Friday, April 11

John 4: 7-14

A Samaritan women came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.”

Devotion

Water in its various forms is probably the most-used metaphor in both the Old and New Testaments. It satiates, cleanses, facilitates birth and rebirth. It serves as the source of sustenance, livelihood, and miracles. My reference Bible cites dozens of other passages using the image. In this passage Jesus is at a well in Gentile country, Samaria. The disciples aren’t around. He speaks with a woman at the well and asks for her help to quench his thirst, but he also speaks with another meaning. He seems to be inviting her to accept His offer of rebirth. If you read a little further, you will see how unusual this passage is. She is not a Jew, though she has heard of the coming of a Messiah. (Embracing Gentiles does not make all the disciples comfortable.) She is not married, but has had many lovers. How could Jesus, a stranger, know that? Despite her likely “reputational problems” Jesus offers her His water, which is a very different kind than what is in this well. And she can’t wait to share her story.

Prayer

Dear Lord, during this Lenten season we come to the well with you. We ask for a new awareness of your presence, and for the rebirth the water that gushes from your center offers us. Give us the will to share your story. Amen.

Jim Edmondson

Thursday, April 10

Ephesians 4:4-6

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

Devotion

We live in a global world and society. We can no longer claim that we don’t know about the adversity of others.   We live in a new age or a new world, but yet the problems are age old. The threats of the atom, discord in global places where competing ideals and philosophies clash, result in oppression for many. Feelings of national pride, sovereignty rights, and competing priorities present special problems to be solved. International trade can cause interference over whose product is more precious, and questions arise over fair trade.

Yet we have a responsibility to guide the course of human affairs. Who will have rights to water and under what kind of rules, or priorities—we affect all of these decisions either by direct influence or indirectly by force of public opinion, and what kinds of fairness we espouse. A good deed may cause another to give pause. We can affect the dreams of decision makers. By praying for others we can change their situation. That is a process of providing a channel of blessing for others (we are not the cause but we can assist). We are can choose to serve as channels of blessing so that they may find the right path to healing. It is always our creator that is the source of healing. There are many religions, and there is truth in each of them. One creator of us all is a clear message.

Prayer

Our prayer should ever be, Lord, teach me to love not only those that are close to me but to include those who seem to have other priorities. Together we may find a path that that fully expresses Gods love for all. Amen.

David Shue

Wednesday, April 9

Rivers of Living Water

John 7:37-38

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me,  and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’”

Devotion

Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of “living water.” That must have sounded like an astonishing promise to the people who lived in the arid Middle East in the time of Jesus. What does it mean to us today?

Paul speaks of the law that is “written on our hearts,” and in a more secular way Abraham Lincoln spoke of the “better angels of our nature.” In other words, there is good planted in each of us, but it doesn’t always emerge.

Believing that a genuine encounter with Jesus can create in me streams of “living water,” I envision those powerful, active waters in an almost anatomical way. Washing through every vein and capillary with the power of a strong bubbling spring, these waters have the power to change me throughout. They are able to erode the self-protective barriers I have built around my “heart.”

If I live with Jesus as my true guide and companion, I believe that He has to power to activate the “law” within me. In His spirit, that law becomes not a list of do’s and don’ts, but rather a way of looking at the world and people around me from His gentle, loving, and forgiving perspective. I will see in others the same promise that I have been given, that God loves us all and invites us to join together in His community.

Prayer

Loving and forgiving God, let me feel your transforming power today and help me to see each person I encounter as a beloved brother or sister. Amen.

Ramona Rayle

Tuesday, April 8

The River of Life

Revelation 22:1-5

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.  Nothing accursed will be found there anymore. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.  And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

Devotion

What beautiful images! An angel, flowing water, bright as crystal, a throne, fruit, healing leaves – all this we are promised. How do we attain these rewards? How do we know we are worthy? How do we follow the path?

Our journey down this river was begun when we were baptized. This decision was most likely made by our parents. Our own faith awaited instruction, example, and, ultimately, decision on our part to seek faith and an openness to receiving the gift of faith.

It seems that an extremely helpful way to sustain this faith is through the community of faith. When we are not sure, we are assured by the faith of others. When we falter, we are held up by the strength of others. When we despair, we are encouraged by the hopefulness of others. When we are alone, we see Jesus through others.

How wonderful to read of nourishment, light, healing, hope! We have the most comforting ability to be fed by the act of worship, to be reminded by the words of Scripture, to give and receive forgiveness, to be refreshed by the light of a new day, to be inspired by hope.

How do we know this is a true vision we are reading? How can we be assured? In the end, it comes down to faith, belief in the sacrifice that Jesus made for us, confidence that redemption is at hand, and knowledge that all our weaknesses are forgiven.

Prayer

Creator of all dreams and Healer of all sins, help us to seek to be worthy of your promises and to live into the light of salvation. Amen.

Carole Huston

Monday, April 7

1 Corinthians 12:12–13

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.  For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

Devotion

It seems that part of our nature as human beings makes comparing ourselves with others almost irresistible: a game which on a “good” day makes us feel superior, but on a “bad” day inferior to, if not downright envious of, other folks. Who is thinnest? Has the fattest 401K? Does the most volunteer work? Recall how this compulsion to compare afflicted even Jesus’ disciples when they argued about who was greatest among them (Mark 9:34). The apostle Paul, however, tries to put a stop to this corrosive practice, explaining to the young church at Corinth that there are many different Christians with many varied talents, all ultimately belonging to Christ. Paul continues to use the metaphor of the body when talking about baptism. Through baptism, the Holy Spirit washes away a person’s sins so that he or she becomes one of God’s chosen people, holy and protected by Him. That person has become a “new creation,” enjoying a new relationship both with God and all other Christians.

Even within the church community it is all too easy to compare ourselves with others, to come to see ourselves as more “godly” people with a stronger relationship with the Lord simply because we attend church every Sunday, or sing in the choir, or serve on a committee or two. However, Paul brings us back to reality, reminding us that baptism is the great equalizer through which we all belong to one another as the body of Christ. This is God’s gift to us, bringing disparate people with disparate talents together to carry out His will and demonstrate His love for all mankind. As we prepare to accept God’s greatest gift to us in the form of His risen son, it is important to remember that, in God’s eyes, we are all one through baptism.

Prayer

Loving and gracious God, we thank you for your gift of diversity, as well as your gift of unity in the body of Christ through baptism. Let your Holy Spirit continue to work inside us throughout this Lenten season. In Christ Jesus we pray. Amen.

Alexis Scopeletis

5th Sunday in Lent, April 6

Reading: Ezekiel 47:1-12

Saturday, April 5

Confession and the Next Step

Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
So he told them this parable:
Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything.

But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.

“Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”

Devotion
Each week our worship service includes a prayer of confession near the beginning of the service. During the prayer of confession, we pray both collectively and individually, asking God to forgive our sins. Beyond Sunday morning worship, we are encouraged to have a personal prayer life every day.

Confessing my sins to God and asking for God’s forgiveness is not a behavior that I reserve for Sunday worship. I do it a lot! For me, confessing my sins and asking for God’s forgiveness opens up the communications channel between me and God. It also helps me in my communication with others, perhaps because a dose of humility comes with it.

The scripture reading for today talks about confession. To me, it goes a step beyond confession to repentance. Repentance is like confession plus a decision to behave differently. Repentance is like confession with legs.

If you are like me and you confess your sins a lot, you might wonder, “Does God ever get tired of our prayers of confession and requests for forgiveness?” I think that when I get caught in the same patterns and I’m unwilling to change anything to get out of those patterns, then that is not pleasing to God. That is where repentance comes in.

In today’s scripture reading, the prodigal son repents. How does God (the father) respond? Seeing his son approaching from a distance the father runs to greet him! He celebrates the return of his once dead son! He throws a big party!

Prayer
Father God, help me to turn away from those things that draw me away from you. Amen.

Rob Ransom

Friday, April 4

Are You Lost?

Luke 15:1-10
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

“Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Devotion
The Good Shepherd returning to the fold with the lost sheep draped across his shoulders is one of the most enduring images in Christianity. In most cases the shepherd bears a striking resemblance to our popular image of Jesus and, of course, we are represented by the sheep. I’ve seen this picture in countless Children’s Bibles, paintings, church windows and other Christian art.

Another portrait brought to mind is of the shepherd at the point of finding the lost sheep. In this portrayal the shepherd is seen at the top of a steep cliff reaching down with his staff to the sheep that has fallen part way down the cliff face. This image suggests the desperate plight of the lost, who being apart from the shepherd and unable to help itself, is in danger of coming to harm or death.

How did the sheep come to this desperate state? I know that sheep wander but how did it get separated from such a diligent shepherd? How do we get separated from our shepherd, God? How do we in our Christian walk get separated and lost? How do we go from confident and firm in our life with the Lord to discouraged, alone, and lost? How does this happen?

The second parable answers this question. This parable is about a lost coin. How does a coin get lost? It can’t wander off like an animal. No, a coin is misplaced. I believe this parable explains how one is lost through misplaced faith. Faith that is placed in our own abilities, in other people, in wealth or things, in anything other than God, is misplaced and can cause us to wander, lose sight of the Shepherd and become lost.

Most of us, though we belong to Christ and desire to be under His control and endeavor to allow ourselves to be led by Him, do on occasions find ourselves “lost.” So often in our daily lives we get side-tracked and drawn away by the seemingly more attractive activities in the world. We can easily find ourselves placing our faith in self, or pride or personal preference, and like the sheep, we wander from the fold of God. But our faithful and loving God never loses sight of us and, because He misses us, He searches for us diligently until He finds us and restores us to our rightful place. So when we find ourselves lost we should not lose hope; God searches relentlessly, even to the darkest corners of the world until He returns the lost sheep to the fold and rejoices when one repents and is found. God does not find joy in the death of the sinner but rejoices in the new life of the sinner. God loves the sinner. He loves us in spite of our foibles and failures and our misplaced faith. He searches for us until He brings us home. This is the love of the Father: always seeking, always searching, always forgiving, and never tiring of the search for the lost.

Prayer
Dearest Father, please forgive me when I misplace my faith and stray so often. Please help me to realize that you miss me when I am away from you, and that you are always ready to draw me back into your loving arms. I am so thankful for your love and mercy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Allison Lineberger

Thursday, April 3

Ezekiel 14:6-8
Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: Repent and turn away from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations. For any one of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, who separates himself from me, taking his idols into his heart and putting the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and yet comes to a prophet to inquire for himself of me, I the Lord will answer him myself; and I will set my face against that man, I will make him a sign and a byword and cut him off from the midst of my people; and you shall know that I am the Lord.

Devotion
We worship a jealous god. The Bible is clear about this all along, but it is especially evident in passages such as the one on which these comments are based. Our god is that way, however, because of our own tendency to create objects of devotion of our own making—objects that compete with our ability to love and serve the true God. Calvin put the matter well when he said that our minds are factories of idols. At our core we may be religious beings, therefore, but we find it difficult to give expression to that part of our nature in ways that are not misguided. It is as though we cannot help ourselves avoid coming up with competitors to the faith we profess. So we are constantly in need of reminders of the things that are truly worthy of our devotion, and whenever those reminders work, they can scarcely help but produce in us a sense of regret for our willingness to be led astray so easily. This above all is the Biblical reason why we need to come before the Lord in a spirit of repentance.

Prayer
You alone, O Lord, are the one who is worthy of our praise and worship. But as much as we know that to be true, we find it difficult to adhere to it. We are so easily distracted. In this respect as with so many others we need your help if we are to be the sort of people we truly want to be. We pray this in the name of your Son. Amen.

Bruce Douglass

Wednesday, April 2

2 Corinthians 5:16-21
From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Devotion
John Calvin called this passage as remarkable as any in Paul, and in his lengthy commentary said that it contained the core of the Gospels’ message: “Everything has become new!” (Listen to “Love Divine” http://youtu.be/G3700AuaMjM, especially the fourth verse.) God has broken into time to reconcile himself with us—a strange notion to Greeks and Jews of that time, who generally saw reconciliation as something humans had to seek, through sacrifices or atonement. No, Paul says—God has done this, by sending Christ. Paul entreats us to accept that gift—“be reconciled to God”—and the new life that goes with it. That ought to make us joyful: Everything is new, that’s “good news” indeed!

But Paul doesn’t often make it easy, and he follows his famous proclamation with words that, if we take them seriously, should, as the spiritual says, cause us to tremble: God has made us his ambassadors—ones who speak for a king, in Paul’s day. He makes his appeal through us. Here, God says, I have done this for you—now it’s up to you to speak for me. Lent is a time to reflect, to examine our lives, and this is plenty to think about. What does this mean for me? What do I have to do? Am I up to this? Do I want to be up to this? Think about it, maybe while you listen to “Here I Am, Lord”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SHIrS6pMG4.

Prayer
God of creation, we thank you whole-heartedly for the gift of your son, who has made all creation new. Help us to accept and understand your ministry of reconciliation, so that we may indeed become, and help others to become, the righteousness of God.

Rob Hunter