Devotion.al

  • Family Parts

    Psalm 19, Matthew 12:46–50, Ephesians 2:1–10

    often rewrites the rules of , friends, and culture. We seem to have an understanding of what family ought to be, but in the midst of our mixed-up world, we don’t know how to live it out, and we often don’t know what it should look like. It sounds strange to long for something we can’t do or see, yet the longing drives us toward it.

    When makes this astonishing, audacious, and offensive statement, there is by many, an automatic of that wrong, how could that be? Then there is the response of, it’s Jesus saying it, so it must be right (often at the same time struggling with the other response).

    When Jesus talks about doing the will of the , what is he talking about? We have our assumptions, however, what if some of our assumptions are wrong? Reading the passage in Ephesians, we see that God is at work in us, even when we are not aware, for God continually draws us to him.

    1) Do people who do not know God do the will of God?

    2) If people are being drawn to God, and doing the will of God, does that make them part of the family (or framily)?

    3) What makes a person part of your framily?

  • Embarrassing

    Exodus 33:18-23, Exodus 34:29–35, 1 Kings 19:3–18, John 1:10–18

    Have you ever hidden your face? Embarrassment. Shame. . Avoidance.

    The Israelites hid their faces from God. Originally it was out of . They only understood fearing gods, as gods were capricious and unpredictable. Now they were in the of a god that they were told of but hadn’t experienced. This god that was only a tale led them out of Egypt. This god called them to him. Now what? Of course, they hide their faces. They send someone in their stead that way they don’t have to face God.

    Facing God is a -changing experience…and so many try to avoid it.
    Moses was physically changed forever. He was changed in such a way that interaction with people was over. How about you?
    Elijah’s experience was different still. In the midst of his being overwhelmed, in , and in fear, God was there. Elijah may not have hidden his face from God, but God hid his face from Elijah.
    God’s and were too much for any to handle. God made a way.

    was the face of God. Instead of being afraid, or hiding away, God was right there. Imagine instead of being afraid of God, eating with God.

    1) What was the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done? What about it was embarrassing?

    2) Have you ever been too embarrassed to talk to God? Is it more embarrassing to think that God already knows, or is it comforting?

    3) In regards to coming face-to-face with God, why is Jesus’ coming so important?

  • Household of Promise

    Psalm 127, Ruth 4:9–17, Hebrews 3:1–6

    If we were to judge by Psalm 127, it would seem that God does everything, yet we know that it isn’t the case. “Unless God builds the house” is more along the lines of God building up or establishing, sustaining and encouraging, not God literally building the house. It seems obvious, but for many, it isn’t. There is also the reality that sometimes God allows a “bad” house (or ) to survive (think of the majority of David’s descendants) because of a made.

    In fact, this promise is prefigured through Ruth’s and Boaz’s to God and the Law. Through them the people of Israel received David. Through that same line (a promise made by God to David that his line would continue) was born. In fact, the ceremonial words spoken at the gates to Boaz were in a way that was unimaginable to those speaking them. God established (built) a house.

    The author of Hebrews alludes to the promise. He also talks about us being a household: the Household of Jesus Christ. There are requirements to being part of that household: hold on to our confidence and our .

    1) When you dig deep into your , is it really based on hope? If so, on what hope is it based?

    2) If your worldview is not based upon hope, how would consider yourself a member of the Household of Jesus Christ in of the words of the author of Hebrews?

    3) How to the words of Psalm 127 tie into the words in Hebrews? How do the hope and confidence in Hebrews apply to Psalm 127 and Ruth?

  • Waiting to See

    Daniel 7:13-14, Luke 24:44-53, Ephesians 4:1-16

    The Book of Daniel contains many prophetic writings. Often the prophet themselves may not know what exactly the words mean. Christians, by-and-large, don’t much on these verses in Daniel have to do with . It seems pretty obvious, but we can often deceive ourselves when it comes to (think the Book of Revelation). However, with our understanding (and belief) about Jesus, this passage in Daniel seems to us only applicable to Jesus. Just think about that. Daniel was given a vision of the that in no way matched his understanding of God, yet here it was.

    Even living with Jesus, experiencing his , , and , the disciples had to have Jesus open their minds so that they could understand Scripture, including the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms. It wasn’t easy. God had to open their minds. The disciples lived with God during his time on Earth, and their minds still had to be open. What does that tell us about ourselves?

    Jesus commands them to stay in Jerusalem until they are “empowered.” Yes, we know what that means, but did they? Jesus then blesses them and ascends to Heaven. And off they go to the ? How many people would go to someplace different, rather than stay at their “great” experience? They had someplace to go, for they had something to declare.

    The experience, the declaration, the way of life. Through the grace of Christ, it is to that we are called to live.

    1) Do you ever wonder what people in the Bible thought about the events that they were living? Do you give them more credit (or less) than they are due?

    2) The Spirit had not yet come, yet the disciples’ minds were opened to an understanding of Scripture. What does that tell us and our understanding of Scripture?

    3) More waiting. The at the Temple may have just been the outlet for the waiting. What do you do as an outlet when waiting for God?

  • Whose Plans to Follow

    Jeremiah 29:4–19, Jeremiah 40:1–6, Jeremiah 45:1–5

    Jeremiah 29:12 is an oft-quoted verse:
    “For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the LORD’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to you a and a .”

    That verse is very comforting, and it should be. However, surrounding that verse is a whole lot of uncomfortable stuff: slavery, exile, 70 years away from home, to live in exile and seek the benefit (?!) of their captors. We often don’t think about these things when quoting Jeremiah 29:12. Who does really want to , “yes, I’ve got the plan, and it involves losing everything you hold dear and supporting your oppressors?”

    Jeremiah was offered a place in Babylon where he would be taken care of. He could be a prophet to his people and at least have some protection (often needed from his own people and the Babylonians) and decent accommodations with food. Instead, Jeremiah chose to stay with those that remained in the land. Instead of choosing and security, he chose hardship.

    The words given the Baruch may not seem to have a place here, yet the words spoken to Baruch are along the same line as those spoken to those going into exile. “Don’t seek your own ends.”

    1) We can easily justify our goals and decisions by saying it was, “the right thing.” Have you ever experienced the right thing not being the “God thing?”

    2) Why is the passage in Jeremiah 24 just as appropriate today as it was prior to the exile? How can we misuse it?

    3) We often look to the big, new, bright, and shiny things. What do God’s words to Baruch (both verses 4 and 5) have to say about that?

  • Onto Waiting

    Psalm 25, Isaiah 26:1–21, Acts 16:16–34

    Imagine being the only person at a 4-way traffic with no one else on the road. The light for you is red. And it’s still red. Most of us will a little bit. Some might rev their engine a little. Others might back up and then go . Both have the intent to trigger the coil system that “flips” the lights. However, what if that doesn’t work? How long will you wait?

    Most of us would start to get a bit antsy.

    Waiting for God to move is commonplace in the Bible, or should we say that waiting is scriptural, but not always written about. Both in Psalm 25 and in Isaiah 26 we read about waiting. The way Scripture is written a lot of the waiting is not written about, as it happens between the points that we read.
    Sometimes, however, waiting would seem to be the opposite thing to do! and Silas are in prison. God moves, their chains fall off, and all the doors to the prison open. In such a situation (such as Acts 12), it would seem to be the wise thing to run and escape. Yet, Paul and Silas waited. From a purely , it would seem that only the could have prompted them to stay there for whatever the next was. Stay in jail? Yes, until the right moment.

    1) Have you ever had a answered, and then wondered if you should actually accept it? What was it? What decision did you make, and why?

    2) We often talk about waiting on God to act, but in Paul and Silas’ case God acted, and yet they still waited. What does this tell you about waiting for God?

    3) How do you test when to wait and when to move?

  • Ongoing Testing

    Ephesians 5:6–14, 1 Thessalonians 5:12–22, 1 John 4:1–6

    is never easy and rarely is it fun. However, it is something that needs to be done.

    It is we who often need to test ourselves and be the testers of our friends and . We never really want to test ourselves, and we usually want to avoid testing those close to us, as it often hurts.

    Yet, we are called—even directed—to test. We are especially called to test people, practices, and perspectives against God’s and in the of believers.

    There is always something that we need to test. If we aren’t testing something, are we even listing for God?

    1) What practices do you have to test?

    2) Have you ever had someone tell you that God’s Word has changed? What do you do?

    3) When have you had to test family or friends? About what? How did that go?

  • Journey and Direction

    1 Kings 8:41–53, Ruth 1:7–17, Luke 9:57–10:16

    Where are you going?

    It’s a pretty basic question until we apply it to our lives. It wasn’t long ago, the question was followed with, “…to Heaven or Hell.” However, where are you going isn’t just about the destination, it is also about the journey. In fact, who we meet and how we live on the journey are what makes (or breaks) the Very Good Life.

    Solomon’s Inaugural talks about the Very Good Live in general terms and one specific one. The general terms are those that are normal to everyday people. The specific term is focusing on God. The prayer basically revolves around people turning from God (and/or sinning), and people turning to God. Regardless of direction, God is the center.

    When Ruth makes this massive commitment to Naomi, we miss all that she gives up in her attempt to be to her (which now only consists of her mother-in-law). She also willingly surrenders her entire belief structure (and blood family and culture) to God. She turned toward God.

    There were many people who followed Jesus. Many of them were unwilling to make a full commitment. Jesus’ rebuke to 3 of them sounds harsh (it is). However, each of us has that same daily decision to make…Jesus, or not. Jesus sent 72 committed disciples out. He did not send them alone. He sent them in pairs. An example of taking the journey with others, for we can never truly walk this journey alone. We aren’t meant to.
    The disciples weren’t directed to make converts, they were sent to build . Staying as a guest in someone’s house for the duration of their time in a village meant they had to get along with their hosts. It also meant they could build relationships—build the —at a more natural pace, and not the “” that was presented (e.g., “Heaven or Hell”) years ago. If the towns were hospitable, stay. Otherwise, leave. Do your best to be at with others, insofar as it depends on you.

    1) Where has your journey taken you? Have you been so focused on the destination that you didn’t experience the journey?

    2) How do you know where you are going, and how do you know when to direction?

    3) How does Solomon’s prayer tie into the task that the disciples were given?

Devotion.al

Family Parts

Psalm 19, Matthew 12:46–50, Ephesians 2:1–10

often rewrites the rules of , friends, and culture. We seem to have an understanding of what family ought to be, but in the midst of our mixed-up world, we don’t know how to live it out, and we often don’t know what it should look like. It sounds strange to long for something we can’t do or see, yet the longing drives us toward it.

When makes this astonishing, audacious, and offensive statement, there is by many, an automatic of that wrong, how could that be? Then there is the response of, it’s Jesus saying it, so it must be right (often at the same time struggling with the other response).

When Jesus talks about doing the will of the , what is he talking about? We have our assumptions, however, what if some of our assumptions are wrong? Reading the passage in Ephesians, we see that God is at work in us, even when we are not aware, for God continually draws us to him.

1) Do people who do not know God do the will of God?

2) If people are being drawn to God, and doing the will of God, does that make them part of the family (or framily)?

3) What makes a person part of your framily?