and other devices to pay attention to other people. Our addiction to our devices can get so bad that not only do we not see and respond appropriately to other people, but we

  Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV) 9  Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. 10  For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Devotion:             The wisdom of the author of Ecclesiastes resonated with me deeply in an incident that occurred about 12 years ago. I was walking with my dog and loyal companion, Marcy, on a chilly winter morning. A patch of ice sent me tumbling, and I lost consciousness upon impact. Marcy, sensing the urgency, dashed back to our apartment building and found someone to assist me. Thanks to the timely help of a dog and some kind strangers, I made a full recovery after a brief hospital stay.             The wisdom of this ancient writer continues to hold true in our modern society, manifesting in various ways. We often don't hear about the countless instances where God's truth, as depicted in these verses, is at work. The medi

Scripture: Isaiah 31:1 (ESV) Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses,                         who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong,                         but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord!   Devotion:             Let us turn to the prophet Isaiah for more wisdom. This scripture warns those who seek to rely on the strength of military power alone to provide safety. No one who trusts in weapons of war to bring peace will prevail in the long run. Today, our world seeks a mighty fighting force equipped with the latest war-making technology and machinery. Those who seek protection from God are seen as hopelessly behind the times. In today’s scripture, the Israelites were seeking an alliance with Egypt to provide them security as the armies of Assyria threatened them.             Today, our society has military alliances for mutual security between the parties. We are

Scripture: Proverbs 21:30 (ESV)          No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel  can avail against the Lord. Devotion:             This proverb speaks loudly to the spirit of this age in America. Our cultural moment is full of the plans of mere mortals that directly contradict God's will as revealed in His inerrant, infallible Word. The Lord decreed in Genesis that humankind was to be fruitful and multiply. The culture promotes death from womb to tomb. People of goodwill seeking only to honor God by obeying the clear commands written for us in scripture are ignored, silenced, or worse in today’s culture. Here are some of the ways the culture promotes death.             Let us begin in the womb. Our culture promotes abortion as a positive good. Since Roe v Wade was overturned and the matter has returned to the states to decide if and when abortion is legal, we have seen a wide variety of approaches being implemented by the states. Some states do protect life, but many all

Scripture: Proverbs 18:10 (ESV) 10           The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. Devotion:             The towers humankind has erected in the modern era are genuinely impressive. They stand so tall and strong. Yet, as we were shown on September 11, 2001, they are vulnerable to sudden destruction. I remember watching the news that day, feeling the shock and disbelief. So, it is with all towers of human invention, whether concrete and steel or ideas and plans. Our towers are weaker than we imagine. Today’s proverb underscores this weakness and urges us to run to the Lord for safety in times of trouble or danger.             Let us reflect on the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis in the Old Testament. Humans sought to make a name for themselves, and because of God’s direct intervention, they were shown to be fools rather than wise. This is a mistake that humankind has been repeating over and over again ever since. We do not

Scripture: Proverbs 16:18-19 (ESV) 18           Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.             19           It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.   Devotion:             The meaning of the word pride has changed dramatically in our present age. To the author of the book of Proverbs, pride was a sin. Today, pride is almost always used in a positive sense. What has changed and why? The answer can be found in today’s pair of proverbs. The usage in verse 18 is purely negative. The opposite of pride is “lowly spirit,” which is found in verse 19. This pair of proverbs not only defines pride but also underscores the importance of humility in the Christian faith.             Today, our culture affirms pride as a positive good. We are told to have pride in almost everything we say or do. We take pride in our schools, our work, our sexuality. Everything we do can be a source of pride for the m

Scripture: Philippians 2:6-11 (ESV) 6  who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7  but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9  Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10  so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11  and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Devotion:             The final creed/hymn we will examine is found early in the letter to the Philippians. Theologians have described it as a hymn of kenosis, a term that means self-emptying. This hymn was likely a familiar part of the early Christian liturgy, and its inclusion in Paul's letter to the Philippians would have carried significant weight for hi

  Scripture: Romans 10.9 (ESV) if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Devotion:             These words Paul addressed to the church in Rome are a precious confession of the simplicity of our salvation in Jesus Christ. Sometimes, we allow the Christian faith to become complicated. We are, despite our protestations to the contrary, much like the Pharisees of Jesus Day. We like to multiply the things necessary for salvation without Biblical warrant. It is good for us to remember the story of the crucifixion of Jesus. A thief hanging on the cross next to Jesus asks Jesus to remember him when Jesus comes into His kingdom. Jesus responds that the thief will be with Him in paradise that very day.             However, in some churches today, membership standards are so low that even this essential confession is not required. While we cannot demand more for membership, we should never demand le

  [This creed] first appeared in southwest France sometime in the late 6th or 7th century. Its present text is found in the De singulis libris canonicis scarapsus of Priminius, which is dated between 710 and 724. [1] I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.             This creed was not developed to deal with any specific heresy. It appears to be a simplification of the Nicene creed, perha

            The Nicene Creed in the form used today in worship was finalized in 381 AD: I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from th

  Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:3-7 (ESV) 3  For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4  that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5  and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6  Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Devotion:             These verses from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians very likely represent one of the first creeds of the Christian Church. The first creed may have been the simple statement, "Jesus is Lord.” These creeds were vitally important for the newly founded church because very few people had access to their own copies of the scriptures due to the high cost of reproducing them by hand. It was necessary, therefore, to have short, easy-to-memorize sayings that c

Scripture: John 1:1-5 (ESV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2  He was in the beginning with God. 3  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Devotion:             With these words of introduction, the writer John the Apostle begins to tell the story of Jesus of Nazareth. John introduces Jesus as the Word that was with God at the very beginnings of the universe. It is an introduction to the concept of God as the Trinity. In the following verses, John unpacks how the Father and the Son were present at the creation of the universe. This is meant to give us just a glimpse into the concept of one God in three persons. While much remains mysterious about this God, He is described in this fashion, and we must learn to accept Him on His terms.             Here, th

  Scripture: Luke 24:44-49 (ESV) 44  Then [Jesus] said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45  Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46  and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47  and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48  You are witnesses of these things. 49  And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Devotion:             Jesus calms the fears and removes the misunderstandings about Himself and His mission that the first disciples and we have in this passage. It was commonly thought that the Messiah would be a military and political leader who would restore the nation of Israe

  Scripture: Luke 24:36-40 (ESV) 36  As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37  But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38  And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39  See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40  And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. Devotion:             Jesus does all he can to calm and reassure His disciples after His resurrection. His disciples were slow to believe, just as we sometimes are. In their minds, they thought, dead people stay dead. We hold this same belief. Therefore, Jesus had to prove that He was alive and ready for eternity with the Father in heaven. Indeed, this resurrection appearance raises as many questions as it provides answers. How? What? Jesus attempts to assure them that it

  Scripture: Luke 24:1-7 (ESV) But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, [the women} went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2  And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3  but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4  While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5  And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6  He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” Devotion:             It was a miracle! Everybody knows that dead people stay dead. Despite all the miracles and signs Jesus did while he was alive, he still looked like a mere man and nothing more—no wonder the women did not know what to make of the empty tomb. They needed help to under

  Scripture: Luke 23:44-46 (ESV) 44  It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45  while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46  Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.             Today, let us meditate and pray over the things that happened to Jesus on that Friday so long ago. Let us try to imagine the great sorrow those first disciples must have felt watching their teacher die upon that cross. Prayer:             Heavenly Father, today we try to enter into your great sorrow as you watched with the waiting world for your Son to die on the cross. We read about the great sorrow of Jesus’ first followers, and we ask you if there was not some other way Jesus could have saved the world. We stand amazed at your great love for us. You are dying so that we might not have to fear death anymore. We

  Scripture: Luke 22:19-20 (ESV) 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20  And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. Devotion:             Tonight, the church celebrates the institution of the Lord’s Supper or Eucharist. Jesus deviated from the traditional Passover meal script to commemorate what was to come in the next few days: His death, burial, and resurrection. That this holy meal is still celebrated by the church some 2,000 years later is a testament to the power and meaning these events still have for the church today.             Jesus already knew that His time on this earth was drawing to a close. Therefore, He sets in motion this meal as a Holy Spirit-infused memorial meal for the church. In many traditions, including mine, these words of institution can only be