Month: January 2022

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 19:7‭-‬11. 

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

This psalm passage teaches us about the guidance God gives us. It is much different than the often harsh edicts of man, instead it is sent in love that we might live for Him. God wants us to be connected to Him and each other, sharing the joy of creation together. 

The psalmist tells us that following the law of the Lord brings gladness simply because it is the way we are made. God intended us to have certain responsibilities, to Him and to our brothers and sisters, and fulfilling these makes us happy. Obedience is not intended as a burden but a blessing! 

Think about the things we are called to do and rather than an obligation, see them as a welcome duty. God has work for each of us and gives the gifts needed to accomplish each task. We are part of His plan for eternity, called by name in His service. 

Wise and wonderful God, we are humbled to be included in all You are doing. Strengthen us to be Your people, equipped and sent to all the world. Amen. 

Our scripture this morning is Romans 12:9‭-‬21.

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Paul gives us much to think about in this passage. While he speaks of many different behaviors, all are demonstrations of God’s love for us. We are expected to share His love with the world in the same way, without judging or justifying. 

The end of this lesson tells us to love even our enemies and to treat them in the same way as our friends. This is not easy to hear and harder to live out. We have the ultimate example of this in Jesus asking God to forgive those who were about to execute Him.

Christ came to bring God’s forgiveness to everyone, regardless of their situation. At some point we have all fallen, needing forgiveness and a renewed connection with Him. Accept the love that makes this possible and the call to share it with everyone. 

Gracious God, we are humbled that You reach out to us in our failings with the promise of forgiveness and salvation. May we carry this blessing to all the world in Your name. Amen. 

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 145:1‭-‬7.

I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you, and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed, and I will declare your greatness. They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness, and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

In this psalm we hear the glory of God proclaimed repeatedly in different ways. We are called to offer Him our thanks and praise continually. That may seem difficult to do in our hectic, distracted world.

While the world at the time of this psalm might seem simpler to us, I’m sure there were things in their lives that were as challenging as those we face today. God was waiting for them just as He does for us now, wanting to be part of our lives in everything we do. His love never leaves us, and we are blessed by his continuous presence.

Taking time to be aware that He is with us is essential and will bless our daily living. Making God part of all we do strengthens our connection with Him and with each other. May we echo the psalm “Every day I will bless you, and praise your name forever and ever!”

Gracious God, we are humbled that You want to be with us and bless us always. May we be Your people in all we say and do. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is John 2:1-12.

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

This story tells of the first sign Jesus performed, but there are some interesting things to note in addition to the miracle of water becoming wine. Jesus never did these things to make Himself look good or to gain anyone’s favor – even His mother. His miracles were done in accordance with God’s plan and through His grace.

Mary knows that Jesus is special, and in this passage she seems to ask Him to intervene when the wine runs out. Notice that she doesn’t suggest anything specific but Jesus knows what she wants. He responds a little cryptically, saying “my hour has not yet come” (v. 4).

Mary understands and tells the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them, indicating her trust in Him and respect for His divine responsibility. I imagine Jesus prayed before responding, as He had not performed any miracles before, and all of His actions were approved by the Father. While this scripture tells us of His first miracle, it also helps us understand Mary’s relationship with Him and their connection with God.

Loving Lord, we see Jesus as our savior and model for our lives. May we be obedient as He was and go to do Your will in our world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Corinthians 12:1‭-‬6.

Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

Paul explains to the Corinthians how God works in and through us using the spiritual gifts He gives. Each of us is blessed with an ability that the Lord uses to reach out to others. We need to understand our gifts and how we all work together to accomplish God’s purpose for us.

We are told that there are different gifts in each of us and we are called to different kinds of service. You may see this in your church and community, that people have a “knack” for various tasks. I can speak in front of a crowd, sing and help interpret scripture, but with hand or power tools I’m a failure – not my gift. Thankfully there are others who do have the gift of construction and repair and through everyone’s gifts the work is accomplished.

God needs nothing from us, but He chooses to enable us and include us in the work He has planned. Are we aware of our gifts? Are we using them to the fullest? Ask and listen, God will show you the task He has set for you.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for all Your gifts to us. Help us to use them wisely for the good of all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Jeremiah 7:1‭-‬7.

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Stand at the gate of the Lord’s house and there proclaim this message: Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. Do not trust in deceptive words and say, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!” If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your ancestors for ever and ever.”

The prophet Jeremiah had the dubious task of bringing a warning to the people of Israel. God sent them a strong message: “Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place”, a big hint that they were not living as God intended. Moses had told them to watch out that they did not forget God when they came to the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 8:11).

We are prone to a similar situation, becoming so absorbed in what we do every day that we forget God’s gifts and His place in our lives. Everything we do is only possible because God has blessed us and wants to be connected with us. We can’t hope to accomplish anything without Him.

We need to be intentional about time with God and listening for His guidance. When we are open to the inspiration He sends, we can be the disciples of today, ready to go into the world to share His love. Using our blessings well, for the good of His children and to His glory, is the best way to be His people.

Gracious God, we are humbled that You choose us to be in relationship with You. Make us strong in faith that we may carry the Good News everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Luke 11:14‭-‬20.

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven. Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

People often opposed Jesus by claiming His miracles were accomplished through the power of Satan. Jesus responded logically, making them think about the situation instead of just reacting. His lesson to them applies to us today as well.

How often do we see or hear something and respond emotionally, without examining the situation? While our emotions are a gift from God, He also gave us brains capable of understanding and applying the evidence involved to make decisions. Our faith combines both of these blessings, helping us to believe with heart and mind.

We must think and feel in order to believe fully. God doesn’t want robotic followers, pre-programmed for obedience. He could have created us that way if that was His choice. Instead, He gave us the means to choose for ourselves, wanting us to choose Him as our God and Father.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for the gifts of thinking and feeling. Bless us to use all You have given us for the good of Your children and to Your glory. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 36:5‭-‬10.

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals. How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart.

This psalm tells of the joy of God’s love and protection given to us. We hear that “People take refuge in the shadow of your wings” (v. 7). Our hope and strength are in the Lord.

We know that God loves us, no matter what and that He waits for us to return to Him. When sin first entered the world, Adam and Eve hid from the Lord in shame (Genesis 3). While there was accountability for their failing, God loved them just the same.

Has something separated you from God? He stands ready to forgive us when we come in repentance, and He will make us whole again. Our human impression of failure must not keep us from the relationship for which we were created.

Gracious God, we ask forgiveness and renewal through Your grace and mercy. Bless us to grow in faith and carry the Gospel throughout the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Luke 11:33‭-‬36.

“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”

Jesus uses the example of light from a lamp to describe how we are to share His light and love with the world. As the first act of creation, God said “let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). In John’s gospel we read of Christ “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4‭-‬5)

Light is a unique thing in that it travels amazingly fast and all things are touched by it. We can block out the light and hide from it or close our eyes and ignore it, but it is impossible to stop it. That’s what Jesus wants us to understand – while people may choose not to receive God’s love and light, they can’t stop its spread.

Going a step further, Jesus calls us the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:14), a reminder that we have been blessed and called to shine for Him in an often dark world. Remember the line from the children’s hymn “Jesus wants me for a sunbeam to shine for Him each day”. Let’s shine together to spread the Good News everywhere.

Loving Lord, we are humbled and grateful to be part of Your light. Make us strong in faith to share Your love with all our brothers and sisters. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 106:1‭-‬5.

Praise the Lord! O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Who can utter the mighty doings of the Lord, or declare all his praise? Happy are those who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times. Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people; help me when you deliver them; that I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory in your heritage.

This psalm reminds us of our obligation to obey God, that “those who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times” (v.3) will be blessed. It tells us that following His commandments brings happiness, something that doesn’t always occur to us. Praise is always joyful, but obedience?

The term joyful obedience is found in many church liturgies and teaches that our ultimate purpose is to love and obey God’s law. Psalm 119:97 says “Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all day long”, something that should lead us to think more about our obligations to Him. How can we fulfill God’s commands if we ignore them?

Promise yourself to spend time in God’s word more regularly. Daily reading and discussing scripture should be part of our routine, the rule rather than an occasional practice. God blesses time spent exploring our faith and sharing with Him.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the times we have ignored Your law and gone our own way. Forgive us and help us to give You the glory and the place You deserve in our lives. Amen.