Promise

Devotion by: Tracey Maxwell

Romans 4:13-18, 22

For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.

For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become ‘the father of many nations’, according to what was said, ‘So numerous shall your descendants be.’ Therefore his faith ‘was reckoned to him as righteousness.’

In his letter to the Romans, Paul reminds them that Abraham found favor with God by faith alone. In all that Abraham went through, his faith did not waiver. He believed that God had the power to do what he promised. God asks us to have faith, and we will be saved. Pretty simple. He makes a promise, and He will keep it. That promise doesn’t come with many conditions. Just think of the wonderful things the Lord will accomplish through us if we have faith!

Thinking back, I realize that the times in my life that I have accomplished the most are times when someone was there cheering me on, believing in me. Someone who had faith that I could do it, and promised that they would be there through the challenges. One of these people was my Godmother. She was calm, kind and had an amazingly warm smile for me, no matter what. She was the one who came to my baseball games (I played boys’ baseball way back when). She was the one who encouraged me, yet never criticized me. She loved me the way I was. She had faith; and through her, I gained a deeper understanding of the term “unconditional love”.

I am now Godmother to several nieces, nephews, and also to little Charlotte Carbaugh. I chose today’s passage because today is her third birthday. (Happy Birthday, Charlotte!!!) I certainly hope that throughout her life I can be an influence as my Godmother was to me. I hope my actions, words and unconditional love enable her faith in God to grow. I can only imagine the wonderful things this little three-year-old will be able to accomplish with faith in God and His promise to her!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, enable us to grow in our faith in you everyday. Let us be nurtured by those who believe in us so that we will be able to see your glory. Your promise to us is so wonderful. In your name we pray, Amen.

Proof of Presence

Devotion by: Jill & Anne Neaves

John 10:31-42

The Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus replied, ‘I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?’ The Jews answered, ‘It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God.’ Jesus answered, ‘Is it not written in your law, “I said, you are gods”? If those to whom the word of God came were called “gods”—and the scripture cannot be annulled— can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, “I am God’s Son”? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.’ Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands.

He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there. Many came to him, and they were saying, ‘John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.’ And many believed in him there.

Each of us is a unique being. Through God’s grace, everyone has been blessed with a gift or talent.
Recently, a friend shared an experience about a hurricane evacuation. One of her sons was coming home to her, bringing his good friend with him as they fled their homes in the storm’s path. Along with her son’s friend came fifteen others – his friend’s entire family.

Five carloads of people arrived at my friend’s home seeking refuge. Our friend was speechless. However, she opened her home to strangers and provided for them that weekend. This act made a profound impression on us.

Sharing one’s time, possessions, and talents in service to others shows the presence of God in our lives. When we go out of our way to help others, what follows is an unparalleled sense of joy, wonder, love and peace.

PRAYER: God, please sharpen our eyes and soften our hearts so we may share our gifts and talents with others. Let our actions be visible signs of Your presence and love. Amen.

Speak, Lord

Devotion by: Jane Cooper

Genesis 17:3-9

Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, ‘As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are now an alien, all the land of Canaan, for a perpetual holding; and I will be their God.’

God said to Abraham, ‘As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.

In these verses from Genesis, Chapter 17, God is confirming to Abram His promise to make many nations from him. Abram is 99 years old, and he and God have had several conversations by this time. God even changes his name to Abraham.

I wouldn’t say that I have long conversations with God, but I have heard Him speak to me. Not with my ears, but in my mind so vividly that I would have sworn I heard someone speak. Once I was instructed to ask a cleaning contractor to hire a recent immigrant. I did not know the immigrant very well, or the contractor at all, because our church (where I was serving as the President of the Trustees) had just hired this cleaning service. But from The Voice in my head, I knew that I was supposed to talk to the contractor about employing this man. What was really interesting was that the contractor was a Christian in the process of starting his own church. His cleaning service was his day job. Moreover, when I spoke to him, he told me that he had heard God’s voice telling him to ask me if I knew of anyone he could hire to help him in his cleaning business. How’s that for being part of God’s plan?

Another time, when I was driving by myself and pulling up to a red light preparing to enter a busy highway, I heard a distinct warning: “Stay back! Stop here!” So, I did not pull up to the stop line. In the next couple of minutes, a large, fully loaded logging truck came roaring down the hill on the highway and could not stop at the light that had just changed. There was a car in front of him and two vehicles in the left lane, so he zoomed through the intersection using the right turn lane and the beginning of my lane, where I would have been waiting for the light. There is no doubt in my mind that I would have been badly injured, if not killed outright, if I had not listened to that voice. Whether it was God’s voice or that of a guardian angel, I do not know, but I’m really glad I paid attention!

PRAYER: Lord, help us to remember that our prayers should not just be us asking You for things. Help us to hear Your voice in our daily living and when we pray. Continue to guide us and teach us to listen to You and not hesitate to do what you tell us. Amen.

Never Alone

Devotion by: Emily Sweet

John 8:31-42

Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ They answered him, ‘We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, “You will be made free”?’

Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there for ever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you look for an opportunity to kill me, because there is no place in you for my word. I declare what I have seen in the Father’s presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.’

They answered him, ‘Abraham is our father.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing what Abraham did, but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are indeed doing what your father does.’ They said to him, ‘We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me.

When I was little, I loved peanut butter. One day I was in the kitchen, and I saw a peanut butter jar. I was tempted; and, of course, I ate some -- even though I knew I wasn’t supposed to. I went to my mom, and she asked me if I had been eating peanut butter. I said no, because I didn’t want to get in trouble. My mom, though, saw the peanut butter on my face, and finally I confessed.

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to listen to you, and not Satan. Amen.

A Shining Star

Devotion by: Lynne Steel

John 8:21-30

Again he said to them, ‘I am going away, and you will search for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.’ Then the Jews said, ‘Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, “Where I am going, you cannot come”?’ He said to them, ‘You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he.’ They said to him, ‘Who are you?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Why do I speak to you at all? I have much to say about you and much to condemn; but the one who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.’ They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.’ As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

In this verse, Jesus foretells of His death on the cross. He tells us that we will die if we don’t look to Him for forgiveness. We are worldly, and we are sinners. God the Father is speaking to us through Jesus … and we must listen!

When God is present with us, we will do the things that please Him. When we are wholehearted in all that we do, we will be filled with the Holy Spirit and feel His presence in our lives. When this happens, we are fulfilled as people and will give of ourselves freely. Jesus is our Shining Star!

PRAYER (From Psalm 86 A Prayer of David): “You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you! I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart: I will glorify your name forever.” Amen.

Love

Devotion by: Rudy Chatlos

John 8:1-11

While Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery.

Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’ They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’

She said, ‘No one, sir.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.’

This is John’s version of the story of The Woman Caught in the Act of Adultery. For me, this is one of the most compassionate and loving acts of Jesus -- showing us the depth of God’s love for each of us. Jesus has no condemnation for this woman. He accepts her as she is. And yet, He sees more in her and reaches into her heart, asking and expecting her to live up to her potential. He says to her, “Go, and from now on, do not sin any more.”

Likewise, Jesus does not condemn the Scribes and Pharisees. He looks into their hearts and recognizes them as sinners. Then He simply invites them to cast a stone at the woman if they are without sin. Recognizing the sins of their lives, they’re unable to cast that stone, and they walk away.
PRAYER: Lord draw this sinner to your breast. Lift these sins from my heart that I, too, might be able to walk more strongly in the truth of the life You have given me. Amen.

No End Of Days

Devotion by: Victoria Wagner

Ezekiel 37:12-14

Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken and will act, says the LORD.’

As the Israelites knew only too well, sometimes life is rough. There’s no pretty way to say it. Some days are just tough; sometimes life is tough. And, at times, like the Israelites, we just want a miracle -- something to help us believe that everything is going to be okay. Our gracious and loving God sent us that miracle in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ. A miracle that you and I can claim at any moment of any day. Don’t hesitate; call on Him now. He’s ready and waiting for you. Develop that personal relationship with Jesus so that you can be a miracle for someone else. Be His hands, ears and eyes. Have the heart of Jesus. It’s as simple as a quick note to someone in need, a phone call to say hello, or a simple smile. God has put His Spirit in YOU, and you are alive. Share the Good News!

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the many blessings you bestow upon me everyday. Although I am weak, I am made strong through your love. Please help me to be your miracle to someone in need today. I am your vessel, Lord. Here I am. Amen