Marks of Methodism: Love Others

When I was younger, one of my favorite books was Love You Forever by Robert S. Munsch. The story is told about a mother’s unconditional and unending love for her son, through his two year old trials to his adult antics. No matter what her son did, she rocked him and sang a song: “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be.” In the end of the book, as the mother is dying the roles are reversed; the son holds her and sings her song back to the old woman. “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you forever, as long as I’m living, my mommy you’ll be.”

Reflecting back over the years on why I liked this book so much, I’ve realized that there is something pure about how this book describes love. In a culture that often substitutes the word “love” for “like”, this book showed what love is. What love looks like, even in the difficult times. This is not an “I love pizza” type of situation. This book demonstrated what the type of love in today’s scripture passage is - agape - the type of love that gives without expecting anything in return, sacrificial love at its best. The type of love that stands as a reminder that all things are rooted in love, find their beginning in love, are perfected in love, and are returned in love. In other words, the hard type of love. 

The questions for us, as followers of Christ, are:
how are we demonstrating God's love 
and to whom are we we showing this love?
Because if its just to folks who are like us or who like us, then we've missed the point. 
How are we showing, with our words and actions, the love of the Savior?

Marks of Methodism: Love Others Devo

November 25th, 2018

Devotional

“Marks of Methodism: Love Others” -

    1 John 4: 7-21

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Love is from God” - 1 John 4: 7-10

  Today’s passage is not admonishing a simple romantic understanding of love. No, this is loving through all times and situations. Love that is a choice that is beyond our emotional draw. This is the type of love that God has for us, no matter how we stray or who we demand God to be. Have you ever noticed that the attributes that people ascribe to God tell you a lot about who they want God to be in their life at that moment? Sometimes people around us claim that God is the great healer, often when they are in need of deep healing in their own lives or their loved ones. Sometimes people proclaim that God is ordered, when their life feels like it is swimming in chaos. But the author of 1 John cut through all of these other attributes that God posses to say that God is agape, love. Here he is taking a Greek word rarely used in everyday conversation and claiming it for the Christian community - God is love because God has acted in immeasurable love through Jesus Christ.

Have you ever pondered how uncontrollable love is? It is radical when we love those whom others deem to be unlovable. It is creative in expressing itself, especially when love goes beyond the bounds of an emotion and becomes an action. It is self-giving, open, and fluid. It is so much more than we could ever try to define it to be - just like the essence of God. God is bigger than our definitions, just as God’s love is bigger than any of our explanations.

How are a life of discipleship and connected?

Prayer: God, we thank you for the love you have shown to us in Jesus Christ. The love that will not let us go. The love that you showed for us even when we were far off. Let this love so take root in our lives that we cannot help but share it in the name of the Christ. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Love God and Love One Another ” -1 John 4: 7, 11-12

Have any of you ever heard of Gary Chapman? Or perhaps of his famous book, The Five Love Languages? The basis premise of Chapman’s work, which takes on many different forms, is that often we do not appreciate the love that others have to offer because we cannot recognize it. A few years ago Chapman expanded his research and writing into the area of God’s love for us in the book The Love Languages of God: How to Feel and Reflect Divine Love. In his previous writing about human relationships, Chapman supposed that most of us really only communicate love to another person one or two ways, with one being our primary form of expressing love. We, as human beings, like to receive love in the same ways that we most express it, in other words we stick inside of our love comfort zone. But in the Love Languages of God,  Chapman reminds readers that God is not limited in the expression of Divine love. In fact, God can express love in a myriad of ways simultaneously. God can speak words of affirmation to us through prayer. God spends quality time with us. God has lavished gifts upon us. God has sacrificially acted on our behalf. And God wraps us in the comfort of Divine presence, just to name a few. God can express love in countless ways, because God is the only being who is love. Love in its most unadulterated form. Love beyond measure or qualification. God’s love is perfect.

  This passage, however, does start out by telling us to love God, the great lover of all. It starts out by tellings us to love one another, because love is of God. It tells us to love one another as a testimony to how God has loved us in the past and will continue to love us in the future. 

How does the love of God in your life lead your outward expressions of your faith?

Prayer: Lord, we know that the love you have for us is the love you have for the world. It is the love that led you to give your life on the cross that whoever believes in you may find true Life. Lord, may we share this love with open hearts and open lives so that others may come to know the love of the Savior. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Abide and Love” - 1 John 4: 13-16

Love is what we are universally striving for as humans. No one wants to go through life without feeling loved. If any of us should understand love, even a little bit, it would be Christians, because God demonstrated Divine love for us in the ultimate way. The way that we celebrate each and every single time we come to the communion table. But we are not called to just say that we love God, we are to act like it by loving our neighbor, even when it seems the hardest or we simply do not feel like it. Love is not simply an ideal for us, or even a fruit, it is a relationship. 

Who do you feel to share the love of God with this week through word and action?

Prayer: Lord, help us to listen to your all in our lives. The call to love. May we so posture ourselves in prayer, that we seek your wisdom and guidance in how we live our days in a way that reflects your love. Amen. 

Thursday: “We Love Because He Loves” - 1 John 4: 17-19

  Do you know someone in your life who is yearning to feel loved? Needing to hear that God loves them and that then seeing that demonstrated by your attitude and actions towards them? Can you see yourself inviting them to this church as a place to experience love? I hope that this is a church where you can invite people to feel the love of God and neighbor, authentically. I hope that you can find a way in your daily living to let people see the love of God in you, so it can be revealing of the nature of God to them. For those who love God, must also love their brothers and sisters.

How are you feeling a particular call to reach out in love?

Prayer: Lord, give us hearts of reflection this day to examine the blind spots in our lives. The places where we could love better. Where we could love with more boldness. Lord remind us that this gift of love that we offer is first and foremost the fruit of your love working in our lives. Amen. 

Friday: “Liars or Lovers” - 1 John 4:20-21

  For a few years I attended a church where people went around proclaiming that they loved Jesus. Which was all well and good, except for the fact that they didn’t act like they loved each other. In fact, they didn’t even act like they could tolerate, let alone like or love, the other believers in their community. It was an extremely disparaging situation, and the church stagnated, wondering why it was not growing. Slowly but surely they started to realize that loving God requires is to love others. They are not two separate things. There is no way that we can love God who is unseen, without loving our neighbor who is right in front of us. 

Loving each other is difficult. Especially if we think that loving each other means that we are emotionally drawn to one another or that we even like each other all the time. We live in a world that likes to keep us divided by our race, gender, economic status, and social location among other things, and becomes a restless place when we practice true love, through action, that transcends these barriers. The kind of love that God models for us and has offered us through grace, is transformative for our relationships and our culture. In fact, those who say that they love God, but say that they hate their brother or sisters are liars.

How can you love even we you do not feel like it?

How do you rely on God’s grace and the Holy Spirit’s guidance to love others?

Prayer: Lord, we confess that we are an imperfect people who do not always get love right. At times we forget why we love others in the first place. Renew in us a spirit of love so that we can testify for your Kingdom. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “The Women of Christmas: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent” - Luke 1: 19-25

Family Activity: Think of some people you know who you could show God’s love to. How can you let them know that God loves them?

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: 1 John 4: 7-21

From the Sermon:

Love of _____ and love of ___________ are deeply connected.

The way we love, who we love, should say a lot more about _______ than it does about ___.

This command that God gave us to love others, is one that we strive after by God’s _____ alone, trusting in the ___________ to lead up and equip us for the mission.

We love because we are _________.

Reflection Questions:

How are you called to love in the world?

Why do we love one another?

Prayer:

 Lord, we join our brothers and sisters in Christ praying that you would open our eyes and hearts this day to what do you want to do in the world today that we can help you with. Whatever task is ours, give us the strength to do. Whoever you are calling us to love, in ways great and small, may you equip us and lead us to do so. Use us we pray. Amen. 

Marks of Methodism: Give Thanks

     Recently, in Bible Study, we were singing a hymn about giving thanks, to which I commented, "what a great Thanksgiving song!" But throughout the day, the words of this particular hymn would not leave me alone. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that it wasn't a Thanksgiving Hymn, it was a hymn about giving thanks, which we do year round.
     I think the more pertinent questions perhaps is how and when we give thanks. Do we actually take time to say "thank you God for ________" when we have been blessed or "thank you God for your abiding presence" when life is hard. We give thanks at all times and in all places, not just by our words in prayer, but by how we act with our lives.
    May we be people who are thankful beyond the holiday season, with our lips and our lives.

Giving Thanks Devo

November 18th, 2018

Devotional

“Marks of Methodism: Giving Thanks” -

1 Thes 5:16-19 and 2 Cor 9:10-15

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Rejoice and Pray” - 1 Thes. 5:16-17

  To rejoice always, and pray without ceasing. What does that look like with flesh on it? I’ve recounted the story before of Brother Lawrence before in sermons - Brother Lawrence who wanted to join a monetary, only some of the other brothers didn’t particularly want him there so they gave him the hardest, messiest job in hopes that he would quit - washing all of the dishes. Think about the piles of dishes he must have faced after every meal - from cooking and feeding that many men. But a funny thing happened - Brother Lawrence took this job that no one else would want, and which was intended to drive him away, and instead made it into an opportunity to pray without ceasing. As he tackled those piles of dishes several times a day, every day, he took it to be an opportunity to talk with God in prayer. It became his own personal time of worship where he could grow with God.

What I love about the story of Brother Lawrence, is that he took what others intended to force his hand and instead turned it into his own personal time of prayer, worship, and rejoicing. My hope and prayer this week as we reflect on these particular scriptures is that this can be true in our own lives as well. 

What does rejoicing look like in your life?

Prayer: God, we thank you that whatever we may face throughout our days, that we know that we can turn to you in prayer. Make us ever aware this week of your abiding presence as we seek to draw closer to you. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Give Thanks” -1 Thes. 5: 18

We don’t often think about it this way, but prayer is an act of worship, both privately and publicly. In prayer, we worship God by praising and thanking God - or in the words of 1 Thessalonians - giving thanks in all circumstances. But that doesn’t make such an act easy.

In fact, thanking God in all circumstances can be seen as a radical act of hope and faith. Especially when it appears that things are not going well. There are going to be times in each of our lives when we may find it difficult to give thanks - times when we face heartache and sorrow. And yet, as people of faith, we believe that even during these times we can thank God. Perhaps we cannot thank God for the circumstances of what we face, but we can certainly thank God for going through the wilderness with us. For being the rock upon which we can lean. We can give thanks because of who are God is and the relationship we have with our Lord and Savior. 

When have you found it difficult to give thanks?

Prayer: Lord, we admit that at times we buy into the lies of the world when we are facing difficult times. Lies that you are distant or not trustworthy. Help us to reject those notions and instead put our hope and trust in you - in days of joy and in days of sorrow. Help us lean into your grace, we pray. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Supplied” - 2 Cor 9: 10

The old adage says “You reap what you sow”, but did you realize that was a Biblical concept well before it was a cultural phrase? In today’s scripture lesson the Apostle Paul is speaking to the Church in Corinth about sowing and reaping for the bounty of the Kingdom. A few versos before today’s verse in 2 Corinthians, chapter 9, we find that very teaching. 

Whether we realize it or not, we are all investing in something. Investing in daily living. Retirement. Our family’s future. And what we invest in is determined by what lens we we view the world from. Aren’t sure what your lens is: what is the first thing you think of when I say the word “money”? Spending? Saving? On what? For whom? 

Paul is telling the Church that each of us needs to decide what exactly we are going to invest in - what exactly we want to be a part of. It has to be a willful decision, not one that we make only when we have to or half-heartedly. Paul is essentially asking the people in Corinth, and us today, what we are going to sow - God’s word, or something else? And reminding us, that if we do choose to invest in God, who is the supplier of the seed we need to sow, then there will be an increase in the harvest of righteousness. 

How does the concept of God being the provider of what we sow influence your life?

Prayer: Lord, sometimes we are a forgetful people. We forget that you have supplied us with all we need. We forget the ministry that you have called us to. Renew in us the Word of Truth and the path of discipleship so we may make your Way known. Amen. 

Thursday: “Produce Thanksgiving” - 2 Cor 9: 11-12

  A little background - Paul is writing this section of 2nd Corinthians as a thank you to the people in the Corinth Church for investing in another Church he ministered to, people they would never meet in this life time. It’s an odd way to say thank you for your generosity isn’t it - or is it? Paul is trying to affirm the choice the Church has made to sow generously so that other’s may come to know the message of Christ. 

Remember the situation in the Roman world during this time. The vast majority, over eighty percent, of folks during the New Testament Era would have been considered poor by their own standards, let alone ours. In order for the Church in Corinth to give to Paul for the sake of the gospel message in this magnitude they had to be generous and make sacrifices. So Paul is thanking the Corinthians for their generosity so people could come to believe in another city. He is trying to use this moment to teach them that God used them to meet the needs of another group of people, and that God will meet their needs as well. It is God’s desire to meet the needs of God’s people - but the first step is trust.

But Paul also wants them to remember that which they give produces much for the harvest. It produces thanksgiving - a thankful heart for both what God has blessed them with a thankful spirit in those who will receive. 

  What causes you to be thankful? What produces thanksgiving in your own life?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for so much. For that which you have blessed us with. With the ability to share your abundance. For the call to share your Word. And we also thank you for the fruit which your blessings will produce and reproduce in this world. May we have postures of gratitude and thankful hearts so that others may come to know the One we are thankful for. Amen. 

Friday: “Thanks be to God” - 2 Cor 9: 13-15

  The truth is that prayer and thanksgiving should be intertwined in our lives. I shared this week that John Wesley took one day a week for intentional prayer to give thanks to God for all the ways God showed up during the week - the ways God provided. The ways God was present. Now do I think that Wesley didn’t thank God the other six days of the week? Absolutely not! But I think by taking this intentional time, he was hoping to look back on the things he may have misperceived or glossed over. 

This past week I was visiting one of our shut ins who was working on a project of thanksgiving. Not a craft for Thanksgiving Day, but filling a book of prayers with all that she is grateful for. Why? Because saying thanks changes our heart and attunes our spiritual eye. 

What are you most grateful for these days? My guess is that if we each actually sat down and reflected upon that question we, too, could fill up pages and pages. But the real question is how that gratitude for the abundance of blessings, some of which we probably never took time to consider before, lead us to live our lives different. Lead for us to pray differently. To come into God’s presence, not demanding something, but simply because we are grateful. 

How are thanksgiving and prayer connected in your life?

Prayer: Lord, we come before you this day with a heart of gratitude. A spirit that wants to thank you, O Lord, not just for all that we have received, but also simply for being who you are in our lives. Let our hearts sing your praise so that others may know of you and your love. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Marks of Methodism: Loves Others” - 1st John 4: 20

Family Activity: Make a list of things you can thank God for. Take time in prayer to thank God and ask God to help you see every day more things to praise God for. 

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: 1 These 5:16-19

2 Cor 9:10-15

From the Sermon:

____________ is not something contained to the month of November. 

Giving thanks in all circumstances is not the same as being _______ in all circumstances.

We give thanks only by God’s ______ and God’s ______. 

Reflection Questions:

How can we give thanks in all circumstances?

What does God’s redemption look like in your life?

Prayer:

Lord, we thank you that we can thank you. We thank you, O Lord, that you are the source and root of our gratitude as well as the One that we are thankful for. Open our spirits to be more attentive to your moving in our lives so we can give you thanks and praise. In the most powerful name of Jesus. Amen. 

“Marks of Methodism: Pray Continually”

    Some of my favorite passages in scripture are those that talk about Jesus going away to just be in prayer with God. Often they are found in the Gospels after rather exhausting stretches of ministry, or just a time when he needs to commune with the Father. They tell of him going off to a quiet place to be in prayer. Why? Because Jesus needed to spend time communicating with the One who loves him most.
    We, too, need to spend time with the Lover of Our Souls, in prayer. Not just prayer where we speak a whole lot, but time to listen as well and respond. Recently, in Bible Study, we were talking about how the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. One person made the comment that this is perhaps because as the Church we have lost our first love, the love of the Lord and love of our neighbor, which I think could certainly be true. But I also think that we spend a whole lot of time in prayer talking about what we need instead of asking where God needs us. Actually listening for the heart of God. When we do not listen it becomes so very difficult to respond to the will of God.
   Jesus prayed to spend time with God. He prayed to listen to God. But then he also responded by making it known what he heard. May our prayer lives be modeled after his - as we continue to grow closer to God.

Marks Of Methodism: Pray Continually Devo

November 11th, 2018

Devotional

“Marks of Methodism: Pray Continually” -

John 15: 1-17 and 1 Timothy 2:1

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “This is My Commandment” - John 15: 1-12

 There’s a lot written in scripture about commandments. There are over six-hundred laws in the Old Testament. We have the Ten Commandments that speak about how are are to honor God and one another. When Jesus is asked about what the greatest commandment is he actually gives a two part answer - love God with all you are and all you have and love your neighbor as yourself.

 Today Jesus again talks about commandments, saying that this is his commandment that we love one another as Jesus has loved us. It’s not often that Jesus talks specifically about his commandment, usually he refers to the commandments of God. But Christ is teaching his disciples about what is important, especially those truths that will be important after he leaves their presence and love is at the top of the list.

 I think sometimes we like to see ourselves as a loving people, but that may not be how other people see us. In other words we may think that we are a loving church, but can those outside of our community of faith see our love in action? Can they say that we love like Christ? 

 What does loving like Christ loved look like to you?

Prayer: God, at times it is hard for us to wrap our minds around the love of Jesus Christ. We like to talk about his love, and we know it in our heads, but sometimes its hard for us to wrap our hearts around and even harder for us to show to others. Help us to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this world, sharing his love with all we meet. Amen. 

Tuesday: “You are my Friends ” - John 15: 13-14

 It is not unusual to find the words of John 15:13 written on military grave sites, especially those who died in action, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” But these words of Jesus can also be a stumbling block as we come up with a very short list of those who we would actually give up our lives for.

 We have to remember that Jesus is using these words to teach his disciples. At this point he knows that he is going to die, but they don’t understand. Later on, they will claim that they will stick by Jesus’s side only to (mostly) flee. But Jesus also knew that some of them would lay down their very lives for the Gospel Message. Peter would be martyred. Andrew, Thomas, Philip, Matthew, Bartholomew, James, Simon, Matthias, and John were also killed by various means for the Gospel Message. 

 We may not be able to say right here and now what we would be willing to give our lives for. The disciples certainly would have said that they would give their lives for Jesus, but their actions at the cross didn’t show it. However, later on they were able to live into their faith in this way.

 Who are you willing to die for? Why?

 What do you think changed for the disciples from the time of the cross to giving their lives for the Gospel?

Prayer: Lord, we aren’t so sure that we would be willing to die for others. In fact, we aren’t so sure we would be willing to die for you at times. Show us, O Lord, what sacrifice looks like in our daily lives and strengthen us to boldly live into our faith for you. Amen. 

Wednesday: “ Not Servants” - John 15: 15

 In Greco-Roman society the word friend was used a lot, but it didn’t hold the same meaning as it does today. Remember in the trial of Jesus where the crowds cry out about being a friend of Caesar? They weren’t saying that they were literal friends of Caesar; in fact, he probably didn’t even know their names. Friendship was seen as a relationship where one party gave to another party - more like servanthood then that of reciprocity. 

 Yet, Jesus turned that understanding of friendship around with this passage of scripture. He was essentially saying that he did not consider them servants, or the type of servants that the world would use the word ‘friend’ for. Instead, they were true friends. Friends who know what Jesus is doing and why he is doing it. Friends who have a choice as to whether they want to work for the Kingdom of God and be affiliated with his Messiahship.

 We, too, have choices. We have the choice if we accept the love of Christ in our lives. We have a choice about how we show that love we have for Jesus in the world. We have a choice another whether we are really about the work of the Kingdom of God or the work of the world. Jesus does not force us into relationship with him, but rather issues and invitation, and waits for our response. 

 How did you come to  know the love of the Savior?

Prayer: Lord, sometimes we think that we are forced to be in a relationship with you. We begrudge what you ask of us. We act as if our faith is more of a burden then a blessing. Forgive us, Lord. Help us understand the choice that you have given us and help us to share the story of that loving invitation with others. Amen. 

Thursday: “I Chose You” - John 15: 16

 Sometimes we get so caught up in the choices that Christ gives us, specifically the choice to say ‘yes’ to faith in him, that we forget that he chose us first. We did not seek out Christ, brothers and sisters. Christ sought us out. Christ died for us. And Christ did all of that while we are still sinners.

 We cannot make other people choose the love of Jesus in their lives. We cannot make people say ‘yes’ to Christ, as much as we may want to. But we can control how we share that love with the world. We can make the choice to bear fruit for the Kingdom of God and make the story of how God changed our lives known. 

 What does bearing fruit for the Kingdom of God look like in your life?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you that you choose us, even when we were far from you. We thank you that you invite us to be part of your Kingdom sized mission of grace and mercy. We thank you that you equip us to bear fruit in your name. Use us in a mighty way, we pray. Amen. 

Friday: “Love One Another” - John 15:17

 Have you ever noticed that its easier to love people that you like more than those you don’t care for? And that even sometimes loving people that we like is hard. But Jesus is telling us that once we consider ourselves friends of Christ, once we join in to be part of the mission of God, loving other people is not optional. We don’t get to pick and choose who we like enough to share the love of Christ with, because God loves the whole world. God send Christ so the whole world would have the choice to accept the gift of salvation or not. It is not up to us to decide who is worthy of hearing that message that we share in Christ’s name. May we love one another. Not just those who we like. Not just those who are already part of our churches. Not just those we know. But all people for the sake of the mission of Jesus. 

 What does love mean to you? How do you share this love with other people?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for inviting us to be part of something that is bigger then ourselves and who we like or don’t like. Thank you for entrusting us to share your love with all whom we meet. Equip us for the task ahead. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Marks of Methodism: Gives Thanks” - 2nd Cor 9:15

Family Activity: Think of ways that you pray. When do you pray as a family? How do you connect best with God?

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: John 15:  1-17

              1 Tim 2:1

From the Sermon:

“I am the only way that you can  ___________”

Discipleship isn’t about regulation or religion, it is about continuing this _________ with Christ.

We can cut ourselves off from God __________ and ____________.

Sometimes people intentionally cut themselves off from God either because they think God does not ________ or because they fail to _________ themselves. 

When we look at prayer as a ___________ - I tell God what I want and then God gives it to me -  it becomes really easy to cut God off.

Prayer was never intended to be a _________ conversation.

Reflection Questions:

What are some of the ways that we cut off communication with God?

How do you pray?

Prayer:

Lord, we want to be connected to the vine. We want to bear fruit for you and your Kingdom. But we confess that often we have made this connection, especially through prayer, something that it is not. We have made it about us instead of spending time with you. Renew in us a spirit that yearns to be with you, to listen and to respond, most Holy Lord. Amen. 

“Marks of Methodism: Loving God and Rejoicing in God”

     We said this week that discipleship is a whole life response to the love of God. But the truth is, often, we try to limit that response by saying that discipleship needs to look like "this" or is only for "that" place. Whatever the this or that may be for you, however you may try to put limits on discipleship, the truth is that when we limit our repose to God, we are missing out. We miss out on what God is doing and what God will continue to do.
     When we are reconciled with God, our heart should yearn for the heart of God. We should desire what God desires.
     For too many folks, they have accepted Christ as their Savior, but not as their Lord. They don't let him use their lives. They don't continue on in discipleship. Friends, profession of faith is a start, not an end. Let us pray this week that we allow God to have all of who we are, as disciples.

“Marks of Methodism: Loving God and Rejoicing in God” Devo

November 4th, 2018

Devotional

“Marks of Methodism: Loving God and Rejoicing in God” -

Matt 22: 36-38, John 21: 15-19, Neh 8: 10

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Love” - Matthew 22: 36-38

 Jesus was asked what the greatest commands was in the law of God - and Jesus gave two different ones that are related, love God with all you are and all you have and love your neighbor as yourself. This seems to be what Jesus is pointing his followers to, both those who walked this earth with him and us today, to love.

 But love isn’t easy. Sometimes our love of God gets displaced by the love of other people and things. Sometimes we don’t quite now how to express or show our love to God. Sometimes it may be difficult to feel the love of God, yet that is what the Lord commanded. To keep pointing our lives back to God, to keep returning our hearts to God, even when we slip into sin. Let us intentionally do this in the days and weeks to come. 

 What is one way that you express your love to God?

 What is one way that you show your love for your neighbors? 

Prayer: Lord, you have invited us to love. To love you, O Lord. To love our neighbors. To love those we never thought we would associate with, let alone love. To love with all we are and all we have. To love even when it is hard. Thank you, O God, for inviting us into your realm of love and encouraging us to share this love with others. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Rejoice” - Neh 8:10

 Notice what was being read to the people. The law. The covenant that God made the chosen people. In fact, to this day the law is still read in the synagogues, and when they finish reading it once, they start the cycle over again. The reason that the law is read with such consistency, and the reason Nehemiah chose to read it here is because it is a joyful thing. As Christians we don’t celebrate the law, mostly because of statements the apostle Paul makes about the law in the book of Romans. However, what we miss is that Paul is not pushing aside the law. Rather he is saying is that the moral law needs to be rejected and replaced with Christ. The type of law that makes a person righteous simply by following rules, instead of relying on grace. What Paul is not saying is to to throw out the natural law, or those laws that make it so we can live together in authentic community and care for each other. But Nehemiah is neither focusing on the moral or natural law in and of itself, but on the God who made covenant with the people and gave the law. Notice what the people did when they heard the reading of the law. The wept and repented. And after they repented they rejoiced. Rejoiced in the grace that God is extending to them and the relationship they have with a God who loves them so deeply. Rejoiced in the blessings that had been showered upon them in community and food.

 When is the last time you rejoiced in the law that God has given us and the covenantal relationship that upholds it?

Prayer: Lord, help us to be a people who rejoice. Rejoice in you. Rejoice in your word! Give us hearts of joy that spill over into the world, we pray. Amen. 

Wednesday: “ They Knew” - John 21: 9-14

 I love imagining this scene around the breakfast campfire that morning. The disciple, elated by their hull of fish and more importantly, being in the presence of their Lord and Savior. Can you imagine the stories they were sharing? The joy being expressed? The laughter rising around the fire ring?

 The disciples in that moment, knew that they were in the presence of the Lord. Just like the disciples on the road to Emmaus recognized Jesus in the blessing and breaking of the bread and Mary had her eyes opened at the empty tomb when Jesus spoke her name. They didn’t have to ask if it was Jesus or to see his nail pierced hands and side - they knew by the miracle of the fish, just like the miracles they had witnessed so long ago on the hill side of the two small fish and five loaves feeding thoughts.

 When are those times in our life when we know without a shadow of a doubt that we are in the presence of our Savior? They will be different for each of us, because we are different people who have our hearts touched in a variety of ways. But we all have those moments, to cherish, with our Lord. 

 Why do you think the Gospel of John thought the number of fish caught was important?

 What do you think the phrase “and no one dare ask him if he really was the Lord because they were sure of it” means? 

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for those precious moments when we know that we are in your presence. Those moments when we are so sure of your grace and love that we cannot help but worship you. Help us to treasure those moments in our hearts. Amen. 

Thursday: “Feed My Lambs” - John 21: 15-19

 Today’s piece of scripture is one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful encounters between Jesus and his disciples. You can almost feel Peter’s anxiety and pain. Is Jesus calling him out about the three times he betrayed Jesus, just as was predicted during their final meal together before his death? Does Jesus really doubt the love that he has for him?

 There are times when we all stray from the love of God. We even acknowledge this fact every time when we hear the communion liturgy, “when we turned away and our love failed, your love remained steadfast.” What Peter took to be as a moment of scolding was actually a moment of grace. It was a reminder to Peter that when his love failed, Jesus’s love for him remained steadfast.

 Further, by telling Peter to feed his lambs and tend his sheep, Jesus was offering Peter a moment of redemption. We all need such moments. From time to time we may find ourselves thinking that Jesus could not use someone like us in ministry, but if he could use Peter, he can use us. It is not for us to judge the love Jesus has for us or the call he has upon our lives - we are simply offered the opportunity to start again. 

 Why is Jesus’s interaction with Peter important? Why did Jesus ask Peter the same question three times? 

 Tell of a time that you did not think that you were good enough. What message of love did Jesus speak into your life?

Prayer: Lord, we cannot thank you enough for your redeeming moments in our lives. We fail, and our love can lean towards unfaithfulness at times, but you, Precious Lord, remain faithful to us. Thank you, Lord, for calling each of us to follow you and giving us a ministry for the sake of your Kingdom. Amen. 

Friday: “God so Loved” - John 3:16

 Sometimes it is hard to grasp the love of God. Praise songs throughout the ages have tried to put it into words - its height, breadth, and depth. I don’t believe we talk about the love of God enough in our daily lives - the love that held Christ to the cross so we could be set free from the bondage of sin in our lives.

 The gospel of John speaks this memorable birth about God’s love - that God loved the world so much that a way was made through Jesus Christ to life anew and life abundant. God made this way so that everyone who believes in God through Jesus Christ will not die but instead have eternal life.

 It seems at times that we want to rush right past our life here and now in order to get to eternal life, but it is in this life that we can come to know of God’s deep love for us and share that love with others. Take each day you are given to share the love of God that is beyond our wildest imaginations. 

 What does the word love mean to you?

 How does the love of God compare to the love of others in our daily life? 

Prayer: Lord, help us to put to words the unfathomable love that you have for us. We confess that at times we let our earthly notions and misperceptions about love get in the way of embracing your love fully. Thank you, O Lord, for the gift of your love in Jesus Christ. Your love never ceases to amaze us. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Marks of Methodism: Prays Continually” - 1 Timothy 2:1

Family Activity: Think of ways that you love God. Make a list as a family. How does your love of God show in how you love your neighbors?