The Promise Keeper’s Love Discarded (6/25/26)

Have you ever taken someone or something for granted? The Israelites took God for granted and discarded His love. They failed to recognize and honor His greatness. They even viewed their service to Him as a burden.

Malachi 1:11-14     ¹¹ My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty.

¹² “But you profane it by saying, ‘The Lord’s table is defiled,’ and, ‘Its food is contemptible.’ ¹³ And you say, ‘What a burden!’ and you sniff at it contemptuously,” says the Lord Almighty.

“When you bring injured, lame or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?” says the Lord. ¹⁴ “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the Lord Almighty, “and my name is to be feared among the nations.

The Lord Almighty is great, deserving reverence and fear from all. How have we, like the Israelites, discarded God’s love and failed to recognize His greatness? Do we ever view time spent reading His Word or participating in service as a burden? What about giving our tithe? Do we give generously and regularly, or do we withhold it or give begrudgingly?

One day, all will recognize His greatness.

Romans 14:11         It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
    every tongue will acknowledge God.’”

One day everyone will realize God is worth any sacrifice, no matter how big or small. Let's not discard His love. Instead, let's bow before Him now by actively recognizing His love and greatness daily. As we do, we can offer Him praise and share it with others.

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Jesus is Truth – Deserving Unlimited Honor (1/25/24)

This week is spirit week at school and the kids have enjoyed dressing up as different characters. They’ve also enjoyed winning best costume! I don’t know if there is a written rule about a kid only winning once, but that seems how it’s been handled. One kid hasn’t won everything all week. I assume they want to spread the honor instead of giving it to just one kid.

Jesus deserves all the honor everyday! He’s always the best dressed! He’s dressed in holiness, righteousness and selflessness. Mary recognized His worthiness and value.

John 12:1-8  Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ² Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. ³ Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

⁴ But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, ⁵ “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” ⁶ He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

⁷ “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. ⁸ You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

I’ve read this passage numerous times and often thought of Mary as impulsively lavish with Jesus. However, this time, knowing that the dinner was planned ahead of time for Jesus’s honor, I wondered if Mary planned out her act of worship in advance. To me, that makes it even more significant! If she calculated the cost and still went ahead with her plan, she put aside her security, comfort, and reputation.

 

How about you and me? What sacrificial honor and worship will you and I intentionally give to Jesus today and this week?

A Sacrifice For Others

You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’  But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.  If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too.  If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.  Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.  Matthew 5:38-42

From many of my devotions, one would be able to gather that I have a decent sense of the civil rights challenges of the 1960s.  This became a topic this week as the last living speaker at the March on Washington from 1963, John Lewis, died over the weekend.  It was of course a somber moment, but also one to pause and reflect on the great contributions he made.  He was only 23 when he made his speech in Washington, which was a pretty good speech.  In fact, it was a great speech for such a young man, but of course, there was another speaker who would steal the show that day.  However, he would be remembered most of all for being beaten by police in a peaceful march in Selma, AL, but taking a beating was but a small piece of the story.  The beating he took was to him a small sacrifice for what he wanted; freedom for the people of his cause. And once that beating was seen across the world, it would become the catalyst that pushed the Civil Rights Bill to be passed later that year.  Would any of us be willing to take a beating for that?  We serve a God who did more than that as Jesus allowed Himself to be placed on the cross for our sins.  You see we gain far more for giving our lives for others than we would for ourselves.

In serving God, we gain far more serving Him than ourselves.  In reading today’s verses, it talked about not taking vengeance out on those who would do us harm.  But as I looked at it today, it occurred to me that this is not necessarily just about our taking vengeance into our own hands. It’s about realizing God’s plan for our lives.  It’s about the gift of grace that only He can give.  These verses don’t explicitly say it, but it is clear what the intent is.  We cannot find fulfillment in vengeance at all. However if we surrender our will to God and are willing to give rather take in those circumstances, we gain God’s favor, and our hearts become filled with His Spirit.  That explains why we feel so much better when we give rather than receive.  Our willingness to sacrifice for the benefit of others takes on a closer walk with God.  It takes our focus away from others (man) and puts it squarely on Him.  That is something we all aspire to do.

Being able to give our lives to God in all things is the true sense of life living for Him.  Jesus also said, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)  There is a reason the old hymnal goes, “Oh, what a friend we have in Jesus.”  He laid it all down for us.  All we offer in return pales in comparison, and while He certainly did not do it with an expectation of something in return, we owe it to Him to not waste the opportunity given by His willful sacrifice.  That is why I am grateful for the sacrifice of a John Lewis.  It is why we should willing give of ourselves to Christ to help those who so desperately need a savior like ours.  Let us show others the love as Jesus has shown us.  Who can you commit to give more of yourself for Him?  What areas of your life could you give more to help others?  My prayer is that we take from the example of others who came before us and give for others. Amen.

Thursday Devotional - What is Good?

Psalm 34:8-10     Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

I think we often misuse the word “good” and therefore misunderstand it when we read it in the Bible. Good isn’t based on our definition of good, but God’s definition.

When describing a person, only God is good (completely and totally perfect in moral character).  

Matthew 19:16-17a Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good.”

As Paul states:

Romans 7:18a “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.”

When describing things or situations, good is anything God deems beneficial. Good is anything that is pleasing and honoring to Him.

Genesis 1:31a “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”

Hebrews 10:1 “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming – not the realities themselves.”

For those in Christ, we truly lack no good thing (as Psalm 34:10 states) because we have all the eternal benefits provided by Jesus’ sacrifice. As you and I think about what is “good” and “bad” this coming year, let’s ask God to help us think about it from His perspective.

Alice

Starbucks Is A Love Language

Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.  2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NLT

So, a funny conversation occurred at my church over of all things … coffee.  A young lady made a Facebook post about how her wonderful fiancé had surprised her in the morning with a cup of Starbucks before heading off on a business trip.  I had to laugh at it because strangely the picture appeared to show off her and the coffee as if the coffee itself was her true love and not her fiancé.  “Starbucks is a love language?” I asked.  Before I knew it, a few of the ladies of our church joyfully chimed in saying, “lt most definitely is!”  I then knew I had to concede the point because to be honest, my wife loves her morning coffee as well!  There is nothing that brings a smile to her face faster than my bringing her coffee in the morning.  “Ooooh.  Thank you,” she says, and the glow on her face brings such warmth to my heart that I know no matter what happens later in the day, it will be alright.  It’s like a hidden love language between us.

If our relationship with Christ is a loving one, we will give generously with joy in our hearts.  Very early in my Christian life, the pastor who baptized me told me about how God loves a cheerful giver.  That thought wore on me as I thought to myself, “I have bills!  I can barely afford to make ends meet.  Where am I going to find something to give?”  Then the pastor reminded me to trust in God to provide for me when I do.  At first, I struggled.  Then slowly as God continued to bless my family, I was able to increase my giving, and one day, I found myself exceeding in my giving.  This is not to say I have not fallen off the wagon on occasion.  I have.  However, I continued to be both encouraged by and reminded of my promises to God.  Furthermore, my mind focuses on being a joyful giver.  I share this for two reasons.  First, it is to give courage to others who may have little to give to trust God a little more.  Second, it is to remind those of the joy that comes with giving.  If you are not joyful in your giving, it may be time to have a heart to heart with God.  Ask yourself, “What is in my heart?  What is it that God wants from me?  Am I expecting something from God when God is really expecting something from me?”  When asking these questions, don’t answer with a skeptical mindset that many would have.  Instead, focus on what’s in your heart and the love you have for Christ.  Then, act.

Our God is a generous God.  He gave His life freely in exchange for our sins; past, present, and future.  Furthermore, He did so without expectation.  All He provided us with is a choice.  Either follow Him or the ways of this world.  We can walk away, and live our lives knowing this.  However if we truly love Jesus and the sacrifice He Himself paid on our behalf, we will choose to follow Him.  Thus as He gave, we too will give to others not as a sacrifice but as joyful gifts honoring an unrepayable debt on our behalf.  Let us not be the ones focused on ourselves.  Let us enjoy the freedom God gave us giving freely not only to our church but also to others in need in any fashion that we can.  What is your level of giving?  What joy do you feel when giving?  My prayer is that we give in such a way that even ‘Starbucks is a love language.’  Amen.

Thursday Devotional - True Worship

I usually think of worship as something that comes from my mouth, whether I say it or sing it to God. I can praise God in prayer for His character or sing praise songs to Him. However, Paul points out that our entire lives and whole body are to be involved in worship.  

Romans 12:1-2       Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

As I was praying for my Dad that first week after his heart surgery, I wanted to know how best to help him. The surgeon had recommended a vegan diet to not just stop the rapid heart disease progression, but to hopefully reverse some of the blockage in the arteries that didn’t get stents. So, I helped make some vegan meals and decided I could join him in his new diet!

A couple different follow up doctors didn’t recommend that extreme of a diet, but did suggest an increased focus on plant-based foods. So, I haven’t kept to the original diet perfectly after that first week, but we have been much more intentional and careful about what we eat. It made me realize how difficult it is to make one small sacrifice when God has made so many sacrifices and didn’t ever quit or give up.

In addition to your and my words and songs, how else will you and I worship God with our bodies (whether it’s what we put into them, what we do with them, or what we choose not to do)?

Alice