SEARCHLIGHT

 September 20, 2024 Matthew 18:21-22  Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 6:12 forgive us our sins,  as we have forgiven those who sin against us. "It was not until the second half of 20th century that Modern Psychology started paying attention to the value of forgiveness in interpersonal relationships." I got that quote from an article I was reading in prepartion for this weeks reflections. The author was praising the work of psychology in the area of the importance of "forgiveness" in our relationships. Frankly, I didn't disagree with the articles assertions. However, a smile came over my face, when I thought that our Bibles have addressed the need and value of "forgiveness" from cover to cover for centuries. Both the Bible and Psychology have emphasized that forgiving a wro

September 19, 2024 Isaiah 55:8-9 Share “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. The story of Joseph, as recounted in the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament, is a profound lesson on forgiveness. Joseph, the son of Jacob endured a life of adversity after being sold into slavery by his brothers at the age of 17. Soon after Joseph's arrival in Egypt, he was sold to Potiphar, the captain of the guard. According to Genesis 39, "the Lord was with Joseph, and he prospered in all he did," which included his service to Potiphar. We are told that Joseph ascended

  September 18, 2024   Ephesians 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.  Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you”. Colossians 3:13 … make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Proverbs 19:11 A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.”   On Monday we began by discussing that forgiving one another means letting go of our resentment toward others. We looked at Colossians 3:13 which says to “make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.” We also read together Ephesians 4:31, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” The Bible’s call to forgiveness has i

  September 17, 2024 Ephesians 4:32    “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,  just as God through Christ as forgiven you”   So Yesterday we mentioned that forgiveness is a process. While the Bible calls us to forgive each other and emphasizes that the forgiveness we have received through God's grace in Jesus is our example for this. Asking for forgiveness or extending forgiveness to another can be a hard journey. Being hurt, or lied to by someone you trusted can run very deep within us. So when we say that the bible tells us to forgive those who have scarred us, that is an uncomfortable teaching. Maybe yesterday as you read the Bible passages you felt this lump in your stomach, this wall going up, or found yourself saying "You don't know what happened to me."  To further our understanding of forgiveness, it's crucial to address common misconceptions about what forgiveness does not entail. The following are some thoughts that I have have fou

  September 16, 2024 Colossians 3:13 “Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others” Over the next few days let us consider the importance and power of forgiveness. Everyone that is reading this is either needing to forgive someone or will need to forgive someone or needing forgiveness from someone else. I believe we can all acknowledge that in our living people are going to be unkind, impolite, and sometimes rude. Some of us have been mistreated and hurt. For sure, some things in our life should not have been said or happened, but they did happen and they were said. Here is an uncomfortable truth, without forgiveness our life will be controlled by an endless cycle of resentment and retaliation. It is our natural inclination to respond to unkindness or being wronged with an attitude of “payback.” Yet, deep down in our spirit we know that for our personal and spiritual growth and peace we must learn to be forgivers of individuals that we encounter and experience in our day

  September 13, 2024 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O most high; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night . . . For you, O Lord have made me glad by your work. Amen.      ( Psalm 92:1-2, 4) I Peter 4:5  “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” Serving one another involves a selfless attitude. To repeat our verse again 1 Peter 4:5 tells us, “ God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (NLT). See  our spiritual gift isn't just for personal delight; it's meant for spiritual service (1 Cor. 12:7). While we do find joy in employing our gift to help others, its main purpose is to fulfill the role God has crafted for each of us within His kingdom. Using your spiritual gift to serve others does several things: Using your gift reveals the presence of God. Listen to 1 Co

  September 12, 2024 1 Peter 4:5 “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another ” Serving one another involves excellence. 1 Peter 4:5 says, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (NLT). God has bestowed upon us spiritual gift(s), and it's His desire for each of us to utilize that gift effectively.  To use your gift effectively, there are some recommendations I'd like to share. Discover your spiritual gift. How do you do that? Start by exploring what the Scriptures reveal about spiritual gifts . Engage in ministry work and take note of your strengths and passions. Your spiritual gifts will become clearer as you participate in various ministries. Talking with fellow believers who are knowledgeable about spiritual gifts can provide insight into your own gifts as they observe your contributions. Do not limit yourself to one experience of mi

  September 11, 2024 My father, my God, I'm in your hand; may I rejoice above all things in simply being there. Help me to learn what it means to love you with my heart, mind, soul, and strength. Amen. 1 Peter 4:10 “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts . Use them well to serve one another” Yesterday in our devotional we looked at the phrase in our verse that tells us that each of us have been the recipient of spiritual gift(s) by God. We placed emphasis on the fact that these gifts are spiritual in nature, and are ours through God's grace. We don't earn them, God purposely by His Holy Spirit gives them to us. Let's explore deeper into the topic of Spiritual Gifts today, expanding on our discussions so far this week. We'll explore the significance of the teaching in our verse that these Spiritual Gifts are " from his great variety of spiritual gifts."   So, we could say that serving one another involves variety. 1 Peter

  September 10, 2024 Oh God, you are the giver of all good and perfect gifts and I desire to praise your name for all your goodness to me. Encourage and strengthen me today by your grace and goodness. I want to be yours and yours alone oh God. Amen. 1 Peter 4:10 “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” It's been my experience when we talk about serving one another we usually jump ahead to the act of service. You know what I mean, a particular need that needs to be addressed, or a person the needs assistance in some way, or some role that needs to be filled in church life. In this sense serving one another becomes task oriented. That's why our verse today, this week, strikes me, because it begins by suggesting that serving one another is connected to gifting. That's interesting don't you think? Look at our verse, “God has given each of you a gift….” This gifting is referring to spiritual gifts. If

  September 9, 2010 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” 1 Peter 4:10 “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another”   Over the next few days in our One-Anothering series we are going to examine what it means to serve one another. When we think about the act of serving, we need to remember that there are two sides to serving. While it’s important that we serve others, it is equally important to let others serve us. “Sister, Brother, let me be your servant let me be as Christ to you, Pray that I would have the grace to let you be my servant too”, we often sing. I believe God designed us to need others. We need others in our life to help us grow, think, feel, and do what God has called us to do. I wonder if there are peo

 September 06, 2024 Galatians 6:10   "So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, ...." Our week of Devotions ends with a story I read recently, a true story, I would like to share with you. The author, Jennifer, describes the following event, I went with our son and daughter to the store to ship some boxes, and I didn’t know then that I wasn’t fine. I felt like the clerk was being aloof and unhelpful, and almost instantaneously — and without empathy — impatience and judgment flashed hot and demanding within me. And the feeling didn’t repel me; I leaned in. My tone, an instrument effective in its ability to help and to hurt, switched like a light gone out. It became a twisted comfort–this feeling of power: choosing to be harsh instead of kind. “You were not nice,” my son tells me when I turn away from the clerk and towards the door. Embarrassment swells in my chest, an icy familiar chill. My first instinct is to defend, reject, and explain. I can feel

  September 5, 2024   Oh Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; … lead me, in your righteousness … let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy … for you bless the righteous, oh Lord; you cover them with favor as with a shield. Amen. Hebrews 10:24 (New Living Translation) “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works” Hebrews 10:24 (New International Version) And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds . Hebrews 10:24 (The Voice) Let us consider how to inspire each other to greater love and to righteous deeds Hebrews 10:24 (HCSB) Let us be concerned about one another in order to  promote  love and good works.   You have perhaps noticed so far this week that motivating one another involves action. Hebrews 10:24 calls to us with this encouragement to action, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works” (NLT). This verse motivates us, I bel

  September 4, 2024 I pause, heavenly father, to commune with you. Help me to be still and know that you are God. Ease any tense muscles or strained nerves or wrought-up emotions. Let me be relaxed in body and calm in spirit so that I may be more responsive to your presence. Amen Roy E. Dickerson in Daily Prayer Companion   Hebrews 10:24 “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works”   Yesterday, we looked at the idea that motiving one another involves concentration on the person we are called to encourage and inspire. Discovering what drives and makes another individual do the things they do,   can help us in our calling to be motivators and to think of ways to fulfill this role in the lives of others for the glory of God. Today, let us consider that motivating one another involves inspiration. Look again at Hebrews 10:24, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works” (NLT). The word “motivate” (paroxusmos) i

  September 3, 2024 Dear God, let me seek and find you in this place of prayer. May your presence become so clear to me that I will also recognize you in all the places I may be today. Amen Hebrews 10:24 (New Living Translation) “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works” The last couple of weeks we have been thinking together about the Bible’s teaching regarding “one-anothering”. We want to continue to look at this biblical theme, and let the “searchlight” of God’s Holy Spirit speak to us and give us understanding so that we can be fine examples of “one-Anothering.” Today we are focusing our attention on Hebrews 10:24 which says as you just read, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works” (NLT).  Acts of love can be challenging and time-consuming, and good deeds may sometimes be emotionally taxing and inconvenient. It's not uncommon to feel weary when loving certain individuals becomes difficult; they ma