Monday, May 4 – “They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.” (Matthew 23:4) Jesus was speaking of the religious leaders of his day. Religion will always burden. Jesus will always free. Religion will always create dogma, doctrine and division. Jesus will always create relationship. Introducing you to who you are. Not telling who you should be.
Tuesday, May 5 – “This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.’ But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’” (Jeremiah 6:16) You have had and will continue to have “crossroad moments”. Those times in your life when you must decide. You know, the crossroad moments when deciding not to decide is no longer an option? Those are the times that you’ll live into who you are. For decisions do form your life, but your decisions are informed by your identity – A dearly loved, sacred, child of God.
Wednesday, May 6 – “Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear?” (Acts 15:10) This is Peter speaking to the Jerusalem Council, the leaders of what was then just a mass collection of followers of Jesus. Peter is questioning why some Jewish Christians, AKA Messianic Jews, were trying to impose the burden of the Mosaic Law, Old Testament Law, on Gentile converts. Especially since themselves, as well as all of their Jewish ancestors, couldn’t bear that burden?
Thursday, May 7 – “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36) “The Son” being Jesus, “sets you free”. Whether you believe it or not. If you don’t believe it you simply won’t get to experience it. What’s the “it”? It is the fact that Jesus has set you free, in your deeds. If you believe in the Son, you’ll be set free in your actions, your doing. For your doing will always be influenced by your being. And who is your being? A dearly loved, sacred, child of God.
Friday, May 8 - “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Can you find peace outside of a faith in Jesus? Yes. The problem is that it will be a conditional peace based on how you feel, an experience or even a substance. All of which are the shifting sand of doing. Following Jesus is the solid rock of being. Of being a dearly loved, sacred, child of God.
Saturday, May 9 – “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” (Matthew 7:13) Time rolls on, but people don’t change. Yes, we may use different words, we may have different technology and scientifically, we may see the world differently. But, as created beings, we’re still the same as we’ve always been. Maybe your problem isn’t the world or your circumstances. Maybe your problem is you? So, just maybe, it’s time you started dealing with who you are.
Tuesday, May 5 – “This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.’ But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’” (Jeremiah 6:16) You have had and will continue to have “crossroad moments”. Those times in your life when you must decide. You know, the crossroad moments when deciding not to decide is no longer an option? Those are the times that you’ll live into who you are. For decisions do form your life, but your decisions are informed by your identity – A dearly loved, sacred, child of God.
Wednesday, May 6 – “Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear?” (Acts 15:10) This is Peter speaking to the Jerusalem Council, the leaders of what was then just a mass collection of followers of Jesus. Peter is questioning why some Jewish Christians, AKA Messianic Jews, were trying to impose the burden of the Mosaic Law, Old Testament Law, on Gentile converts. Especially since themselves, as well as all of their Jewish ancestors, couldn’t bear that burden?
Thursday, May 7 – “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36) “The Son” being Jesus, “sets you free”. Whether you believe it or not. If you don’t believe it you simply won’t get to experience it. What’s the “it”? It is the fact that Jesus has set you free, in your deeds. If you believe in the Son, you’ll be set free in your actions, your doing. For your doing will always be influenced by your being. And who is your being? A dearly loved, sacred, child of God.
Friday, May 8 - “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Can you find peace outside of a faith in Jesus? Yes. The problem is that it will be a conditional peace based on how you feel, an experience or even a substance. All of which are the shifting sand of doing. Following Jesus is the solid rock of being. Of being a dearly loved, sacred, child of God.
Saturday, May 9 – “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” (Matthew 7:13) Time rolls on, but people don’t change. Yes, we may use different words, we may have different technology and scientifically, we may see the world differently. But, as created beings, we’re still the same as we’ve always been. Maybe your problem isn’t the world or your circumstances. Maybe your problem is you? So, just maybe, it’s time you started dealing with who you are.
You try to eat right. You drink plenty of water. you exercise. don't forget your spirit - feed it!
daily devotions
