Commitment: Day 7

Devotion by: Joni White

1 Peter 4:14-19

If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief-maker. Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name. For the time has come for judgement to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And
‘If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinners?’
Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good.

Today is Maundy Thursday, when Jesus so elegantly demonstrated servant leadership by washing his disciples’ feet. Today is also Beth Tozer’s 44^th birthday. Beth loved all things elegant, whether it was Michael’s generous and considerate nature, the hillside view outside her windows, the furnishings she chose for their home, the sound of David’s British accent, or whenever technologies actually harmonized to make her work easier.

She enjoyed elegant writing, so I think she would appreciate today’s verses by Peter. The NIV translation for verse 16 reads, “However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.” This reading concludes with verse 19, “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”

Committing ourselves to God, to loved ones, to life goals, to core values—focusing our concentration and effort on such commitments creates elegant facets in our personal characters. At Beth’s funeral, her family and friends shared examples of her commitments to do good. The stories were lovingly recounted. They were inspiring demonstrations of Beth’s elegant character. Many made us laugh through our tears!

The strength of our commitments can carry us though hard times. It wasn’t until after Christ died that the apostles began to really understand what he had been preparing them for. Their commitment to Christ enabled them to build a worldwide religion, which blesses our lives today, some 2,000 years later. Our commitment to our faithful Creator continues to inspire us to do good, even as we work through the process of grief.

PRAYER: Jesus, may we do your will today and be a blessing. If we rely on your strong and powerful grace, we will easily fulfill our commitments. Happy birthday to your new angel, Beth! In praise to your holy name, Amen.

Commitment: Good Friday

Devotion by: Pat White

John 13:36-38

Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, where are you going?’ Jesus answered, ‘Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterwards.’ Peter said to him, ‘Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.’ Jesus answered, ‘Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.

Have you ever struggled with living up to a commitment? It is easy to commit to things we are comfortable with. It’s when we step outside our comfort zone that we start to encounter unforeseen obstacles that cause us to question our commitment. Maybe that is why some folks struggle with making any commitment? It’s too risky. There are just too many unknowns. However, by making commitments, we learn the ever-important concept of follow through. Follow though is critical when honoring commitments. Yes, follow through is the process of actually doing all the work and managing the details that allow you achieve your goal of commitment. The initial idea is easy. It is the follow through that presents the pitfalls and obstacles we must overcome. That’s when the real commitment starts.

Recently, a medical diagnosis led me to drastically change my diet. I had to seriously reduce my sugar and carbohydrate intake. It seemed like an easy thing to commit to. After all, it’s only food and snacks, right? Try as I might, I encountered so many obstacles to eating a healthy diet that I felt overwhelmed at times. Although the struggle continues, I realized I was creature of habit and needed help changing my eating habits. My dietician at Reston Hospital helped me identify certain obstacles in my old diet. We put a plan in place to overcome those obstacles. Then, I realized that all the planning in the world would not make a difference, if I did not commit to sticking with the plan. I tried but failed. I would take two steps forward and feel good about myself and then slip back one step by eating something I should not have. You know what I’m talking about. It’s willpower. It seemed I did not have the willpower to live up to my commitment. I needed to get serious about taking care of myself. Then, one day at church a fellow member of the congregation advised me that she had heard of my illness and was praying for me, daily. Wow! The compassion of that statement filled me with a renewed since of hope. Now, with the support of my GOD, my church, and my family, I know I have the support I need to live up to this commitment. It’s always easier to achieve, when you are part of a team. Remember, there is no I in TEAM.

So, do you hear a voice calling you in the night? Are you being lead to commit to something that is bigger than you ever imagined? Regardless of what you choose to commit to, ask JESUS to be on your team and he will walk beside you helping you overcome whatever obstacles you encounter.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, grant me the courage of commitment, the strength to follow through, and the wisdom to know that no victory is complete without acknowledging your good works. In your name we pray. Amen.

Commitment: Maundy Thursday

Devotion by: Lori & Rene Fredette

John 13:1-17

Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered, ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ Peter said to him, ‘You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’ Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’ Jesus said to him, ‘One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.’ For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, ‘Not all of you are clean.’

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

Sometimes, a seemingly simple act can have a major significance and lasting consequences. Such an act by Jesus during the last supper, washing the feet of his disciples, would set forth a lasting example of humility to be learned and practiced by His disciples. After the death of Jesus, these disciples and their successors, against impossible odds, successfully convinced (and converted) people from all nationalities to the fact that a Messiah had come to fulfill the Jewish prophecies, died for all of us, and would return at the end of the world to judge everyone, Jew and Gentile. What made this message of love so meaningful, allowing it to take root? Could it be Jesus expanded the meaning of both humility and love?

During the early stages of the spread of Christianity, what compelled these disciples to die for their beliefs? Even more strikingly, what compelled their converts, who had neither seen nor heard Jesus speak (nor experienced the awe of His miracles), to allow themselves to be torn apart by lions in the Roman arena? Surely giving testimony to their faith was an emulation of the commitment of love and humility by their savior, the son of God. Surely, a message of love has greater depth when accompanied by humility for then it is all-inclusive.

There are various interpretations as to why Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. During that time, most of the people wore sandals and traveled along dusty roads. Thus, a need existed for having their feet washed upon entering a dwelling. The rich tasked this act of washing guests’ feet to only the lowest of their servants. Others, not so wealthy, washed the feet of their guests themselves – perhaps in the spirit of hospitality. And so the disciples were shocked that Jesus stooped to wash their feet. When Simon initially refused to accept this washing, Jesus told him “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me”. Of course Simon acquiesced and immediately requested to have his hands and head washed as well, which was not granted since he “was clean”.

A common interpretation of the washing of feet is that Jesus urges His disciples (and their successors) to practice a commitment to humility and not to succumb to self-importance. For Jesus said, “If I then, your Lord and master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet, for I have given you an example, that ye should do what I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, the servant is not greater than his Lord; neither he that is sent is greater than he that sent him”.

Among the interpretations of the washing of feet (taken from web sites) is that it was one of the symbols of reaching out to everyone - stepping beyond the boundaries of traditional Jewish laws and expectations. The Messiah did not come to liberate the Jews from the Romans: instead, up would be down, poor would be rich, etc. There would not be a rejection of government, but a foundation of an understanding of power that rejects the notion of violence and control. In Jesus’ words: “So the last will be first, and the first will be last” (Matthew 20:16).

In summary, the important lesson to be learned here is that the Son of God, master of the universe, knelt down in an act of true commitment, washed the feet of those who were to be sent to proclaim God’s glory and to teach others/us. This same loving, humble commitment is portrayed in the powerful Michaelangelo painting of the creation of man: God reaches out “to touch us” and we are invited to touch Him.

PRAYER: Oh Lord, guide us in thoughts and deeds, so that we may continue to strive to be worthy of your commitment and the sacrifice of your beloved son, Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Commitment: Day 4

Devotion by: Greta Rymal

Proverbs 11:25

A generous person will be enriched,
and one who gives water will get water.

When I think of commitment, one of the examples that quickly come to mind is of Beth Tozer and her role in preparing this Lenten devotion book each year. Although I did not know her well, I smiled each year as I noticed the “rabbit…” e-mail address to which we would send our materials. What commitment I knew Beth must have had as she turned around the material, often submitted at the last minute, so that the booklet would be completed on time. I knew she was often ill, but Beth fulfilled her service in bringing the Lenten Devotions to the congregation. She was generous beyond expectations, and I pray that she was refreshed through her efforts, while she was refreshing us.

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the generosity and commitment of your servants in this congregation. Let each of us be generous as we refresh others, and help us be committed in our service to You. Amen

Commitment: Day 3

Devotion by: Antonia Siebert

Nehemiah 13:10-14

I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them; so that the Levites and the singers, who had conducted the service, had gone back to their fields. So I remonstrated with the officials and said, ‘Why is the house of God forsaken?’ And I gathered them together and set them in their stations. Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses. And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses the priest Shelemiah, the scribe Zadok, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and as their assistant Hanan son of Zaccur son of Mattaniah, for they were considered faithful; and their duty was to distribute to their associates. Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service.

Nehemiah made a commitment to “clean house” – the house of the Lord, that is. His tireless efforts restored order, so that the Levite priests could return to conduct services and the tithed treasures could be secure. While others had fallen short of their commitments to the Lord and wavered in their devotion, Nehemiah followed through with passion and integrity.

Every year for the past 10 years I have made the commitment to serve as the Editor of this booklet. I looked forward to it and enjoyed doing it, both because I served my church community and because it was a special project I shared with my friend Beth Tozer. This year, however, I wavered in making the commitment once again. After she passed away in early January, I struggled over whether or not to tackle this project. I already felt overwhelmed with grief and loss. The prospect of doing not only my traditional share of the work, but also the work that Beth had done, simply made the task even more distasteful. I also knew that if I agreed to do the Devotions again, I had to be prepared to fully commit and to follow through. There was no room for half an effort – it was all or nothing.

Even Jesus wavered in his commitment. He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane for God to spare him the horrible death he knew was in store for him. But ultimately Jesus followed through on his commitment and died for us, according to God’s plan, so that we might live in the joy of resurrection.

As I contemplated the task before me, I remembered how many people in our congregation look forward to the Devotions for Lent. I thought about how the Devotions were planned to support our “Turning Silver Into Gold” Campaign, and how they could serve to help people prayerfully consider what they were called to sacrificially give. With the example of Christ’s commitment to us before me, a commitment made out of love and passion, I knew I needed to approach this commitment in a new light, and do it with the same love and passion that Christ has for us.

And then I called a dear friend in the congregation, someone who had also been close to Beth, just because a little voice in my head said, “call her and see how she’s doing.” One of the first things she said was, “I want to help with the Devotions. I know you and Beth always did it and I know it will be hard for you to do it alone, so I want to help.” Well, that was my answer right there. I resolved to complete this project once again, and to include others who wanted to serve in honor of, and in memory of, Beth. This project has been extremely difficult, as every step of the process brings back memories of the times we shared. But I know that Beth would want me to do it, and that I can approach these Devotions with a sense of service, of gratitude, and of thanks.

PRAYER: Dear God, let these Devotions touch the hearts of those who read them. Let these Devotions serve to uplift, instruct and guide not only those in this congregation who are prayerfully considering their participation in our Campaign, but also those outside this congregation who struggle with decisions of sacrifice and commitment. Bless all those who helped to make these Devotions possible, and remember their good deeds done for your house and your service. Amen

Commitment: Day 2

Devotion by: Victoria Wagner

Philippians 1:12-14

I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ; and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear.

The subject of commitment has always been one of my favorite subjects because I believe it’s one of the world’s greatest weaknesses. The dictionary describes commitment as an agreement or pledge to do something in the future. I always taught my children that when they promised to do something, they were committed to follow through on it, whether or not they wanted to do it. It wasn’t always a lesson well received!

In these verses from Philippians, Paul is writing from prison. He’s not in prison because he’s guilty of a crime, but rather because he’s advancing the Gospel. But, he obviously has not allowed his circumstances to interfere with his mission, or his life’s purpose. Paul had dedicated his life to Christ, and even being in prison has not kept him from his passion or his life’s mission. Actually, Paul’s not just in prison – he’s chained to a Roman guard, awaiting a trial that would probably end his life. Anyone would certainly understand if Paul took a sabbatical, given his circumstances, but instead of retreating, Paul actually writes one of his finest exhortations on what it means to be a follower of Christ.

Paul is committed to his mission as a servant and leader in Christ’s early church. How did he stay so focused? Perhaps Paul’s mission kept him motivated; perhaps Paul kept his priorities straight; perhaps he knew his God-given potential; and, I believe Paul had learned to live in the present, too.

In the words of George Washington Carver, “No individual has any right to come into the world and go out of it without leaving behind him distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it.”

Paul is the epitome of Mr. Carver’s words – Paul is committed to Christ, regardless of the circumstances or outcome. Do we receive this lesson well? What would you do if you knew someone had died to save you – would you commit your life to sharing the story? Let’s get committed to Christ!

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, I give thanks for the saints who have gone before us and left a legacy for us on how to be committed Christians. Commitment often means sacrifice, Lord, and who was more totally committed than You? Thank you for giving your life so that we may have eternal life with You. Here I am, Lord, let me serve. Amen.

Commitment: Palm Sunday

Devotion by: Pastor Scott McAnally

Genesis 37:19-20

They said to one another, ‘Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.’

April Fool’s Day and Palm Sunday, on the same day. How ironic. Our text tells us of Joseph, who wishes that what his brothers did to him was an April Fool’s prank. But it was not. And neither was the triumphal journey into Jerusalem. By the end of the day, the cheers of “Hosanna!” turned into the jeers of “Crucify!”. Are these cruel jokes? No. Yet despite the events in their lives, they remained committed to a God who shows ultimate commitment.

We are entering the final weeks of Turning Silver into Gold. We have heard the words of promise and the words of consequence. As we ponder what it means to make a commitment, we don’t need to look much farther than Joseph and Jesus. Joseph, whose brothers betrayed him, who had more dishonest things done to him than anyone in the Old Testament, remained committed in a God who promised never to leave him. Times got pretty ugly, yet Joseph remained steadfast. God’s promise prevailed.

Jesus is riding into Jerusalem. The three days of betrayal, denial, torture, and death are coming. Jesus could have escaped, as the criminal said on the cross. Jesus probably could have gotten down off that cross – except he was committed. Committed to you and to me, committed to the world and to his work of love and redemption. Can we be so bold to ask the Holy Spirit to be with us as we think about our commitment to a God who has been, is and will always be committed to us?

PRAYER: Forgiving God, we know that your love for us is no April Fools. It’s real, undeserving, and free. For that we humbly give you thanks. Please be with us as we ponder our commitments to your work through “Turning Silver into Gold.” Most of all, we thank you for the death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.