Devotion- Graced Forever

 

1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -  Epistle for January 31st “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up”              So wrote Paul to early Christians Reminding them that what is permissible             May not always be useful Paul’s words are still applicable to us As we presently live in a society Where a sense of pervading entitlement   drives the greedy will inside of us As Christians, the question on our heart              Should not be what we think we deserve But more what we think would be helpful             In incarnating God’s love into the world In the splash of baptismal water Our focus becomes outward, not inward Meeting the needs of another’s heart             Before satisfying our own desires Society’s voice keeps insisting              That we should be at the front of the line Getting all that we can while we can             Keeping all that we can for as long as we can We quietly beg to differ             Preferring  to follow another voice which calls us beloved and forgiven             undeserved, but yet cherished by God In hearing that voice             Our heart is deeply satisfied Focused on giving so that others’ hearts             May be open to God’s scandalous love A gift of identity which              No one and no thing can change Once that identity is claimed             It marks one graced forever+ A Devotion By Rev. Donald Shaefer, Northern Region Mission Engagement Facilitator

Devotion- Time of Waiting

 

2 Peter 3:8-15 If there is one thing That all people don’t do well It is using time wisely  While having to wait From our first breath to our last We are creatures in motion Physically or emotionally always  Moving from what was to what is Patience in a time of waiting  Does not come gracefully As we wait for something to begin Or for something else to end The first Christians were impatient too Their lives anxiously anticipating  That Jesus would soon return in glory So they wondered about the delay Peter acknowledged their anxiety But invited  them to use their time For continued growth in their faith And having peace in their hearts There is likewise a part of our heart That also expects God to act To change  someone or to fix something We too often grow impatiently weary Peace comes when we let God be God Simply content in the divine love for us And  boldly trusting that its Spirit is still at work In us and through us While we wait, we use our time wisely Using who we are and what we have To incarnate the gospel hope In a restlessly impatient world A Devotion By Rev. Donald Shaefer, Northern Region Mission Engagement Facilitator Southeastern District LCMS

ADVENT ONE- 2020

Advent 1

Liturgically, the first Sunday in Advent is the Sunday closest 

to or on The Feast of St. Andrew (November 30^th). 

This year, try something new. Begin the Advent season 

with the hymn, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, read it or sing it, 

all of the verses, but omit the refrain. It is a long hymn 

and accurately reflects the centuries long wait 

from the promise made in the garden of Eden 

until the angelic announcement to the shepherds. 

O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, Who ord’rest all things mightily;

To us the path of knowledge show, And teach us in her ways to go.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height

In ancient times didst give the Law In cloud and majesty and awe.

O come, Thou Branch of Jesse’s tree, Free them from Satan’s tyranny

That trust Thy mighty pow’r to save, And give them vict’ry o’er the grave.

O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heav’nly home;

Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery.

O come, Thou Dayspring from on High, And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

O come, Desire of nations, bind In one the hearts of all mankind;

Bid Thou our sad divisions cease, And be Thyself our King of Peace.

This year, as we tire of the struggle with the virus

 and the divisions that politics impose, 

we can more readily identify with the agony

 of our first parents when they were separated from God, 

when they lost those loving evening visits, 

when they experienced illness, thorns, pains, and guilt. 

They longed for Emmanuel, for God to be with them again. 

Pray the hymn again. Use it as your prayer in this time of trial. 

Then “Let the Amen, sound from His people again.”

This Devotion written by Journeys of Faith Contributing Writer-

 Natalie Grace Hartwig.

The Advent calendar for marking your Advent journey

 may be downloaded for free right here:

advent-calendar-2020

Devotion- The Mission Intended

1 Thessalonians 5:1-13 The house church in Corinth Begun through Paul’s efforts Had become conflicted Mistrustful divisions abounded Paul’s response does not begin With a torrent of criticism But by reciting the litany of blessings God had provided for them Grace, gifts, calling and hope None of these were earned But had been freely given Through God’s divine generosity These were the things  Paul wanted them to focus on So that they might faithfully fulfill The mission God intended Our congregations may be struggling now As was the one in Corinth In this restlessly divisive time Disagreements are many Since it is always easier to tear down Than to build up We sometimes lose sight  Of what unites us as Christians The outstretched hands   Of an outstandingly gracious God Have likewise presented us with Grace, gifts, calling and hope These things likewise shape our faith Moving us beyond division Toward unity in serving A higher purpose than our own Living as God’s Advent people We are encouraged by grace So that we may use what God has richly provided To present a lively hope to the world A Devotion By Rev. Donald Shaefer, Northern Region Mission Engagement Facilitator