Loving Jesus Style

  Let us prepare our hearts and spirits for the coming evening with this prayer. Psalm 8 1         O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2         Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger. 3         When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; 4         what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? 5         Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. 6         You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under thei...

  Scripture: Colossians 1:21-23 (The Message) You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got. But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God’s side and put your lives together, whole, and holy in his presence. You don’t walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. There is no other Message—just this one. Every creature under heaven gets this same Message, Devotion:             In this passage we have Paul speaking to the believers among the Colossians. He repeats the Gospel story of their salvation. It is, however, not just their story it is also ours. For we who believe were all in rebellion against God either openly...

  Scripture: Proverbs 4:10-19 (NLT)   10  My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. 11  I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths. 12  When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble. 13  Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life. 14  Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers. 15  Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving. 16  For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day. They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble. 17  They eat the food of wickedness and drink the wine of violence! 18  The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. 19  But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no id...

  Scripture: John 16:33 (ESV) I [Jesus] have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart because I have overcome the world.” Devotion:             In today’s scripture Jesus is talking with his disciples in the upper room just prior to his arrest and execution. He has just warned them that they will all desert him. So, here he seeks to comfort them. He tells them to have peace in him. To know the peace which passes understanding. He does not want them to be sad or anxious because of their desertion of him. He rather wants them to be calm and at peace knowing that, as he has just finished explaining to them, their actions are foreseen and do not result in a withdrawal of his love and grace from them.             Jesus declares to them that trials and sorrows must come their way as long as ...

  Scripture: Hebrews 5:7-9 (ESV) 7  In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8  Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9  And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, Devotion:             Our church book study group is reading Tim Keller’s book Walking with God through Pain and Suffering right now. The chapter we read for today’s class is about “The Suffering of God.” The chapter got me thinking about the issue of suffering and how it is that God is able to relate to us as we suffer as the Bible promises we will. See John 16:33. Some people claim that it is impossible for God to suffer. The Bible, however, gives us many examples of how God suffered or was grieved in the Hebrew Scriptures. All...

  Scripture: Galatians 2:19-21 (NRSV) 19  For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; 20  and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21  I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing. Devotion:             In these three verses Paul outlines his understanding of how Christ works salvation for our souls. This is probably one of the most quoted verses from Galatians. Paul here declares that he is dead to the law because Christ came to live within him. This must not be taken as some do, that Paul was delivered entirely from the flesh and sinned no more from this point forward. Rather he had Christ raised to life inside him so that he could be free from the de...

  When Faith Becomes an Heirloom Scripture: Amos 5:21-23 (The Message) “I can’t stand your religious meetings.             I’m fed up with your conferences and conventions.             I want nothing to do with your religion projects,             your pretentious slogans and goals.             I’m sick of your fund-raising schemes,             your public relations and image making.             I’ve had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.             When was the last time you sang to me ?               Harsh words from...