Thursday Devotional - Sister Confirmation

Continuing from last week…

After coming home and finding out Sarah asked Jesus into her heart, I was thrilled! There was a part of me, though, that was somewhat skeptical about what she understood. I wasn’t sure how much rejoicing to do until I saw evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work in her life.

Then, after reading books before nap time, Sarah asked if we could pray. We pray together before bed, but not usually before nap. Sarah hadn’t ever initiated a prayer time before. So, it was confirmation that the Holy Spirit was indeed inside Sarah and beginning her sanctification (ongoing  process of being made holy and set apart for God’s work)!

Later the same day, for additional confirmation, I overheard her singing her own made-up song “Jesus is inside my heart!” She often sings, but it’s usually a song she knows. So, that’s when I started crying tears of joy at her new life in Christ, praising God for His work in her life!!!

As Paul prayed for the Romans:

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

I pray for God to continue to fill Sarah with His joy and peace as she trusts Him by the power of the Holy Spirit. I pray this for all of us!!!

Alice

Colorblind

So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.  Luke 15:20-24

Who came up with the concept of being ‘colorblind?’  Yes, there are people who are literally color-blind, but I have heard that phrase used often in conversation with people with respect to their view on race.  “I don’t see color when talking to people,” is what some would say to me as if it were a badge of honor.  “It does not matter what color you are.  I see you as a brother in Christ,” is the latest version of it that I hear.  Now, I understand where the people are coming from, and assuming positive intent, I am sure they mean well when they say.  However, I want to let you in on a little secret the next time you have the urge to say it.  It is the worst thing to say to a person of color and particularly a Christian.  “Why?  God doesn’t see color,” is the most commonly response when I say that.  I mean it sounds like a very Christian thing to say.  He or she is noting that God loves us no matter what our color is, and that is true.  It is also true that most teen fathers struggle to make a living, and yet, here I am.  My point?  All because it is true does not necessarily make it relevant.

God made us different as a test of our faith.  The test is not to see if you embrace someone as you would anyone.  It is to test if you would embrace them for who they are!  The story of the prodigal son as many know is filled with lessons.  Today, I look to the part of the father running to His lost younger son.  Remember this son was ungrateful as he left, and many would say he was unworthy of this kind of celebration.  Yet instead of focusing on his son’s sins, he focused on his return acknowledging where he was (dead, lost).  We often see someone different from us, and we look at them from where ‘we’ are.  A key to this story is we must always find people at their level.  That is exactly what God does.  He finds us where we are and raises us up.  He does not stay where He is and tell us to climb.  To be clear, I am not saying we are not all brothers and sisters in Christ.  I am saying that when you see someone who is not like you, ask them about themselves and understand where they come from.  See where they are, and then, determine how to move forward.  Furthermore, be the authentic person God made you to be.  Reach out earnestly and with love.  They will embrace it and more importantly, so will God.

The beauty of God is that as His creation, we get a front row seat to His intentionality.  When we see a butterfly, it has different colors to it.  We could say that it is just like every other butterfly, but if we look through God’s lens, we see its uniqueness in comparison to other butterflies.  We will see its individual beauty.  Not compare it with others.   That is how to overcome colorblindness.  So l challenge you to love all people not only for their similarities but also because of their differences.  Who is God challenging you to find a greater relationship with someone not like you?  How can your circle of friends look more like a mosaic than just yourself?  My prayer is that we allow God to push our boundaries to avoid being ‘colorblind.’  Amen.

Tues Devo: Costs something

Hello,

I spent the last week or so reading through the life of David in 2 Samuel. While there are many things through his life to evaluate and consider (good and bad), his relatively steady heart towards approaching God is a thematic element of his life. He had a reverence for his relationship with God. He knew that it was more than just a casual thing. He knew that God was serious, and expected to be taken seriously. Towards the end of his life, David selfishly had a census taken. God sent calamity to the people including an angel who was striking down some of the people. When it was over, God told David to put up an alter to God where the angel had been. The man tried to give King David the property, but see David’s response:

2 Samuel 24:24 “However, the king said to Araunah, ‘No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing.’ So David bought the threshing floor and oxen for fifty shekels of silver” (NASB)

Yes, David was in the position because of sin – but as he righted his heart towards God, He knew that real sacrifice had to be present in this relationship.

No different today. God has done most of the sacrifice – nothing we can give up will ever compare. But we also must be approach our relationship with God in this way – desiring to participate, no matter the cost. Being unwilling to just take what comes at a surface level. In a deep manner, acting on our knowledge that God has sacrificed for us – and deserves all we have.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill