WHAT SHAPES YOU?

 November 6, 2024

 Proverbs 3:5

“ Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

    do not depend on your own understanding."

Our lives are shaped by numerous influences. Often without our conscious awareness, we absorb information from our surroundings and the things we observe. Over time, this information can subtly transform our actions, speech, and thought processes.

Now this isn't necessarily negative; in fact, it can be quite beneficial at times. Yet, like so many things in life, it can become hazardous when we allow the wrong influences to shape our lives, or even when we let even the positive influences hold too much sway. As followers of Jesus, the main influence in our hearts and lives is God and His word. As “Jesus said, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (John 14:6)

We can decide what our who influences our lives. The people we surround ourselves with, the content we consume, the music we listen to, and the places we frequent all have the power to alter our viewpoints and attitudes.

Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” To be sure, we can try our best to keep influences that we know will distract us from our minds and our hearts. At times it may be difficult or even unavoidable if we are put into situations that we cannot control. There are a few things we can control, so we focus on them.

The Bible's guidance to us is to “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” (Proverbs 13:20) If we spend time around people who have Godly habits and positive attitudes, we can be pushed by this influence to grow. This is the value of communit, what a gift to have individuals in our lives who by their influence can encourage our growth and development.

Second, what we watch and listen to and read also has power over our lives. In today’s world, we constantly receiving opinions and influencers messages over social media and other forms of entertainment, such as movies and music. This is not necessarily all bad. The point I wish to make is perhaps best summed up by the Apostle Paul in the following:

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.”  (Philippians 4:8)

The Apostle tells us to think about things that are true and good. These words in Philippians 4:8 call us to analyze the media we are consuming and its influence. Is it true and good?

Our greatest influence should always be God and His word.
Remember Jesus words? “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  (Matthew 6:33)

We honor God by surrounding ourselves with influences that encourage us to draw nearer to Him.

Our Verse today are good words for us to end on.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

    do not depend on your own understanding.

6 

Seek his will in all you do,

    and he will show you which path to take.

That is great advice and a great promise!

 

THAT SUMS IT UP NICELY

 

November 5, 2024

Matthew 7:12

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

The golden rule has served as a guiding principle for many of us since childhood. Its simple yet profound lesson on how to treat others remains as relevant today as it was when we were younger.

The term "golden rule" refers to a specific principle found in scripture, delivered by Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount. This principle is found in the Gospel of Matthew:

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12, see also Luke 6:31)

The term golden rule isn't actually used in the Bible, but it's become the common way to refer to the principle of treating others as one would like to be treated. 
The golden rule is a simple yet powerful principle: treat others as you would like to be treated. It's about empathy and respect, considering others' feelings and preferences just as we value our own. This approach can guide us in various life situations, ensuring we offer the kindness and consideration everyone deserves.

The golden rule is more than a simple lesson from Sunday School or Elementary school. It's a significant piece of practical moral and ethical advice for our daily lives.

The Golden Rule expresses the spirit of the moral principles found in the Old Testament's laws, which Jesus alludes to in our verse today from Matthew 7:12. He placed 'love your neighbor as yourself' among the greatest commandments you will remember, second only to loving God with our heart, soul, mind and strength. The Golden Rule calls us in all aspects of life, to love our neighbor and to treat others as you would like to be treated. It even applies to how we should treat our enemies.

So that is the golden rule, now how do we live by it?


Well to answer this question perhaps we need, first of all, to consider the impact others have had on our lives. Think about those times when someone's kindness made a difference, they went out of their way to support you during tough times or showed patience and empathy during a disagreement. Of course thinking about the times when someone's words or deeds caused you hurt or pain can help us in shaping our own behavior towards others.

Secondly, paying closer attention to others not only helps us understand them better as individuals but also establishes greater empathy towards them. Being attentive also opens up opportunities for us to recognize when we can step toward them with acts of kindness.

Thirdly, practicing the golden rule encourages us to be thoughtful towards others, taking into account their viewpoints, emotions, and experiences. We might ask ourselves, "How can we show them compassion in a manner they would value?" or "How can we ensure fair and just treatment of others while also being kind?"


I wonder what would our communities, our country, our world be like if the golden rule were to become the norm. How might this approach to living, impact upon societal ills like food insecurity, homelessness, crime, addictions ....


Let us take the steps we need to take this week to do to others what we would have them do to us. Amen

WAKEN OUR HEARTS

 

November 4, 2024

Psalm 32:5

I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”;
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. 

 

Romans 3:23-24

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

 

Let’s be honest, most of us don’t like confessing our wrongs. It’s not fun and it can be very uncomfortable. Or maybe you just don’t know how to confess your sins. The reality is many of us simply avoid this practice and in doing so we miss out of the growth and joy that God has for us.

Often, the Reformation is perceived nothing more than a period of intense theological debate. While this is true, it was a time of profound theological implications, however, it would be incorrect to say that is all it was about. The Reformation was not just about ideas; it was dedicated to the "Gospel," emphasizing a careful understanding of the gospel for the benefit of individuals and the salvation of souls.

The Reformation was a diverse movement. But at its center was a concern for the well-being of souls. Remember, its leaders were pastors at pains to lead their flock, and others from around the world, to the forgiveness that God offered, and the resulting experience of living hope, the knowledge of God’s care and presence in the real hardships of living and the promise of resurrection.

So, the practice of confession became important during this historical period because it was an important and frequent theme in the Bible. In the Bible, confession is shown in a very positive light. Confessing our sins, our negelect of others, our actions and attitudes, according the Bible's teaching should bring JOY into our life.

Perhaps the example of The Prodigal Son parable illustrates this.

A son boldly asked his father for the inheritance he could expect to receive after his father’s death. It was a deeply offensive and hurtful thing to do, especially since he abandoned the family immediately after receiving it. After wasting everything he was given, his desperate situation reminded him of the benefits of his father’s household. He knew he had relinguished his inheritance and his position as a son, so he made up his mind:

"I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” (Luke 15:18-19)

The son’s confession revealed he understood what he had become. He knew the offense to God and the offense to his father. He also knew that he was asking for more than he deserved.

But the father, who had been hoping his son would return, surprised him: “…let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” (Luke 15:23-24)

This story serves as a dramatic example of why you can have confidence you’ll “…receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16) God’s merciful nature is the subject of this parable, and emphasizes for us the truth that 1 John declares that "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:8)

Remember, "All are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Thanks be to God!

---

Here is a Prayer of Confession that is adapted from the prayers of Martin Luther.

Let us Pray

Waken our hearts, O Lord, our God;
make them ever watchful to serve You and Your purposes.

Trouble us with the smallness of our vision and work.
Trouble us with the greatness of Your command to make disciples of all nations.
Trouble us with Your great love for sinners and our own slowness to make You our greatest love.
Trouble us with the brevity of our lives and time, talent, and treasure not invested in eternity.

Comfort us by drawing us to Yourself with the cords of Your
unfailing mercy.
Comfort us, O Lord, with the assurance of our salvation and
unending glory with You when we suffer and are afflicted.

Rekindle in us a renewed desire
for the coming of Your glorious kingdom
when all wrongs will be made right,
when everything that is broken will be made whole,
and when we will trade a cross for a crown.

In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

A MORNING PRAYER

November 3, 2024

Good Sunday Morning,

In my reading this last couple weeks I came across the prayer below, it was published by Martin Luther. Luther published in his "Little Catechism" an entire section of Morning Prayers for people to use as part of their daily practice. This prayer has been given the title  A Model for the Christian’s Daily Life.

“I thank you, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.”

A SUSTAINING PRESENCE

 November 2, 2024

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

4 A river brings joy to the city of our God,
the sacred home of the Most High.
5 God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
From the very break of day, God will protect it.
6 The nations are in chaos,
and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
and the earth melts!

7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.

8 Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
See how he brings destruction upon the world.
9 He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.

10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”

11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.

A mighty fortress is our God,

a bulwark never failing.

Our helper he, amid the flood

of mortal ills prevailing.

Did we in our own strength confide,

our striving would be losing,

were not the right man on our side,

the man of God’s own choosing.

Dost ask who that may be?

Christ Jesus, it is he.

Lord Sabaoth his name,

from age to age the same,

and he must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,

should threaten to undo us,

we will not fear, for God hath willed

his truth to triumph through us.

Let goods and kindred go,

this mortal life also.

The body they may kill;

God’s truth abideth still.

His kingdom is forever.

 

Martin Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”

James Mays, an Old Testament scholar, asserts that Psalm 46 encourages trust not in a location, but in a divine Presence (Mays, James, Psalms: Interpretation, p. 185). It's possible that the depictions of God as a bulwark or fortress are not meant to convey a static, confined deity, but rather to arouse trust in a God who is ever-present with us through all life's changes and challenges.  Luther's presentation of Psalm 46 in his hymn, may serve as an image, a metaphor, "A Mighty Fortress is our God" providing us with the foundation to embrace reform, transformation, and trials.

Considering that God accompanies us at every stage of our life's journey, it can indeed transform our perspective on the future's potential as one of HOPE.

Knowing and trusting that despite the frequent confusion and discomfort of change; despite the times our own strength appears to falter; and despite the feeling that "this world, with devils filled might threaten to undo us," we are sustained by God's enduring and steadfast presence, we shall not fear. "We will not fear, for God has willed His truth to triumph through us."

God's presence is the steadfast rock upon which we stand, the formidable fortress we call home, and the unchanging promise of God's presence endures, regardless of what happens, for this promise is grounded in "the man of God's own choosing."

Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he.
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same. 

Amen



LET US PRAY


O Mighty Fortress, bulwark of love and presence, open our eyes to the ways you travel with us. Open our hearts for the constant reforming and renewing work of your Spirit. Don’t let us grow content with what is, but give us vision for what, and who, we might become as your people and as your church. Amen.

FREE? HOW CAN IT BE?

 October 30, 2024

2 Corinthians 12:9


9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.


2 Timothy 1:9

9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time …”



Ephesians 2:8-9

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.



Grace is a gift most of us do not know how to receive. I believe our society's systems of give-and-take and work-for-reward have made the concept of grace difficult for us to comprehend. Yet, the Bible demonstrates it is solely through grace that lives can be transformed. It is grace that gives us freedom. We are saved by grace alone. That is the message the Reformers recovered from the study of the scriptures. The rich, powerful, message of free grace in Jesus, or as they put it salvation “By Grace Alone.”

The concept of Grace is a recurring theme in many of our worship songs: Amazing Grace, Grace Greater than All My Sin, Your Grace is Enough, This is Amazing Grace, and many more.  What is it about Grace that captures our hearts and voices in song? Why do we ask God to 'tune our hearts to sing His grace'? I wonder if it is because Grace meets a deep need within us that nothing else can.

Take a moment to reflect on the thoughts and deeds of the human heart, observed in ourselves and others. A glance at a day's news reveals numerous accounts of misguided thoughts and actions. Isaiah 64:6 likens even our finest efforts to "filthy rags." This suggests that if salvation hinged on our actions, our good deeds, liberation from the "sins that so easily ensnare" would be unattainable. The Reformers echoed Paul's message in Ephesians, affirming that salvation is not for sale or earned by deeds; it is a gift of grace alone.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “But [God] said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” What great comfort we hear in these words of Paul. And what amazing love our heavenly Father has for us, that our God would give his all sufficient grace to each of us.

Our God approaches us, steps towards us, and sacrifices his life so that we may live through him. In his grace, he simply asks that we keep our hearts open, willing, and welcoming to his presence.


Let us remember that God's grace is completely sufficient for us. It is by living in His grace that we find our strength. As the heavenly Father says, "My power is made perfect in weakness." Through His ministry, Christ showed that His power comes alive when people recognize their need for Him. From the woman reaching out to touch His garment, to Zacchaeus the tax collector, to the paralyzed man being lowered through a roof, God performs amazing miracles in the lives of those who approach Him in their brokenness and need. It's all about grace, God's unearned favor given to us through Jesus Christ.

Yes, “… it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”



LET US PRAY

Lord, you are aware of my desire to be self-sufficient. Yet, let me always be filled with wonder and gratitude for the gift of salvation you offer, which is not earned but given freely. Amen.

GETTING the LAST WORD

 

October 29, 2024

2 Timothy 3:15-17

“. . . from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Jeremiah 23:29

“Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” 




In Monday's devotion, we affirmed that God's Word is sufficient and possesses the highest authority for all aspects of life. "Sola Scriptura" emphasizes that the Bible alone is the trustworthy Word of God and holds supreme authority over every area of our lives that it addresses.We read in 2 Peter 1:19, “We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”

When it comes to the spiritual life, Sola Scriptura means that the Bible, the word of God gets the final word. As Christians, we hold that the Bible is the primary source of wisdom and provides answers to our questions, give us a "roadmap" to abundant living. The Bible tell us that "the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

The Bible gives a wide range of pictures of itself—various images to describe what God’s Word is and does.

• God’s Word is a seed that he plants.

• Scripture is rain that soaks in and nourishes,

• It is something sweet and delightful to eat, and

• God's Word gives light and understanding.

• The Bible is a sword that penetrates and makes sharp distinctions.

• God’s Word is also a fire and a hammer to deal with what is cold and hard.

Don't you find that there are moments when we need the gentleness of a soft rain. Likewise, there are moments when we require a hammer to shatter our cold, hardened spirits. 

As those who follow Jesus, we place the Word of God above our traditions, cultures, emotions, desires, and personal views. Embracing the Bible, as we do, we acknowledge its God-breathed authority with joy, dedicating ourselves to its reading, meditation, and study. This deepens our understanding of God and guides us in embodying the principles of His Kingdom.

This teaching from the Reformation period, "Sola Scriptura" is crucial, as it encourages us to return to the Scriptures over and over for wisdom and insight on life's matters. The Bible instructs us in the knowledge of God and aids in our self-understanding.(Who we Are) The Scriptures direct us in living a full life that is pleasing and glorifying to God.

Life, wisdom, and love are all encompassed within God's Word, everything from hammers to honey!!

LET US PRAY

Lord, I am grateful for your guidance. Thank you for the tools and blessings you provide through your Word. Assist me in remaining attentive, that I might embrace the abundant life you promise. Amen.