DEVOTIONS

Monday, November 6 – “All the believers were one in heart and mind.  No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.” (Acts 4:32) A basic truth of being a follower of Jesus is that you own nothing.  You are no longer possessed by your possessions.  You’re merely a tenant in this life.  Everything that you have is nothing more, and nothing less, than a gift from God.  Thus, in your connection with others, generosity is your calling.  Yet, our world teaches us something very different – Hands off, for what is mine is mine.  This is our struggle.  Fun-Tervention Rule #2 – We long for the benefits of connection, but resist the demands of connection.

Tuesday, November 7 – “When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, ‘Woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’  From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:26-27) When Jesus was dying on the cross, he took care of his mother.  In that time, seeing that Mary would be without her firstborn son or a husband, she would have been in grave danger.  Jesus called one of his disciples to take Mary into his home, as his very own mother.  Family is so much more than simply a bloodline.  Family is a connection with others who care for you and you for them.  Yet, our world teaches us something very different – God helps those who help themselves.  Fun-Tervention Rule #2 – We long for the benefits of connection, but we resist the demands of connection.

Wednesday, November 8 – “When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home.  ‘If you consider me a believer in the Lord,’ she said, ‘come and stay at my house.’  And she persuaded us.” (Acts 16:15) Being a follower of Jesus means something.  You’re a part of something so much bigger than yourself.  People who might not have much in common, other than their faith, are forever connected through that faith.  Yet, our world teaches us something very different – Surround yourself with only people who look like you, think like you and act like you.  Fun-Tervention Rule #2 – We long for the benefits of connection, but we resist the demands of connection.

Thursday, November 9 – “And wherever he went – into villages, towns or countryside – they placed the sick in the marketplaces.  They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.” (Mark 6:56) These people wanted healing.  Thus, they wanted to get to Jesus.  But what about the others?  The sick couldn’t get to Jesus alone. They needed others who were willing to get them to Jesus. It’s these others that you’re invited to focus on today.  Are you one of these others for anyone?  Our world teaches us something very different – Take care of yourself.  Fun-Tervetion Rule #2 – We long for the benefits of connection, but we resist the demands of connection.

Friday, November 10 – “To those who sold doves he said, ‘Get these out of here!  Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!’” (John 2:16) People traveled many days in order to get to Jerusalem to celebrate feasts like Passover.  Many of these people were poor and didn’t own animals that they could offer as a sacrifice, in the Temple.  Thus, sacrificial animals like doves, were sold at the Temple for people such as this.  The problem that Jesus had was that the one’s selling the doves were making a huge profit.  A service needed to be provided, for the sake of the worship of God.  Not for the sake of the profit margins of the sellers.  Our world teaches us something very different – Make as much as you can.  Fun-Tervention Rule #2 – We long for the benefits of connection, but we resist the demands of connection.

Saturday, November 11 – “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:39) As a follower of Jesus, everything that you are and everything that you do is influenced by the perspective of eternity. You aren’t who you are, for yourself alone.  You don’t do what you do, for yourself alone.  You’re standing on the shoulders of all those who have come before you.  And people, some of whom haven’t yet been born, are standing on your shoulders. Yet, our world teaches us something very different – It’s all about me.  Fun-Tervention Rule #2 – We long for the benefits of connection, but we resist the demands of connection.