Devotions in preparation for Sunday, February 8th:
Read Isaiah 58:1-9a. Lent will begin in a few weeks and many of us will consider fasting as a spiritual discipline throughout the season. Maybe you will decide to give up sweets or the fancy coffee or social media. Maybe you will even decide to skip specific meals. This reading helps us to think about our motive in practices like these.
Do we participate in these practices to better ourselves, to deepen our relationship with God, or to remind us of our reliance on God? Do we, like the Hebrews to whom Isaiah is speaking, have an unspoken hope that God will somehow reward us for our sacrifice? What would it look like to take your fast a step further – like donating the money you would have spent on that fancy coffee to a local foodbank or to the person standing on the corner holding up a sign? How could you use the time you would have spent scrolling Facebook to someone else’s benefit? How might skipping a meal help you to experience in a small way what it is like not to have easy access to food?
Today, prayerfully consider how you will spend the Lenten season.
Read Psalm 112:1-9. This psalm begins with a call to praise the Lord. It goes on to describe what a life of praise looks like. Praise isn’t limited to talking or singing about how great God is. It isn’t limited to offering prayers of gratitude. According to this psalm, praise can also look like being gracious and merciful. It can look like dealing generously, justly, and with honesty. It can look like being a non-anxious presence in a stressful situation. Praise can look like sharing what you have with those who lack.
In what ways do your daily activities reflect a life of praise? How does one prevent a life of righteousness from becoming self-righteous?
Today, commit yourself to praising God in word, song, and action.
Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-12. As he continues his discussion on wisdom, Paul insists that the power of the gospel isn’t found in how well it’s presented. The message does not require beautifully crafted words or complicated theological arguments. Using himself as an example, Paul points out that conveying the good news of Jesus Christ with humility, genuineness, and authenticity is what guides people towards spiritual wisdom and maturity.
The message of the cross does not need to be dressed up. It doesn’t need flashy gimmicks or someone who has the looks of a movie star, the brain of a Rhodes scholar, or the voice of Morgan Freeman. It is enough on its own. God sent Jesus to live our life, die our death, and rise victorious, all for love. Christ crucified on the cross is the visible sign of God’s love and desire to save humankind from the destruction of their own sin.
If you were tasked with sharing the message of Christ crucified, what would be important to say? How would you boil it down to a clear, unadorned testimony?
In prayer, ask God for the courage to be honestly, genuinely you no matter where or with whom you find yourself.
Read Matthew 5:13-20. In these familiar words, we hear Jesus building up his followers as if they’ve been questioning their worth. You are the salt of the earth! You are the light of the world! I wonder why he didn’t, instead, just say, “You’re perfect! Don’t change a thing!” Maybe it has to do with purpose. What does salt do? Enhance flavor, preserve, melt ice, and clear infection, among other things. What about light? It can illuminate, guide, and alleviate fear. Jesus is saying that the gifts we are given are meant to be used.
We aren’t given grace and hope and joy just so we can keep it to ourselves. It is meant to be shared in a way that draws attention to the glory of God. In the same way, as he discusses the Law, it is about purpose. For some, practicing the Law had been more about impressing themselves and others than enacting the values of the kingdom of heaven.
Consider the many gifts God has given you. Are there some you fail to use? When you do use your gifts, what is your motive for doing so? In what ways could you use your salt or your light to glorify God?
In prayer, ask God to shine through you to illuminate someone’s way.