Devotional 3-22-08

Please read John 19:38-42

The Bible is full of examples of God’s will being fulfilled by unlikely candidates. Think about it. A prince of Egypt led the Israelites out of captivity. An unwed teen became the mother of the Savior of the world. A persecutor of Christians carried the gospel message to the ends of the earth. The list goes on and on.

Consider the case of Nicodemus. Nicodemus is only mentioned in the Gospel of John, and only in three brief encounters. He came with Joseph of Arimathea bearing spices to help prepare the body of Jesus for burial. I can imagine Nicodemus, as he and Joseph were preparing Jesus’ body, thinking about how he came to know Jesus. I imagine that as a Pharisee, Nicodemus was concerned about this Jesus he was hearing about, who was stirring up crowds, healing, and casting out demons. Nicodemus and the other Pharisees were following Jesus to catch him in some violation of the law. Nicodemus witnessed the miracles and heard the sermons of Jesus. I wonder when his contempt for Jesus abated. Which miracle, or sign, or sermon “got to” Nicodemus? When was the hour he first believed?

We’ll never know. But we know something happened that changed Nicodemus. He went to visit Jesus—in the night, so he wouldn’t be seen. He had a conversation with Jesus that confused him—something about being born again. And it was to Nicodemus that Jesus spoke the words that have become the most familiar bible verse: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

When we meet Jesus face to face, transformation is inevitable. This was true for Nicodemus. Later he would defend Jesus among those Jewish leaders who would convict him without a trial. But after Jesus’ death on the cross, it became evident that Nicodemus’ transformation was complete.

I can hear Nicodemus rehearsing in his mind the earlier conversation with Jesus. And I can picture Nicodemus considering where he had been, and where he now was. From gathering evidence to convict a rabble-rouser to gathering myrrh and aloes to prepare Jesus according to Jewish burial customs.

During his night visit with Jesus, Nicodemus had been confused by Jesus’ statement about being born again. That night, with Joseph of Arimathea, with the myrrh and the aloes and the strips of linen…I imagine that Nicodemus got it.

Dear God, we thank you for loving the world so much that all we have to do is believe, and live. Thank you for your transforming grace. Amen.

Jeff Taylor

Devotional 3-15-08

Quality Time
It’s a Saturday morning at the home improvement store. A little girl’s hair bounces as she power-walks behind her mother through the aisle of household supplies. “Is this it Mommy?” she asks, holding up an item. The mother stops and the two share an intimate discussion. In the plumbing section a small boy picks up a fitting. “What’s this, Daddy?” The father stops to explain, as a look of admiration lights up the little face—(“My Daddy’s the smartest man in the world.”)

To the parents, it’s just a trip to the store; for the children, though, it’s an odyssey—shared one-on-one time! In modern parlance, we call it “quality time.”

Christians have an unlimited opportunity for quality time—sometimes neglected—one-on-one communication with our Heavenly Father. It’s called prayer! On the Christian calendar, the Nativity and the Ascension form the bookends of our faith; they are bolstered by a foundation of prayer.

Prayer is powerful! This is amply demonstrated in both the Old and New Testaments. The circumstances differ and the results vary.

In Genesis 32, Jacob wrestles with an angel until daybreak. Could it be that a tortured conscience caused him to beseech God’s forgiveness for stealing his brother’s birthright? In the morning, Jacob said “I have seen God face to face.” Later that day Esau and he had a joyous, tearful reunion.

In the 16th Chapter of Judges, strongman Samson betrayed God’s trust by revealing to Delilah the source of his strength. As a result of his disobedience, he lost not only his strength, but also his eyesight and his freedom…he was turned over to the Philistines and chained to a pillar in the Temple of Dagon where he was mocked and reviled. A remorseful Samson pleaded with God to restore his strength that he might destroy his enemies. God heard his cry! Samson pulled the temple down, killing the Philistines and perishing with them.

A compelling prayer of love and steadfastness is found in Job 1:21. In the midst of his misery, Job falls to the ground and worships God, “The Lord gave, the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

In John 6, Jesus was speaking to a multitude of 5000 who were hungry. As no food was available to feed them, a boy offered up his 5 loaves and two fish. Jesus took them and gave thanks for them…behold, twelve baskets of food remained when everyone had been fed.

In Luke 11, at Peter’s request, Jesus taught his disciples how to pray. It became a model prayer for believers of all generations.

In Luke 23, during his crucifixion, Jesus had compassion on his captors. “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (V. 34).

On the previous evening, Matthew 26: 39 records that at the Mount of Olives Jesus had prayed that the “cup pass from me” but in the end said “nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”

This reminds us that prayer is much more than a shopping list! Earnest prayer enables us to grow closer to God and better understand His will for our lives—sometimes being led in directions we would prefer not to go.

Perhaps we should again ask ourselves—in our daily agenda of priorities is prayer (quality time with God) our first….second….third….?

Anonymous

Devotional 3-13-08

Scripture: Matthew 6: 9-13

A few months ago our Johnson Memorial Sanctuary Choir sang the anthem, “Thy Will Be Done,” by Joyce Eiler. Both the words –which I am sharing- and the music are beautiful.

Sometimes the load is heavy, and sometimes the road is long. And sometimes, Lord, this heart of mine is not so very strong. But Thy will be done, Lord, Thy will be done. Father, I do not ask You to take this cup from me. I only ask Your guidance o’er paths I cannot see. And Thy will be done, Lord, Thy will be done.

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever, A-men.

Now, Lord, I feel you near me, I feel Your guiding pow’r. And know you’re standing by me through ev’ry passing hour. And Thy will be done, Lord, Thy will be done.

Have you ever known a teenager who couldn’t wait to get a driver’s license? No? When I was in my teens, we were a one-car family and four members already had their licenses. The car always was in use, and when I was old enough to get a learner’s permit, I wasn’t at all interested. Two city buses went near our house every half and quarter hour, and if I ever did need another ride, someone always was there to take me.

After Phil and I were married, we lived in Memphis, TN, where he, a member of the Marine Corp, was stationed at the Naval Air Technical Training Center. Our few trips back to West Virginia, over the winding, pre-interstate highways, took 20 to 22 hours each way. (We had a cousin who regularly made the trip in less than 12 hours, but the glove compartment of his car was crammed with speeding tickets.) After one particularly tiring trip, I decided I really should learn to help with the driving. I asked my husband to teach me how to drive.

Though I was determined to learn, I did not enjoy being behind the wheel. I disliked having to practice so much that sometimes I wished for bad weather so I could skip that day. However, one day Phil suggested that I take the driving test, and though I felt that I wasn’t ready, it actually was quite easy. Now I was a licensed driver. Still, I found no pleasure in driving anywhere or anytime.

One day an elderly friend, who was injured in a terrible car wreck a few months earlier, told me that the only way she could get into any vehicle was to pray constantly before leaving and while riding. The only trips she was able and willing to make were to her church for services. As I listened to her, I wondered if prayer could change my attitude and make being behind the wheel less of a chore. I would ask for God’s guidance the next time I drove! My confidence grew and my attitude did somewhat improve as I always paused to ask Him to keep me safe before I started a trip.

Twenty-eight years ago we moved to our farm in Ohio, and during the school year I drove daily to my school in Huntington – a 30 minute drive. On one very cold morning, I scraped the frosted windshield of my car and slowly drove up the lane to the highway. I had gone only a few feet, not enough time to pick up any speed, when suddenly the windshield became totally white in the glaring sun and all visibility disappeared. As I slowed to a complete stop, I rolled down the window beside me, and at that moment a large shadow crossed in front of the windshield. Looking out the open window, I saw a huge buck bounding across the highway, leaping the ditch and running up the hill. I was too stunned to count the points on its racks, but there were many. If I had not stopped the moment I did, that magnificent animal and my car would have collided. There would not have been a winner.

As I watched the deer disappear into the trees. I quietly prayed over and over, “Thank you, dear Lord. Thank you.”

Thy will be done.

Jean Modlin

Devotional 3-5-08

Who Do You Say I Am?

It’s easy to think you have someone figured out because you send several hours in a class or work with them on a regular basis. But as you get to know them outside that class or work, you see a different person.

So many people thought that they had Jesus figured out. Some thought Jesus to be a radical preacher, like John the Baptist. Others considered him to be a sincere religious leader like Elijah. Still others considered him to be a great prophet like Jeremiah.

All those answers contained a little truth but did not come close to Jesus’ true identity. When Peter said the he was the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, he gave the right answer even though he did not completely understand what he was saying. He still had preconceived ideas about the Messiah.

Be watchful about your own perceptions of Jesus. Be careful not to confine Jesus to a certain role in your life because of your limited understanding.

Seek Jesus more and more, until you truly know him.

Matthew 16: 13 – 20

Amy Inghram

Devotional 3-3-08

The Lectionary Readings for this date are: Psalms89:1-52; Genesis 49:1-28; First Corinthians 10:14-11:1; Mark 7: 24-37.

Psalms sing praises to God; Genesis covers Jacob’s blessings to his 12 sons, and 1 Corinthians tells us not to worship idols nor make sacrifices to them nor eat food that was used as a sacrifice. The Seventh Chapter of Mark, verses 24 thru 37 seemed to touch my thoughts about Lent this season.

Jesus went to the region of Tyre and entered into a private house and did not want anyone to know that he was there. Yet, he could not escape notice. A Gentile woman came to ask him to heal her daughter who had an unclean spirit. Jesus said to her that the children should be fed first and the rest be cast to the dogs. The Jews were the children and the dogs were the Gentiles. The woman said that this was true but the dogs eat the children’s crumbs under the table. Jesus said for this saying, she should go home and find the devil out of her daughter who would be lying on the bed.

Jesus had hoped to conceal himself but it did not happen. He also showed that he did not have to have the daughter of the Gentile woman present to heal her. Jesus was very humble but people sought him no matter where he would go. This would eventually lead to his death on the cross and He knew it.

Departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, Jesus came to the Sea of Galilee, through the mist of the coasts of Decapolis. Here they brought him a deaf and blind man to be healed. Jesus took him away from the multitude and healed him. Again, he did not want praise but all learned about it.

Even though Jesus knew that his popularity would lead to His demise, he could not refuse to help those who needed him. During these days of Lent, let us remember that He knew but could not stop helping His people. Jesus always looked up to the Heaven as he cured the sick; His Heavenly Father gave Him the means to cure. Let us each day look up to our Heavenly Father as we approach Easter morning when we celebrate His Son’s rising from the tomb.

Carol Brown

Devotional 2-14-08

Lectionary Readings: Psalms 50, 19 and 46; Genesis 39:1-23; 1 Corinthians 2:14-3:15 and Mark 2:1-12.

“ For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

I did a little research on this holiday to discover its origins. One of the most common stories is of a priest, Father Valentine of Rome, who defied the Emperor Claudius II who had decreed that none of his army could marry. Fr. Valentine was jailed for all of the secret marriages he performed and while incarcerated, fell in love with the jailer’s daughter. On the day of his execution, February 14, 269 A.D., it is told that he sent a note to the daughter to thank her for her loyalty and friendship which he signed, “from your Valentine”. Later Pope Gelasius set aside Feb. 14 to honor St. Valentine, but it wasn’t until the verses of Chaucer written in the 14th century, that St. Valentine’s Day became linked to romantic love.

In the US, Esther Howland of Massachusetts is given credit for marketing and sending the first mass-produced greeting cards in 1847. And the rest, as they say, is history. Approximately $14 billion dollars will be spent this year on flowers, cards, candy, dinners and other gifts. Valentine’s Day is ‘Number 2’ for the holiday where the most greeting cards are exchanged. I vividly remember the grade school tradition of decorating shoeboxes with construction paper and lace hearts. Would I receive a valentine from a special admirer? The wait to open the box after school was almost unbearable.

My Valentine “memory-lane” includes gifts given and received of flowers, dinner and cards, some especially significant because they were hand-made. The gifts and cards were all meant to signify a love of one person for another.. This is good: we are to love one another aren’t we?

God answers: Yes, but…

Jesus told us: “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:17) Uh Oh… that sounds like something extra. Jesus also said: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). And: “Do unto others as you would have them do to you. If you only love those who love you, what credit is that to you?...” (Luke 6:31-36) This all sounds a lot harder than it did when I was just sending valentines to my family and friends.

God’s bottom line is that He showed us the way to truly love one another first. It will be hard, but we have a comforter, a role model and a guide for the hard times. God loved us (YOU and ME) so much that he sent His ONLY son to be our example of what real love is. He purchased our eternal life—everyone’s eternal life with the life of His only son. I truly have trouble understanding this level of sacrifice and grace. But that is exactly what it is—a gift of grace. My best response is to accept the gift as an overwhelming and powerful act of love and then try to act in my daily life in ways that demonstrate that the gift is alive in me.

I love religious stained glass windows. They tell the story in pictures and also demonstrate the concept of the kind of love that Jesus was talking about. It is only when the light shines through the different colors that the image is revealed. It is only when we accept the gift of grace that God, who is the Light, can He shine through our lives as we attempt to love one another.

“What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul.
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of life to lay aside his crown for my soul.”

Dear God, we come to you today, thanking you for the gift of love. Through the sacrifice of both Father and Son, we can know a love that knows no bounds. You love us so much that you paid the ultimate price for our souls. We thank you for showing us that you love us as individuals and as your church. Thank you for transforming us with your grace to be of service to others.. Amen.

Oh and, P.S. “God: Will you be my valentine?” Thanks, I knew the answer would be YES !

Chyrl Budd

Devotional 2-12-08

Please read Mark 1:14-28

This lectionary reading describes the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee. In verse 17, Jesus calls out to Simon and Andrew who forsake their profession to become “fishers of men”. Verse 19 describes the call of James and John who leave the nets that they have been repairing to follow Jesus. Both are famous and familiar passages from the Bible. They detail the immediate and unequivocal response of men to the call of Jesus.

Verses 23 through 27 tell a different story of a man found in the synagogue with an unclean spirit. This time Jesus does not call out to the man to follow him. Instead, the spirit speaks to Jesus calling him by name. Jesus then rebukes the spirit and orders it to leave the man. Again, the spirit responds to Jesus’ call and departs, from the man.

At first reading, the two stories did not appear to me to have much in common. However, after giving it some thought (beyond my initial “exorcist” connection), I discovered the common thread in all three stories. Each of the characters recognized and responded to the call of Jesus. Even the unclean spirit recognized the power of Jesus and left the man at his command.

How clearly do we hear the call of Jesus in our present day lives, and if we hear that call, how quickly do we respond? Would any of us forsake our profession to follow Jesus?

The Nineteenth Century hymn, “Jesus Calls Us” summarizes the answer:

Jesus calls us o’er the tumult of our life’s wild restless sea;
Day by day his sweet voice soundeth, saying “Christian, follow me!”

Jesus calls us! By our mercies, Savior, may we hear thy call, give our hearts to thine obedience, serve and love the best of all.

Lee Oxley

Devotional 2-9-08

Lectionary Reading:

In the morning: Psalms 30, 32
In the evening: Psalms 42, 43
Ezekiel 39:21 - 29
Philippians 4:10 - 20
John 17:20 - 26

Each of these selections concern our relationship with God. It is not easy to be faithful to the teachings of Jesus. Many times we opt for the easy way out, or the way that will help us "fit in" with those around us. God is patiently waiting for us to recognize what we have done. God is always there, ever ready to help and support us.

We have, and will, encounter times in our lives when it seems life is so overwhelming, the troubles too many and too large, that to continue on is impossible. These passages remind us that God is there, always, to guide us through difficult or confusing times.

Just as Jesus experienced a time of despair and found hope and love from God so shall we. Jesus went throught the tormenting times to save us from ourselves. He went before us to open the door to God to us.

God is with us always, even when we do not acknowledge him. Even though many of these verses speak of hard times and a turning from God, throughout the readings is a message of hope. God is there. God will help. God loves us.

That knowledge gives us peace and determination. Committing ourselves to God means we shall never again want for anything. The hope, love and peace God offers us is greater than any worldly item. Jesus lives. God is there.

Sue Kearns

Devotional 2-6-08

Please read Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Today is Ash Wednesday. Our Lenten journey has begun. Yesterday was Shrove Tuesday. Pancake Day. Mardi Gras. Fat Tuesday.

My first memory of Lent is the annual youth pancake breakfast on Shrove Tuesday. We would meet at the church ridiculously early for a time of devotion and then eat pancakes. I didn’t like having to get up that early. The pancakes weren’t worth the lost sleep, to me. Then, after we ate pancakes, we also would go around the room and talk about what we would “give up” for Lent.

What"s up with these strange rituals, with getting rid of the fat and the cream so we could “fast” for forty days? They told us it was a time of preparation, but I just didn’t get it.

I remember the year I gave up Coke. It wasn’t long before I gave in to drinking a soft drink, but somehow justified it. “Hey, it’s a Pepsi. I only gave up Coke.” I always had an angle.

I think Jesus speaks to this in our Gospel reading. Don’t practice religion just for show. It’s between you and God. Let your Lenten discipline bring you closer to God.

One suggestion; instead of merely giving something up for Lent, take something on as well. Jesus didn’t say to deny yourself—period…he added that we should take up a cross, and follow him. This Lenten season, practice taking up the cross.

Perhaps “your cross” means more intentional time with God in prayer or study; perhaps it is working with the poor or homeless or ill; maybe it is donating your time or money to the youth fundraiser this Sunday…

This Lenten season, try giving something up, but take something on in its place. Perhaps when Easter arrives, you will find that you have experienced a closer walk with God.

Jeff Taylor