Daily Devotions
September 2021: Dress yourself with…Kindness
Posted on Sep 1, 2021 in Announcements, Visitor Newsletter |
Dress yourself with…Kindness
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At the supermarket, the brothers would fight about which cereal she should buy. When they were home they could never agree which movie to watch. Sometimes she doubted that her two boys would ever survive their childhood together.
While they often bickered, the brothers were also fiercely loyal to each other. If another child from the neighborhood made fun of one of them, the other was sure to come to his defense. It baffled their mother!
How could they quarrel so, yet a short time later seek to protect their would-be rival? Blood truly must be thicker than water!
This scenario is a reality for many of us. Sibling rivalry, it seems, is universal. And for the most part, defense of one’s own family is equally universal. Playground conversations usually prove this true.
God has another scenario he wants us to follow. He encourages us in the
Bible to treat all people as though they were family. “Make every effort to add to your faith … brotherly kindness” (2 Peter 1:5,7).
There are dozens of things that make each of us different from everyone else in the world. They include where we live, the color of our eyes, our talents, the size of our paycheck, and so on.
Even though we enjoy associating with people who are like us, God wants us to treat everyone the way we would treat an idolized brother or sweet sister. After all, God’s love prompted him to send his Son, so that everyone who believes in him has life in his name.
Blood is not always thicker than water.
Every person who is made a child of God through his Word and the water of baptism also becomes our brother or sister in Christ. They are family.
Why don’t you stop by for a visit at church some weekend and meet some of your spiritual family?
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July 2021: Our God is…Faithful
Posted on Jul 3, 2021 in Announcements, Visitor Newsletter |
Our God is…Faithful
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The headline read: “Faithful guard dog unfaithful.” The story provided the details. A store owner was robbed. The wily thief tested the guard dog’s faithfulness with a juicy steak, and the dog failed the test.
Faithfulness is questionable in pets and humans. “Dog bites child.” “Spouse deserts partner.” “Employee accepts rival company offer.” “Cat destroys owner’s furniture.”
Is anyone trustworthy? Is anyone ever completely faithful to his word?
The Bible says, “God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9).
God’s faithfulness can be seen in his daily preservation of the world. He makes grass grow and trees bud. He sends sunshine and rain. He provides plants and animals as food to keep us alive. He even does all this without our asking.
God is faithful to his promise: “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease” (Genesis 8:22).
God’s faithfulness is what comforts us when we are feeling guilty. He promises that he forgives us because of what Jesus did to rescue us from our sins.
God’s faithfulness is what comforts us when we are afraid of death. He promises us eternal life because Jesus defeated death when he rose from the grave.
Whatever you are facing or afraid of, you can take comfort in God’s promises because he is always faithful.
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June 2021:Our God is…All-Knowing
Posted on Jun 1, 2021 in Announcements, Visitor Newsletter |
Our God is…All-Knowing
Mr. Know-it-all has bad manners. You start to say, “The Mariners have a good chance to win it all this year because….” Mr. Know-it-all butts in, proclaiming loudly, “But their veterans get too tired, and they don’t have a home run hitter.”
You can’t have a normal conversation with Mr. Know-it-all. He wants to interrupt every sentence.
We don’t like know-it-alls. We realize that one person cannot be an expert in every subject. Nobody can know it all.
There is someone who does know it all! Jesus’ disciple Peter said to him, “Lord, you know all things” (John 21:17).
Wasn’t Jesus a man just like us? How could he know all things? Peter understood. Peter was talking to Jesus after his resurrection. Can an ordinary person do that? How could Jesus rise from the grave after the brutal treatment he endured?
Peter knew. Jesus is true God and true man. As God, he knows all things.
Does that comfort you or terrify you? Peter felt terrified that Jesus knew he had denied him three times. Peter longed for comfort. Jesus also knew how to forgive. He knew his death paid for Peter’s sins.
Jesus truly knows every evil thought that comes from our hearts. He knows every secret sin that burdens our conscience. He has the knowledge that can damn us.
Jesus also knows that he came to rescue us from that punishment.
Thank God if you can say with Peter, “Lord, you know all things, you know that I love you” (John 21:17).
We invite you to gain more knowledge about your Savior. Our church offers free classes for every ability and background.
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