Monday, September 28

Luke 15:20-24

So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate, for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.

Yesterday Pastor Paul continued his sermon series on the story of the Prodigal Son by looking at the actions of the father in the story. In his sermon Pastor Paul took a deep dive into teaching about grace. In the devotion this week, we will take a deep dive into the topic of grace.

One way to think of grace is when a person receives something that is not deserved.

The father’s actions towards the younger son in this story certainly demonstrates grace. After blowing a lot of money and “sowing his oats” in a distant country, the younger son came back to his home. He was willing to give up his title of being a son to “earn” a living.

The father would have none of this. He brought out the best robe, put a ring on the younger son’s finger and sandals on his feet. He had a calf killed, so a celebration could take place.

The younger son deserved none of this and was expecting to give up his birthright. Instead, the father treated him with gifts far beyond what he deserved.

Receiving something that we do not deserve. That is grace.

Do you have a story of receiving something you did not deserve? Please share.

Tuesday, September 29

Genesis 4:15-16

Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! Whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, so that no one who came upon him would kill him. Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

God protected Cain even though he didn’t deserve the protection.

If you have extra time, read the entire story of Cain & Abel.

One of the bottom lines of the story is Cain killed Abel and deserved to be killed himself for his actions. This would fulfill the teaching of “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”

But Cain did not receive this punishment from God. Instead, God protected Cain. God put a mark upon Cain, so that no one who came upon Cain would kill him. (Genesis 4:15)

This is a remarkable gift that God gave to Cain. The gift was certainly not deserved and certainly was unexpected.

Can you remember a time when someone forgave you in a powerful way? Or a time when you forgave someone in a powerful way. You do not have to share names, but your story can be helpful to illustrate grace.

Wednesday, September 30

Psalm 51:1-12

Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy,
    blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
    and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
    and blameless when you pass judgment.
Indeed, I was born guilty,
    a sinner when my mother conceived me.

You desire truth in the inward being;
    therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins,
    and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
    and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and sustain in me a willing spirit.

David wrote this Psalm after he had committed the terrible sin of having Uriah killed. David had Uriah killed because he had impregnated Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife. The entire story is found in 2 Samuel 11-12.

David deserved to be punished for what he had done. And David knew that he deserved punishment. In this Psalm he pleaded with God for forgiveness. He wanted to have a clean heart and a new and right spirit. He pleaded with God not to cast him away from God’s presence.

And what is remarkable is God forgave David. Even though he pleaded for forgiveness in this Psalm, David did not deserve forgiveness. He had violated the 6^th & 7^th Commandment.

Not only did God forgive David, but David became a great leader of the nation of Israel.

This story most likely gave David a deep sense of humility. He knew that through the actions of God, he had had been given another chance.

What are your thoughts about this story? Please share.

Thursday, October 1

Galatians 3:23-28

Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed.  Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be reckoned as righteous by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.

Even though he never used the word “grace” in these verses, the Apostle Paul shared a message about grace. Until Jesus came followers of God lived by the law. But after the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, people were put into relationship through faith. This was a gift.

Grace is now the identifying marker of followers of Jesus. Other identifying markers no longer were relevant. Paul went onto share these markers in verse 28. People need not identify by their religious affiliation, their gender, or their nationality.

Think about what it would look like if you introduced yourself to others as a person of grace. “Hi, my name is ____, and I’m a person of grace.” Undoubtedly you would receive some strange looks or comments, but you would be proclaiming a central truth to our own identity.

What are your thoughts about this message? Please share.

Friday, October 2

Luke 7:36-50

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and when he went into the Pharisee’s house he reclined to dine. And a woman in the city who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair, kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment.  Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he replied, “speak.”  “A certain moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?”  Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven loves little.” Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

This story is another beautiful illustration of grace. “A woman of the city who was a sinner” came to see Jesus. She knew that she had done wrong. So, she anointed the body of Jesus. She did it with oil and her own tears. She dried his body with her hair.

The power and beauty of the actions of the woman were too much for the religious leaders. We can practically hear the words jump off the page, “This woman is a sinner!”

These words were true, but what mattered to the Jesus was the woman had repented of his sins through her actions towards Jesus.

Grace is unfair. The woman did not deserve this treatment by Jesus. The religious leaders did deserve grace. But the religious leaders did not receive grace from Jesus. Part of the reason is they were too caught up in their own righteousness and the unrighteousness of the woman.

Have you seen an illustration of this story happen? Please share.

Saturday, October 3

Luke 15:31-32

Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’ ”

And we close this week’s devotion by ending with the same story in which we began - the story of the Prodigal Son. In these two verses the father shared with the older son why the father had shared grace with the younger son, even though he did not deserve this grace.

The forgiveness of the younger brother by the father was too much for the older son to bear. The actions of the younger son were wrong—and they were! But the father was not counting. He was overcome with joy that his younger son had come back.

The older son could not celebrate. He was blinded by his own righteousness and how it was not fair that his father was throwing a party for the younger son.

It is very easy to look at the world like the older son. Oftentimes this world view creeps up on us without us even realizing it.

What are some tools that are helpful to you to resist such judgment? Please share.

Monday, September 21

1 Timothy 5:3-8

Honor widows who are really widows. If a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn their religious duty to their own family and make some repayment to their parents, for this is pleasing in God’s sight. The real widow, left alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. Give these commands as well, so that they may be above reproach.  And whoever does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

On September 13 Pastor Paul began a new sermon series on the story of the Prodigal Son. The story is about a messy family. This week we will have the opportunity to read Scriptures about families.

One way that the New Testament describes families is a group of people living in the same house. The group might not be biologically related to each other, but they are still a family.

In this passage the apostle Paul shared principles for treating people who live in the same household. Some of the principles are, “Do not speak harshly to an older or younger man or to an older or younger woman. Honor widows.”  Paul went on to share teachings about how widows could stay spiritually connected to God.

You might have people who are living in your household who do not have a biological relationship with you. These people are still like your family. People who live in your household still present all the relationship challenges that family members present.

Today go out of your way to bless the people who are living with you. If you are single, pray for someone who is close to you whom you can bless. Honor these people just as the apostle Paul encouraged people in these verses to honor widows.

What are ways you can bless others? Please share.

Tuesday, September 22

Luke 2:4

Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.

In this familiar verse we read that Joseph went to his hometown of Bethlehem to be counted in the mandatory census “because he was descended from the house and family of David.”

This extended lineage is another way that people are described as family. Matthew’s gospel begins with the genealogy of Jesus. This genealogy of Jesus can be thought of as his family.

Many of us are familiar with our ancestors. And with online web sites it is easier than before to learn who our ancestors are. These people obviously are family.

Who in your ancestry is important to you? What qualities of someone in your family’s past do you especially appreciate. In what specific ways would you like to share the meaning of your own family by communicating these qualities?

Please share.

Wednesday, September 23

1 Corinthians 8:8-13

“Food will not bring us close to God.” We are no worse off if we do not eat and no better off if we do. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? So by your knowledge the weak brother or sister for whom Christ died is destroyed. But when you thus sin against brothers and sisters and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never again eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.

A third way to think of family is those who are connected to you through faith. Sometimes a congregation is called a “church family.” And though a congregation is not precisely a family, a connection to a congregation is voluntary and connection to a family is not, there certainly are qualities of congregations that are consistent with qualities of families.

In this passage, the Apostle Paul teaches about the spiritual example that people have to others in a faith community. He discouraged people from eating food that was sacrificed to an idol. The principle that he was teaching was not to avoid the specific food that was being eaten; instead, it was an example of eating that food. By eating food that had been sacrificed to idols, followers of Jesus were sharing a poor example of faith.

All of us are role models in faith to others. All of us have benefited from role models in congregations that we have participated.

Who are role models of faith that have been important to you? Please share.

Thursday, September 24

Genesis 4:1-8

Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have produced a man with the help of the Lord.” Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

We might think that families described in the Bible are not messy. This thought could not be further from the truth. The very first family suffered a murder. Cain killed his brother, Abel.

Most of us will not have to suffer something as horrible as a murder in our own family. But all of us can acknowledge that our families are messy.

It can be helpful to identify our own families as messy. Do not try to portray an image of the perfect family to others. Instead, be authentic and be open to communicating the challenges you encounter in your family. This does not mean, of course, that everyone must know everything in your family. What it does mean is that you are not defensive about the messiness in your own family. Instead, you freely acknowledge the challenges your family encounters.

What does it mean to you to think of families described in the Bible as messy? Please share.

Friday, September 24

Ruth 1:15-18

So she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” But Ruth said,

“Do not press me to leave you,
    to turn back from following you!
Where you go, I will go;
    where you lodge, I will lodge;
your people shall be my people
    and your God my God.
Where you die, I will die,
    and there will I be buried.
May the Lord do thus to me,
    and more as well,
if even death parts me from you!”

When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.

These verses illustrate the passion that Ruth had for her mother-in-law, Naomi.

Ruth had experienced terrible loss. Her husband, brother-in-law, and father-in law had died. Naomi—her mother-in-law—encouraged Ruth to leave Naomi and find another husband. A husband was essential for a woman’s welfare and well-being.

Orpah, Ruth’s sister-in-law, did leave Naomi to find another husband. But Ruth wanted to stay with Naomi.

Her words are significant. They reveal the passion that can keep a family together.

“Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die—there will I be buried. May the Lord to thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you.” (Ruth 1:15b-17)

Saturday, September 25

Psalm 133

How very good and pleasant it is
    when kindred live together in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
    running down upon the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
    running down over the collar of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon,
    which falls on the mountains of Zion.
For there the Lord ordained his blessing,
    life forevermore.

This Psalm illustrates a vision of what can happen when families live together in unity. The Psalm shares metaphors of blessings.

One metaphor is of oil running down someone’s beard. The oil represents blessings. When families love and care for each other these blessings overflow.

Another metaphor is the abundant dew on Mount Hermon. It represents the overwhelming number of blessings that happen when families live together in unity.

Think yourself of a metaphor that you would use to describe the blessings of a family living in unity. What would it be? Please share.

Monday, September 7

Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

This week we will look at some passages that use the word, “new.” In his sermon this past Sunday, Pastor Paul talked about what it means to be a “new” creation.

One way to think of the idea of “new” is with the question, “what is different?” The Apostle Paul responded to this question in the letter called 2 Corinthians.

What was different for him is in verse 16. “From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view.” Combine this verse with what the Apostle Paul shared in verse 14 that “the love of Christ urges us on.”

Seeing people through the lens of the love of Christ was very new. People are not encouraged to see people through self-interest, or what that other could do to help the person viewing. This really was a new paradigm of seeing the world.

All of us have a long way to go to live in this way of seeing the world. With wars, poverty, and violence a daily part of reality, we understand that the love of Christ is a long way from being part of the culture.

However, this need not discourage us from seeing others through the lens of “the love of Christ.”

Try an experiment. Be extra intentional today or tomorrow about seeing others through the lens of the love of Christ. How do you think your day would be new? Or share a time that you’ve done this. How was your day new? Please share.

Tuesday, September 8

Read Isaiah 43:18-21

The people of Israel were in exile, and God was going to help them out of that terrible place. God was going to do something new.

This idea of something new was needed. The people of Israel were in great pain. They had been forced to leave their homes; many had died in the transition; they were living under the authority of a foreign ruler.

But God had not forgotten them—though the people must have felt forgotten. And God told them that God had not forgotten them by telling them that something new was going to happen.

Sometimes just the possibility of something new can give people motivation for “hanging in” when they are going through hard times. Knowing that the current hard time does not have to have the final word can be motivating.

Have you had a time when you were discouraged and then received a word that gave you hope for something new? Perhaps the time is too painful to share—but perhaps not. At the very least talk to God about that season in your life and share what you learned about that season with God.

Wednesday, September 9

Read Revelation 21:1-5

The book of Revelation shared a vision of a new heaven and a new earth. It is important not to take the book literally as some have done. To do this makes the book a source of pain instead of a source of hope. The point is that God was going to create something new—God was going to create a new Jerusalem. And when the phrase “new Jerusalem” was used, it was not referring to new city. It was a new era where the current pain that the people were experiencing would no longer exist.

And the people who read this letter were in great pain. They had been persecuted terribly. Many had died. It would have easy to give up on God.

But even amidst the pain, God shared through this letter that a new creation would happen.

The context of this description of a new heaven and new earth is like the context of the nation of Israel who were in exile.

What are your thoughts about this passage? Please share.

Thursday, September 10

Read John 13:31-35

This new commandment is one that is discussed often at Chain of Lakes. Jesus called people to love one another. People’s love for others would reflect the love that Jesus had for the people.

This was a paradigm shift.

This newness was not the newness of a product or the newness of an idea. It was a way of life that would distinguish the followers of Jesus. They would no longer be known by how well they were following the law. Now they would be known by how much they loved each other.

As was discussed in the Tuesday devotion, the world is a long way into living this out. If this “new” commandment was a part of our culture, wars would cease, gun deaths would stop, and poverty would be decreased.

Each of us can’t end war, stop gun deaths, or eliminate poverty, though we can be known by how much we love each other.

What are some ways that you can live into this “new” commandment today? How would it be for you if your love led others to know that you are a disciple or follower of God? Please share.

Friday, September 11

Read Galatians 6:11-16

The “newness” that Paul was talking about here was that circumcision was no longer a distinguishing characteristic of following God. To even think that this was the case undoubtedly seems very odd. But in Genesis 17 God told Abraham that circumcision was a sign of the covenant.

Paul shared that this was no longer the case. Through the letter called Galatians he shared that by not needing to be circumcised people would experience freedom. They were not bound to an act of faith. Now what was most important was faith working through love. (Galatians 5:6)

This was quite new. The old ways of following were no longer needed or taught anymore.

This certainly was not a message that was received by everyone. Some clung to the “old” ways of following God. They were not ready to receive a new teaching.

How open are you to new expressions of faith? Do you cling to past ways of following? Do you like to try new ways of being a disciple? Please share.

Saturday, September 12

Read Ephesians 2:11-16

The writer of Ephesians shared a similar message to what we read about yesterday. God had cut down the distinguishing characteristics of what it meant to follow—in this case circumcision. Now there was not a group who followed the law and a group who did not follow the law. Instead, there was one group who were connected to each other because of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

This was quite new.

And this idea is still new. Though written thousands of years ago the writer of Ephesians expressed what we can experience in faith today. And it can be new.

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