ALIENS Part Two - Fellow Citizens

Ephesians 2:11-20 ¹¹Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)—¹²remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. ¹³But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. ¹⁷He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. ¹⁹Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, ²⁰built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

Many years ago, my family was part of a community-wide church membership exchange.  We were invited to a local Catholic church as guests for one Sunday, and a family from that congregation took our place in our church for that day.  We were given a cordial welcome; nevertheless, we still had the sensation of feeling like foreigners.  Although the service was vastly different in many respects, our common thread was to worship God and bring glory and honor to Him.

The focus of today’s text seems to be salvation for all on a local level.  In what ways do we welcome others to our church family?  Perhaps more importantly, do we actively seek out ways to bring others to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ so that they, too, might become part of God’s family?

Gracious Heavenly Father, our LORD God Almighty,

Thank you that we who were once far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

In the Name of Jesus Christ, our LORD and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotion ALIENS Part Two - Fellow Citizens was originally written for Saturday, March 27, 2010; for Maranatha Devotional Guide, an Advent Christian Publication https://acgc.us   As the original author of this devotion, I reserve the right to update and share it on my current devotional blog Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

ALIENS Part One - All Nations

Isaiah 56:3-8  ³Let no foreigner who is bound to the LORD say, “The LORD will surely exclude me from his people.” And let no eunuch complain, “I am only a dry tree.” ⁴For this is what the LORD says: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what  pleases me and hold fast to my covenant—⁵to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will endure forever. ⁶And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant—⁷these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” ⁸The Sovereign LORD declares—he who gathers the exiles of Israel: “I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered.”

On a recent vacation to Nova Scotia, what a thrill to stay with hosts who went “above and beyond” to welcome my family.  One of our hosts went so far as to research our local cuisine and provide a breakfast of huevos rancheros (eggs with homemade salsa) to make us feel “at home in a foreign country.”

This weekend our next three texts will focus on the fact that we are all foreigners or aliens in need of God’s gracious gift of salvation offered to all.  On a world-wide level, our text explains that God’s House is a house of prayer “for all nations.” All who serve, love, worship, and keep His commands are welcome in His House.  Take time to pray for those in our denomination who are actively serving in foreign missions.

Gracious Heavenly Father, our LORD God Almighty,

Help us to choose what pleases You. May all that we think, all that we say, all that we do be something that brings honor and glory to You. Thank you for the privilege for coming to you in prayer.

In the Name of Jesus Christ, our LORD and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotion ALIENS Part One - All Nations was originally written for Friday, March 26, 2010; for Maranatha Devotional Guide, an Advent Christian Publication https://acgc.us   As the original author of this devotion, I reserve the right to update and share it on my current devotional blog Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

But Now, for a Brief Moment...

Ezra 9:5-11, 15  ⁵Then, at the evening sacrifice, I rose from my self-abasement, with my tunic and cloak torn, and fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the LORD my God ⁶and prayed: “I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to you, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens. ⁷From the days of our ancestors until now, our guilt has been great. Because of our sins, we and our priests have been subjected to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation at the hand of foreign kings, as it is today. ⁸But now, for a brief moment, the LORD our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage. ⁹Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia: He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem. ¹⁰But now, our God, what can we say after this? For we have forsaken the commands ¹¹you gave through your servants the prophets when you said: ‘The land you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the corruption of its peoples. By their detestable practices they have filled it with their impurity from one end to the other.’ ... ¹⁵“LORD, the God of Israel, you are righteous! We are left this day as a remnant. here we are before you in our guilt, though because of it not one of us can stand in your presence.”

How easy it is to become overwhelmed with minor distractions and disappointments in life!  An unkind word (or even the perception of another’s disapproval) can weigh heavily on our minds, leading us into depression if unchecked.  Scripture reminds us to keep our thoughts focused on those things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy (c.f., Philippians 4:8).  To do this, we must pause for a brief moment –to realize that God remains in control.

In today’s scripture, the focus is on sin.  Far more overwhelming than mere distractions and disappointments, sin is “higher than our heads,” and guilt “reaches to the heavens.”  Yet Ezra realized that even in this dark time, “but now, for a brief moment,” God will bring relief to those who call upon Him.

Gracious Heavenly Father, our LORD God Almighty,

Thank you that a lifetime of sin or grief can be lifted in “just a moment” of forgiveness—freeing the rest of our lives to focus on You!

In the Name of Jesus Christ, our LORD and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotion But Now, for a Brief Moment was originally written for Sunday, September 20, 2009; for Maranatha Devotional Guide, an Advent Christian Publication https://acgc.us  As the original author of this devotion, I reserve the right to update and share it on my current devotional blog Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Love is SELF-CONTROL

Galatians 5:22-26 (NET)  ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love: joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NET)  For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.

James 1:19-20 (NET)  ¹⁹Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. ²⁰For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.

Proverbs 22:24-25 (NET)  ²⁴Do not make friends with an angry person, and do not associate with a wrathful person, ²⁵lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

Proverbs 29:11 (NET)  A fool lets fly with all his temper, but a wise person keeps it back.

Perhaps nothing so quickly destroys the concept of love than a person who acts rashly, impulsively, or is totally out of control. We are imperfect people, but we are blessed to have the Spirit of a perfect God dwelling with us and in us and through us. In our moments of heated temper or impulsivity, it is God who teaches us self-control. Demonstrating self-control in the midst of adverse situations might be the only billboard of love some folk will ever see. When we practice self-control (e.g., in the grocery check-out line, at the traffic light, in the restaurant, at work, at school, in the neighborhood, etc.), we demonstrate God’s love to others.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

Practicing self-control is often challenging for us living in the midst of a self-centered world. Forgive our failings. Remind us that you have provided us with a Spirit of love and self-control. Help us demonstrate your love to others.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

The devotional  Love is SELF-CONTROL appeared first on

Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scriptures quotations marked NET are taken from the New English Translation Bible^® http://netbible.com copyright © 1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Love is GENTLENESS

Galatians 5:22-26 (NET)  ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love: joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another.

We could say much about gentleness from the perspective of being kind or generous. Another  definition of gentle, now seeming to be archaic, is the reference to having the qualities of someone of good birth, or a refined person. Gentleness also encompasses a mild or moderate disposition. Yet my reputation for seeking something unusual prompts me again today. There is one other use of the word gentle that suggests something that is easily tamed or handled well.

James 1:26 (NET)  If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.

James 3:5-6 (NET)  ⁵So too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze. ⁶And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies.

James 3:7-10 (NIV)  ⁷All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

Psalm 141 3-4 (NIV)  ³Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. ⁴Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil.

Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)  A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 29:20 (NIV)  Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them.

God’s Word is abundantly clear. If we expect to demonstrate love to others through gentleness; perhaps we first need to put a check on the words coming out of our mouth. Not only the specific words used, but also the attitude and expressions accompanying those words! Sarcasm does not promote love. Tongue-in-cheek does not promote love. Coarse joking or coarse talk does not promote love. Using the Lord’s name in vain, or for that matter any other type of explicative, does not promote love. Gentleness that demonstrates love will tame and handle well its speech.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

With the Psalmist we ask you to set a guard over our mouth. Let our words demonstrate a gentle and loving spirit to others.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

The devotional  Love is GENTLENESS appeared first on

Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scriptures quotations marked NET are taken from the New English Translation Bible^® http://netbible.com copyright © 1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Love is FAITHFULNESS

Galatians 5:22-26 (NET)  ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love: joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another.

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NET)  ²²The LORD’s loyal kindness never ceases; his compassions never end. ²³They are fresh every morning; your faithfulness is abundant!

Proverbs 3:3-4 (NIV)  ³Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. ⁴Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

We understand God’s promise of faithfulness to us. He will never abandon us, nor will His love and kindness towards us cease. His compassion for his creation is fresh and new with each day.

There is another element strongly connected to faithfulness and that is trust. Again, we can fully trust God’s faithfulness to us.  Perhaps the greater question is how much God can trust (i.e., depend upon) our faithfulness to HIM. When times are good and life rolls along smoothly, we say we love God and we trust him. We sing songs and choruses of praise. When life is good, we are faithful.

What about during the rough patches of life? Are we just as fresh and eager to love God and trust his care? How faithful are we in the midst of the lure and pull of the world’s ways? When confrontation or harsh words target Christians, do we stand for our beliefs or do we fade into the background hoping it will all go away soon? Furthermore, if the world’s scare tactics cause us to fade away, what does that say about the faithfulness of Christians?

Gracious Heavenly Father,

You are indeed faithful and as we acknowledge your faithfulness; we come to grips with our own lack of faithfulness to You. We claim that we trust you; help us to demonstrate that trust by being faithful even in the rough seasons of life.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

The devotional  Love is FAITHFULNESS appeared first on

Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scriptures quotations marked NET are taken from the New English Translation Bible^® http://netbible.com copyright © 1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Love is GOODNESS

Galatians 5:22-26 (NET)  ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love: joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another.

We live in a world of superlatives. The game wasn’t good, it was fantastic. Supper wasn’t good, it tasted amazing. Your dress isn’t good, it’s beautiful. Your hair isn’t good, it’s adorable. Well, you get the picture by now, I’m sure. So what does good mean? According to my favorite well-worn 1965 Websters on my desk; good is something having the proper qualities; efficient and reliable; needing no further adjustments or enhancements.

The entire first chapter of Genesis recounts God’s Creation and no less than seven times God pronounces His creation good (c.f., vs. 4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, and 31). And only in the last reference, v. 31, is the adjective very added to give the fullest sense of very good. Out of an abundance of love, God saw his creation as having the proper qualities; efficient and reliable (for sustaining life); needing no further adjustments or enhancements. God saw that whatever was conducive and productive for life in His creation was good, because He himself is good and that goodness was reflected in all of the works that He created.

How does this new understanding of goodness cause me to respond? Well, for one thing I must acknowledge that I may possess many qualities, but I find myself in prayer to make sure those are the proper qualities for a Christian to demonstrate love toward others. I’m not always the most efficient and reliable and I quickly recognize my need for improvement in those areas. My thoughts often need adjustments away from negativity and towards that which is positive; and my attitude frequently needs enhancement. Perhaps this is a somewhat silly way of analysis, but the point is I don’t have to be an amazing person, a spectacular person, an awesome person—I just need to make sure that when I reflect Christ’s love that I am good.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

When I see the love you poured into your Creation, and I further understand how that creation fell short of your goodness; I understand my own need for forgiveness. Thank you for hearing my prayer. Teach me the goodness of your ways that I might share the love of Christ with others.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

The devotional  Love is GOODNESS appeared first on

Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scriptures quotations marked NET are taken from the New English Translation Bible^® http://netbible.com copyright © 1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.