Worship for the Weekday
We Shall Be Able to Endure
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1 Corinthians 10:12-13
Therefore let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
My first thought as I read through these verses was how I need to turn over my goal of losing some weight to God. My daughter is to be married in less than a year and I have used that as a “deadline.” I don’t have a particular number of pounds in mind; I just want to feel better about myself, be healthier, and be better able to keep up with the three-year olds I teach! I recently skimmed through an article about a woman who prayed every time she wanted to eat something she shouldn’t, or that was more than she needed. Prayer warrior that I am, I will be using that technique over the coming months.
This dual exhortation and promise applies to more than just weight loss though. Like Paul, we all have a “thorn in the side.” That challenge or struggle is to keep us from believing we can do “it” on our own. Whatever it is, we need God – for losing weight, to quit smoking, to give up any self-destructive habit. This need also applies to habits like judging others based on external things like what they wear or how they look, and on using bad language, self-pity and negativity, needing to please everyone. God can even handle serious addictions like alcohol, drugs, pornography, etc.
Many of these self-destructive behaviors do require human intervention, like counseling, rehabilitation therapy, or medical treatment. But the chances of success at ridding ourselves of any bad habit are much greater when we submit to God and His power, His strength, His endurance. Alcoholics Anonymous encourages recovering alcoholics to turn their lives over to a “higher power.” For Christians the power is the healing, restorative, redemptive power on Christ. We know God understands our need, our struggle, and our weakness because He became a living, breathing human being two thousand years ago.
A debate among many is whether Jesus was able to resist temptation because even though He was human, he was also divine. My contention has always been that his divinity merely directed his thoughts and prayers and actions, but he felt very human feelings. Otherwise, how would he understand us so intimately? I think about the times I wished I could have crawled inside the head of one of my children to figure out exactly what was going on in there! That’s how I think God felt. He wanted to know what it feels like to be us.
I am awed and humbled to think that our great and mighty, infinite God would love us so much and long for us so much that he just couldn’t stand not being among us. That’s the God who uplifts, encourages and saves. That’s the God who understands our struggle, and loves us too much to make us endure it alone. That’s the God to whom I will be praying in these coming months, not just for weight loss, but for every aspect of my life where I want/need improvement. That’s the God who loves me passionately in spite of my shortcomings and failings.
Because of that God, I rejoice every morning at another opportunity to live out this life with which I have been gifted. Because He is my God and your God, we are each and all a part of the one divine creation called humanity.
My prayer today is that surrender whatever you are struggling with to God. And that you rejoice that He is ready, willing, and more than able to take your burden upon Himself.
Mary
Do Not Mourn or Weep
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Nehemiah 8:8-10, 12 NIV
They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read. Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.
I was struck by the fact the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. I wonder why they were weeping. I think it could have been that upon hearing the word (the ancient scripture) they realized their sinfulness and unworthiness. That is a devastating realization at first, isn’t it? Every so often I have a renewed sense of my utter unworthiness before God. Usually it comes out of nowhere – just hits me smack between the eyes.
That is a very humbling and awe-filled experience too. Upon realizing how far I am from the perfection of Christ, I recommit to live a better life. Without fail, though, I fall back into whatever behavior or mindset I have vowed to change. It’s an endless cycle and an on-going struggle. Just because we are “saved” doesn’t mean we don’t have any more work to do on ourselves. That salvation is a moment of realization and a new beginning, not an ending and a cause for smug self-satisfaction.
Nehemiah is reassuring us that we should enjoy life, and celebrate our LORD who loves us in spite of our shortcoming and failings. Rejoice in the Lord and live out our calling as His children. Give to the poor, share with your neighbors and be strong through times of trouble. God is with us. He will be our strength. He loves us and forgives us. Do not mourn. Rejoice. God is with us.
Interesting that this scripture, which arrived via email several days ago was waiting for me this morning. . . Yesterday I commented that I was back on track. I have been tired and got run down as I worked my way into a new routine. Then I got very sick. Throughout my recovery time I spent a great deal of time in prayer, asking God for discernment and direction. Nehemiah’s message to the people is very similar the message I received through prayer. Do not mourn. I am with you. I will be your strength.
It is not until we yield our strength, our hearts and our lives to God that we begin truly living in the fullness of His plan for us. Every time we “take it back” from Him we delay or deter or defer that plan. The good news is, He waits for us. That is truly cause for rejoicing!
My prayer today is that you rejoice in the truth that God is with us. And that you offer up whatever in your life is keeping you from fulfilling His plan for you.
Mary
Meek and Humble; Of and From
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Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Matthew 11:28-30 RSV
28. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Matthew 11:28-30 KJV
28. Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30. For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.
These verses have offered comfort to many people throughout the centuries. Whether we are going through dramatic, life-changing experiences, or we just have one of the days where we feel we’ve reached the end of our rope – the end of ourselves, Jesus assures us He is in the midst of it with us. Jesus is there to take up the burden for us when we can’t carry it alone any longer.
I included three translations this morning because they are each slightly different. I was struck the most by the difference between “learn from Me” and “learn of me.” Dictionary dot com defines from:
used to specify a starting point in an expression of limits and of:
used to indicate derivation, origin, or source. The two words create a subtle difference, yet an important one, I think, in terms of how we experience Christ in our lives.
Actually, I think the two translations express how we grow in our faith. When we are “new” Christians, we do learn from Jesus as revealed in scripture. We model our behavior after His and we attempt to examine our lives based upon His teachings. As our faith matures we learn more of Jesus. We begin to experience Him as a lifestyle. We become infused with the truth of the Risen Christ and allow ourselves to be guided, comforted, and strengthened by His life, death and resurrection.
Again, to dictionary.com, meek is defined: humbly patient or docile, as under provocation from others and humble as: not proud or arrogant; modest, courteously respectful. Wow, I guess since I’ve been out of commission for a while, I’m tackling scripture with a passion! I find it quite interesting that in the King James version, “meek” and “of” are used. I “retranslate” that version as “I am humbly patient with you as you learn to use my teachings as your guiding principles for life.” I hope no one considers me sacrilegious!
Bottom line is this: Jesus is the source, the continuum, and the end of everything we need to live in this world and His sacrifice won us the next world. No matter what we’re experiencing in our lives, no matter what the struggle, burden, sin, challenge or uncertainty, Jesus provides an answer – He is the answer!
My prayer today is that you learn a bit more from and of Jesus as you go through the trials and tribulations of your daily life. And that you remember His resurrection as the certain assurance that there is so much more than the here and now.
Mary
He Knows our Hearts
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Psalm 139:1-7 NIV
O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.
You hem me in--behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
I haven’t been diligent about posting devotions throughout the month of November. I could say I’ve been busy – which I have. Of course, my whole mantra is always to make time for God first and the rest will fall in place. I could say I’ve been well-intentioned, but I’ve had a couple bouts of minor illnesses this month and they’ve really put me under the weather. I could list a lot of reasons. I don’t know which one would be accurate. I do know that none of them suffice.
This thing called a faith journey is pretty precarious! Our lives have changed lately as my husband searches for a job and I have begun working, beginning at 7:30 in the morning. I have less time in the morning to post devotions with this new schedule. In the afternoons . . . well . . . you can imagine I am tired and have errands to run, etc., etc.
I rest in the comfort of knowing that God understands my lacking in this area of my life. He and I have had numerous conversations—actually one long, on-going conversation about many things. I just haven’t been able to record much of it. My relationship with God is stronger than it has ever been. What I have realized is that His part of the relationship never changes. He is always present, in the early hours as I adjust my body-clock to a new routine, as my husband discerns if each new job offer is one he should accept, as our children plan their lives. God is there in the midst of it.
I am greatly reassured that He knows me and loves me so much! How can one be down-hearted in the knowledge of such all-encompassing, intimate love? God knows our hearts. He understands our human frailties. I am committing to Him this day that I will work very hard to place Him first in my day. Even if I don’t post a devotion, He know I seek Him and rest in Him.
My prayer today is that you rest in the knowledge and assurance that God is intimately involved in and passionately interested in your life. And that you offer your life to Him anew this day.
Mary
Poverty of our Time
This is a re-post from July. I am quite convicted this morning, as I perceived my push for time in the morning and throughout my weekly schedule was a recent situation. I will most certainly spend some serious prayer time this day regarding how I prioritize my time.
Blessings.
Mary
This prayer is from faithstreams.com, one of the daily newsletters I receive via email. I'm finding myself challenged to focus solely on God this morning, and as I searched for scripture to share, I found I couldn't really be settled upon a particular passage. In my distraction, I opened the email and found this prayer, which I think is beautiful. I hope you will pray this prayer with me today as you go about your busy life.
Mary
Prayer for a Busy Day
The Rev. Margaret B. Gunness
In the midst of this most busy day,
I want to offer to you, most patient Spirit of God,
the poverty of my time. I always feel so rushed
and pressured, and it sometimes seems as if I think
that only the hours of this one day are limited.
Yet I forget that the hours of a lifetime are limited too.
So please slow me down, you patient God,
and help me to be aware that every moment is precious,
and that the sum total of my moments
on this earth are limited and so to treasure them
each and every one.
Good Courage
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Psalm 31:24
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.
Romans 8:38-39
For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
When you visit Worship for the Weekday, you will know immediately that this verse from Psalm 31 is one of my “key” verses. A dear sister in Christ one Christmas gave several of us a gift of food to nourish our bodies and select scripture that she discerned was applicable/appropriate for each of us. She attached the scripture verses to a card so we would have a tangible reminder of them. She indicated as she had the cards spread out in front of her that this was not the first scripture she selected for my gift.
She told us she had selected another card and attached it to the gift, but continued to discern this was verse I was to receive. She had no idea I was in desperate need of great courage at that time. I am ever grateful for her obedience in giving me both scripture! This verse encouraged and uplifted me for many months, and continues to remind me of my friend and of God’s insistence in telling us He is involved in our lives.
I am ever awed at the faith of the Old Testament prophets. They were surely perceived in a less than favorable light—at a minimum—or as charlatans or lunatics at worse! They needed the assurance of the love of God in Christ Jesus, but persevered without it. God broke through to them and infused them with enough courage to sustain them. They were obedient and trusted their God that He would be with them in their mission.
Fortunately, we have Jesus and His resurrection as our promise and our hope. No matter what we are experiencing in our lives, we know God sees it, experiences it with us, and will sustain us through it. He sent Jesus to earth to tell us this truth. In Christ, though, we received so much more just a message. We received God’s grace through no act or great work of our own. We have the gift of eternal life in heaven through the grace won for us on the Cross.
From that perspective, anything we are dealing with in our lives becomes less challenging, doesn’t it. I say that with such facility! I have never faced a life-threatening illness or catastrophic loss. I have had a blessed life in so very many ways. I don’t understand why or how. I only know that in the times I have been tested I have been sustained with the good courage of Christ on the Cross.
My prayer today is that you will be sustained with the good courage of Christ. And that you rest in the God who has walked with us since Adam breathed his first breath.
Mary
Simple Kindness
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Isaiah 61:1-3
1. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2. to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3. to grant to those who mourn in Zion -- to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
I think just about everyone can pick up on the gist of these verses just by reading the first part of verse 1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me. How amazing to feel the Spirit of the Lord! Have you ever had one of those moments where everything in the universe seemed to converge, and time seemed to stand still for an instant, and your awareness was so heightened you thought you could almost feel the Holy Spirit? Sometimes the Spirit may manifest itself by affording us a certainty and a knowledge about something – a job choice, a decision to marry or have a child, a call to ministry, traveling down a path we know we should be on, stepping out in faith in a certain aspect of our lives.
We are each called as Isaiah was called to bring good tidings to the afflicted, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives and open the prisons of those who are bound. I apply political connotations to these proclamations because of the date! One simple and painless yet powerful way we can fulfill this calling upon our lives is to vote responsibly. Beyond that we are to simply live our lives looking for opportunities to comfort another, offer hope to those who question their circumstances, and do our part to make the world a better place.
Most of us will not be recorded for posterity as was Isaiah. Our calls are usually more personal. That doesn’t mean they’re not just as powerful and just as significant. Isaiah was written at a time long before Christ. Our task of spreading the good news is much easier because our good news has already come to pass: Christ is risen!
My prayer today is that you inhale the spirit of the Lord with every breath you take. And that you bind up the wounds of a hurting world by your acts of simple kindness.
Mary
Bread of God
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John 6:27-35
Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal." Then they said to him, What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." So they said to him, "Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, `He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world." They said to him, "Lord, give us this bread always." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst."
Those listening to Jesus wanted a sign. They wanted proof that Jesus’ words were true. More than that, they were prepared to place their trust in the person of Jesus if he could prove to them he was as great as Moses. That seems rather foolish from our perspective some two centuries after his death, doesn’t it. We already have the proof. We know the truth because of the resurrection. These listeners had heard many a traveling magician and soothsayer tell tales of their powers and abilities and the worked their magic signs to convince people they were the real deal.
Of course their magic didn’t last; nor did any of their promises. Their predictions and promises only lasted until they left town. So Jesus was up against some pretty tough “pretenders.” They had not set the stage for a very favorable reception by these men who had been fooled once too often.
These verses remind us that we don’t need anything from anyone except Christ. We don’t need to believe the world’s lies. We don’t need to live as the world lives, striving for that which is valued by the world. We only need to desire Jesus and His saving grace. We only need the bread of life. Jesus told these bystanders that deed and works were not required to receive this bread, more delicious even than the manna from heaven. What was required was their faith and their trust that God’s promise and provision applied to them just as it did to his Chosen ones during the time of Moses.
Even though we have the benefit of history, we still test God. Oh, God, if only ___________, I’ll be a better Christian. I’ll go to church every Sunday when _____________. You can fill in your own blanks and even make up more of your own sentences. I know of what I speak! I’ve got some sentences and fill in the blank words of my own.
My prayer today is that feast upon the bread of life. And that you look to God, His son and the Holy Spirit for who and what to believe in.
Mary
Every Blessing in Abundance
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2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work.
I don’t have any problem accepting the first statement in this verse. I do believe God has blessed me abundantly in many ways. Where I struggle is accepting that I always have enough of everything and that I may provide in abundance for every good work.
I guess I’m still discerning where I end and God begins. Honestly I’m still working hard to let go of myself and my own power, strength, wisdom, ability and sufficiency, because none of them are adequate. I may get lucky once in a while and make it through a day without too many problems. I may squeak by a potential disaster that I tried to deal with on my own. I may even be able to string together enough days in a lifetime where life wasn’t too unbearable. It is not until I let go, though that I begin to live in abundance—God’s abundance.
This verse doesn’t promise that we won’t ever want something we don’t have, or for that matter, something we’ll probably never have. I don’t expect to ever win the lottery—it’s just not in my genes. I will never be able to sing on key, no matter how many voice lessons I take. Perhaps there are other, more significant things lacking in your life – a child you will never be able to conceive, or a relationship that is floundering, a job you thought you’d have until you retired that suddenly ended. God doesn’t cause the hard and painful parts of our lives. He does promise to sustain us through them.
That is the abundance promised here. God’s abundance of strength, courage, healing, hope, love and peace will overcome any difficulty in your life. God sustains us through every single day of our lives. As surely as the sun rises every morning, God is at work in our lives and in our world. He created the earth to perfectly sustain and provide for us. It is not until we let go of ourselves, though, that we really begin to live. When we turn over every aspect of our lives to Him we will be abundantly provided for.
Prayer is the only way I know to arrive at the point of surrender. Continual and ardent prayer for God’s abundance in our lives allows us to be filled with the vastness and all-sufficiency of God.
My prayer today is that you recognize the abundant provisions in your life as gifts from God. And that you offer up each moment of your life to His healing, loving, all-sufficient care.
Mary
God Longed to be a Man
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Hebrews 4:14-16
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
God became man. That thought humbles me beyond words. It also encourages me. Elsewhere in the Bible references are made to birth pains as God brings about His will upon the earth. I really can’t think of any other way to explain or describe how very much God loves us than these references.
God, in his formless, infinite, eternal state, loves mankind so very much that he longed to walk among us. He yearned for the touch of human beings. He desired to taste and smell and see from our perspective. He wanted to be one of the fearfully and wonderfully made creatures he had designed. Knowing of this deep and abiding desire, how can we ever say that God doesn’t understand what we’re going through? How could we ever doubt his love for us? How could we not believe that God works for our good?
Some argue the resurrection is not a proven fact. Others may say that Jesus was just another prophet—albeit a great, perhaps the greatest one of all. My contention is that if it were not true, how then can the lie have lived so long in the hearts and souls of believers? How could the Holy Spirit ignite such passion and unexplainable courage, fortitude, wisdom and strength in those who spread the Word?
Look up at the sky at night. Watch a sunrise. Sit on the sand at the ocean side. Give birth to a child. String together all the coincidences in your life. Take a deep breath in and then imagine the working of your lungs. Place your hand over your heart and wonder at who designed this body you occupy. Have you ever created something? A perfect meal, a company, a beautifully decorated room, a meticulously landscaped yard, a poem, any of these and more afford tremendous satisfaction and joy.
Now multiply that feeling by millions and let it grow over centuries. That’s how much God love us. That’s why He came to earth in the form of Christ. He wanted us to know that He “gets it.” He doesn’t see us as flawed—rather as perfect creations who need His love and promise of eternity to live as we desire and as He planned. In thirty short years Jesus told the creation story by his life. On the Cross he changed the ending!
God waits for us in heaven. He walked with us once. Now he waits for us to walk with Him in eternity.
My prayer today is that no matter what you’re going through, you remember that the God who lives in eternity also lives in every cell of our body. And that you are his beloved, perfect creation.
Mary
