Where is Your Storage Unit?

But seek his kingdom, and all these things will be given to you as well. Luke 12:31 NIV

Jeremiah 29-30

Psalm 129

Luke 12

-Devotion by Tom Siderius (MI)

Frazz by Jeff Mallett (10/07/2026)

A comic strip featuring two characters discussing environmental issues related to fashion, with one character expressing frustration about pollution and the other humorously asking about their role as a hero.

Today we are reading from Luke 12 where Jesus tells several parables concerning money and possessions.  The first one we read is about a man who had a great farm and abundant crops.

Luke 12:16-21(NLT) Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ 21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

So what is the meaning of the parable?  Don’t harvest all your crops and store them up?  Or is it that our lives are short and we don’t know when they will end?  Maybe it is that when our storage units are full we should build our own pole barn behind our McMansion?

Then in verses 22-34 Jesus gives us an expanded meaning of what he is teaching us.  Our vision and a Godly direction of our possessions is for an honorable purpose.

Luke 12:22-34(NLT) Teaching about Money and Possessions
22 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. 23 For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. 24 Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! 25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?
27 “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. 30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.
32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.
33 “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. 34 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

What principles of life are in the parable?

Eating and drinking are important for our lives to sustain us, but God will supply the “bread of our need” today and always as we trust in him for our sustenance and strength.  Our clothing is important otherwise it would be embarrassing for others to see us in our physical glory but the latest fashions and finery should not matter for our lives.  Our physical clothing and appearance are important in that we want to be good ambassadors for Christ, but the clothing we have and use should be in moderation of style and presence.

Our thoughts should not go to what great restaurant we would be going to, what exotic foods and drinks we should try, or what elaborate setting to enjoy this all at.  It is not wrong for us to sometimes have a great supper out at a five star place, but that should not be what concerns our minds and thoughts.

What does it mean for us to “seek the kingdom of God above all else”?

Jesus shows us that our minds and hearts should be focused on the things of God as the framework for the way that we live, work, speak and act.  Our hearts should be straight to walk on God’s pathway, looking to please Him in our lives. 

Jesus further states that it is God’s desire and pleasure to include us in His kingdom to come.  What a comfort to read these words.  We are so willing to fall back into religion and law where we want to draw a box around the people that we think should be part of the kingdom to come.  This is true religion which is what man says about God and tells Him to do.

True belief and walk with God sees people the way that God sees them.  He is loving and merciful ready to include and care for those who turn to Him.  When we act in accordance with His love and purpose God promises that we will have the resources to accomplish His intentions.  Jesus admonishes us to sell our surplus possessions and give the resources to those that have need of them.  This is not to make ourselves destitute or not plan for our future with good investments, but rather that our hearts should be about God’s purpose and plan.

Then Jesus tells us that we should get storage units that mice don’t get into, that don’t rust and deteriorate.  Where a thief cannot steal away our thoughts and beliefs.  Our purses should be the ones that store for the future the things of God, ready for the day the resource is needed.  If our purses are for God’s purposes they won’t wear out or fall apart.

What does it mean for our thoughts to be on the Kingdom of God where the thief cannot steal them?

Further on Jesus tells a parable about a faithful servant or steward of a household.  He gives a picture of that person and how he should act and what he should do.  Then leave it to Peter to ask a question which I think comes from all our hearts at times.

Luke 12:41-44(NLT) Peter asked, “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?”
42 And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 43 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.

Is the parable really for us to follow or just a great story?

Luke 12:48b (NLT)  When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.

What is the greatest treasure that you have for your life?

I am many times so humbled and overwhelmed by the thoughts that God so loved me to have great teachers of the Word show me the pathway of life.  The treasure that we have an immense surplus of is not eathly possessions but the wonderful truth of the Word of God to share with all the world.  Jesus challenges us to change our hearts and minds to minister to the others in this world the words of life He has given us.

Prayer

Father God, help us to see others as You see them and to minister to those in spiritual and physical need using the resources that You have so freely given us. Father, change our hearts so that our words and actions may be Yours. Help us to overcome our fears and worries, casting all our cares on You and trusting You to give us the help we always need. Father, give us the bread we need this day so that we can be the faithful servants You have called us to be. We love You, Father. We ask these things in the name of Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

Give us the Bread of Our Need Today

Luke 11:2

Jeremiah 27-28

Psalm 129

*Luke 11

-Devotion by Tom Siderius (MI)

In the gospels of Matthew and Luke the disciples of Christ ask him how they should pray. He tells them to pray as follows.

Luke 11:1-2(NLT) As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 2 Jesus said, “This is how you should pray:

Today we call it “The Lord’s Prayer”.

Luke 11:1-4(NKJV) Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”
2 So He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins,
For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.”

The Aramaic language translation of some of the phrases are “let it come, your kingdom”, “let it be done, your will”.

How would that change your perspective of the prayer?

Jesus tells us to pray to “Our Father”. This is completely new to Jewish people because they never had addressed God as their Father. This is the change that comes to us today as the children of God. Then he goes to the main part of the prayer. There are seven parts to the prayer. Three parts are for God, and three are for us to do for God. In the middle is the food we need as our daily bread. Think of this prayer as an inversion of statements.

Things that are for God

1.)  “Your Name may it be holy”

2.)  “let it come soon, your kingdom”

3.)  “Let it be done, your will on earth as it is in heaven”

In the middle is bread

4.)  “Give us the food of our need today”

Things that we need to do

5.)  “Forgive our sins as we have forgiven those who sin against us”

6.) “Let us not yield to temptation”

7.)  “Rescue us from the evil one”

“Your name, let it be holy”

does not give us any responsibility for making God’s name holy.  We can no more make God’s name holy than we can make fire hot. The phrase “make the fire become hot” is not something we are able to do.  The same is for making the name of God holy.

Isaiah 6:3(NLT) They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!”

God makes His name holy which is the center of who He is and is His nature. God demonstrates his holiness in His love for people and in the salvation that He brings to His people.

“Let it come soon, your kingdom”

Luke 17:20-21(NLT) One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?” Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. 21 You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.”

Jesus’ kingdom is not from here on earth but is from heaven. It comes to us in the person of Christ. It is both near to us and far away. It is soon but we do not know when. It comes alive when we obey God and do His commandments.

The help we gain by praying for the coming of God’s kingdom is that it gives us a connection with all past, future and present events and persons. It encourages us who are involved in the doing of God’s will in the current heaven and earth. Our prayer is for the will of God to be done here and now. And then we pray for the new heavens and earth to come..

“Let it be done, your will on earth as it is in heaven”

God’s will is done in heaven always but God’s will is not yet being done on earth except when His people obey Him. God directs all of history but gives each person the freedom of will to choose what they do and how they act. When we do God’s will now the kingdom comes alive today in our lives. Prayer connects us to God every day.

“Give us today the bread of our need today” (Aramaic translation)

It is in the middle of the prayer and is generally the focus of our daily lives. We are concerned with our food, but also all the things that it takes to live in this world. That is what the term “bread” means in the prayer.  God is concerned with everything that we need to live.

It is not a prayer to get riches or wealth but to meet our needs in every way we need. Our food, clothing, shelter, and health are all in God’s care.

John 6:32-35(NLT) Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. 33 The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.” 35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

How can we change from the desire for physical bread to the desire for spiritual bread?

“Forgive our sins as we have forgiven those who sin against us”

See how Jesus connects God forgiving us of our sins to our forgiveness of others.  This wasn’t the way that the Jews treated people at that time.  In many ways they wanted God to forgive  them, but they didn’t take any responsibility to forgive others. 

What should be our attitude toward those who have wronged us? 

Why is the forgiveness of others so important to our walk with Christ?

“Let us not yield to temptation”

These words are filled with difficulty:  What is temptation?  Or is it trials? 

God doesn’t lead us into temptation or give us trials. We are tempted from our own selves, and this causes us trials in life when we sin and disobey God. Temptations are of our own making.

James 1:13 (KJV) Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

Our human nature is to do what God has told us not to do. The prayer is then for God to help us to resist and then avoid the trials of  the making from our own self-destructive nature.

“Rescue us from the evil one”

Can be translated as “deliver us from evil” or as “deliver us from the evil one”. 

There is a personal and impersonal side to Satan. He does not have power to directly affect us when we are in fellowship with God. But we need God’s help for deliverance from the evil one. Our human failing and sin defeats us when we do not trust God in our lives. Fear defeats God’s promises and help.

Job 3:25 (KJV) For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. 26I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.

Job is almost destroyed by Satan because of his fear of God not blessing him. Our prayer to God is in the name of Jesus Christ and our trust that God will help us in every way is what will defeat the Satan in our lives.

John 14:12-14(NLT) I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!

We see a great example of prayer in Ephesians where Paul prays for the church and the people in it.  This is a good guide for us to follow.

Ephesians 3:14-21(NLT) When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. 20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

What can we do to improve our prayer each day as Jesus taught us and then trust in our Father in heaven to be with us?

Prayer

Father God our Abba, help us to change our hearts to be obedient to Your Word and direction.  Thank you for changing our thoughts to be like Your thoughts.  Thank you for changing our eyes to see like Your eyes and hear with Your ears.  God, You have given us grace and mercy without measure and we love You.  Thanks for the Gift of Your Son who has redeemed us and make us able.  We pray in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ this day.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

You Must Die!

*Jeremiah 25-26

Psalm 128

*Luke 11

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

Jeremiah had a pretty tough go of it.  His prophecies spanned 5 kings, and occurred from about 627BC to 586BC.  In chapter 25, verse 1 gives us a very solid understanding of exactly when this bit is occurring during that span.  The thing that I find really poignant about Jeremiah’s entire ministry is that almost all of the people that he’s trying passionately to save reject him.  Every now and then you’ll see an ally come out of the woodwork, but for the most part he’s spurned, ridiculed, and ignored, beaten and jailed, even though he is constantly pleading on God’s behalf for a return to God.

In Jeremiah 25:2-7 you can almost hear the pleading in his voice as he begs the nation to repent and return to God, but they continue to ignore him and “do their own thing”.  As a result, he tells them of the punishment that is about to be inflicted upon them (The Exile), and actually tells them how long it’s going to last (when Daniel is reading the scripture in Daniel 9:2, Jeremiah 25:12 and Jeremiah 29:10-13 are likely the verses from which he discerns that the allotted time is up and starts praying to God about it).  Once again, they don’t listen.

Moving on to Jeremiah 26 in verse 3, we see again a heartfelt pleading from both Jeremiah and God: “It may be they will listen, and every one turn from his evil way. Then I will change my mind about the evil that I am planning to do to them because of the evil of what they are doing. “(REV)   So then, the people finally listened and…

No, just kidding.  They absolutely did not listen.  Instead, in Jeremiah 26:8: “Now when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking everything that Yahweh had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold on him, saying, “You must die, yes, die. ” (REV).  Man, talk about ungrateful.  Thanks fellas.  This is a guy who has put his own life on hold in order to obediently do what Yahweh God has commanded him, to try and redeem this nation, and his reward?  They all grab him and talk about murdering him, and later they probably do.

There were a number of relevant historical events that occurred during this timespan of Jeremiah’s ministry, as follows:

  • King Josiah rediscovers the Book of the Law (621BC), and does extensive religious reforms across the land (good).
  • The Battle of Carchemish (605BC) was a decisive win for the Babylonians against the Egyptians,  establishing Babylonian dominance in the region.
  • Three major Babylonian deportations: the first in 605 BC (including Daniel), the second in 597 BC (including Ezekiel), and the third following the final siege.
  • The destruction of Jerusalem and Solomon’s Temple by Nebuchadnezzar’s forces in 586 BC after a prolonged siege.  (THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE!!!!)
  • The assassination of Governor Gedaliah and the subsequent forced flight of the remaining Judeans to Egypt, where Jeremiah likely died around 570 BC.

Now here is an interesting bit about that last bullet point.  It doesn’t say in the Bible when and how Jeremiah died specifically, but strong Jewish and Christian tradition asserts that he was stoned to death in Egypt around 570 BC.  According to these extrabiblical sources, such as the writings of Tertullian and the Lives of the Prophets, Jeremiah was forcibly taken to Egypt by Jewish rebels who disobeyed his warnings. Enraged by his continued rebukes of their idolatry and rebellion, his fellow countrymen martyred him in Daphne (identified as Tahpanhes in Hebrew). This tradition is often linked to the reference in Hebrews 11:37 regarding saints who “died by stoning.”  It’s not in scripture though, so that’s all speculative and based on tradition (and I view most tradition in the church very, very warily, and with good reason).

In Luke 11, we see a disturbing similarity, a historical repetition.  Jesus has come to the nation of Israel, to turn the hearts of the children back to the Father, and is met with a similar response by the religious and political authorities of that time.  This chapter has a couple important bits in it before we get to the Pharisees: notably, in verses 1-4 we have another account of the Lord’s Prayer, and in verse 28 he reiterates that it’s not who you know (even if it’s Jesus) that makes you blessed, but “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”

In Luke 11:37-52, Jesus really lays in to the Pharisees.  He talks about being clean, and the law, and pride, and what’s important, and just really points out a couple of fatal shortcomings on their part.  Now, keep in mind: Jesus says only the things that God told him to say (John 12:49), so when he’s chastising these authorities and warning them about their behavior, it’s just like Jeremiah, it’s for a reason: to change their actions and return them to good favor with God.  They’ve gotten a little off track, have been going in that direction for centuries, and he’s just trying to get them back on course because these are the things that God commanded him to speak.  How do they respond?

Luke 11: 53-54: “And when he had come out from there, the experts in the law and the Pharisees began to press upon him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things, laying in wait for him in order to catch something that he might say.” (REV).  We know how this turns out later.  “He must die!”…sound familiar?

If Jesus had come in smiling benevolently and saying “God loves you!”(true), “and God is love!” (also true) “and you guys are doing great!”  (not true at all) they would have welcomed him with open arms.  Much like we love to hear similar things from our religious figures.  Everyone likes to be flattered, and to have their ears tickled.  When people tell us pretty lies, we love it.  Nom nom nom, we just eat it up.

We’ve gotten a little off track too.  So why is it that we tend to scorn and despise anyone who tells us that we need to change our behavior?  Why do we wish bodily harm on anyone who is offering constructive criticism, or pointing out an error in our thinking?  I mean seriously, it’s a huge character flaw, in all of us.  This isn’t just ancient days stuff, even today I don’t know anyone who just absolutely yearns for correction…but we should.  David, a man after God’s own heart prays to God and asks in Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart. Examine me and know my anxious thoughts. Yes, see if there is any idolatrous way in me, then lead me in the everlasting way!”  Search me.  Check me.  Correct me when needed, and lead me…in the everlasting way.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. How do you react when told that you aren’t meeting expectations in “X” area?
  2. How do you react when told you’re amazing in “X” area, even though you know you’re not?
  3. Which is truly more loving: pointing out a flaw for potential correction, or ignoring flaws and using flattery?
  4. Isn’t it ironic that on the above question, our perceptions of which is more loving are flip-flopped with the reality most of the time?
  5. Why do you think that is, and how can we change it?

PRAYER

Father God, Please search my innermost parts and help me to know my own shortcomings.  Show me how I can do better.  Please help me and guide me, forgive me when I fall short, and discipline me.  Please mold me into the person you want me to be.  Help me to listen more, and to speak less.  In Jesus name, Amen.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

Bad Shepherds

*Jeremiah 23-24

*Psalm 127

Luke 10

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

      “1“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” says Yahweh.” (Jer 23:1, REV).  Jeremiah isn’t called the “weeping prophet” for no reason, he is not only torn and anguished by the compounded sins of his people, but he’s distressed because there are prophets who are telling the people lies (See Jeremiah 14:14), bad shepherds.  We see in that chapter that not only are the “prophets” lying in God’s name, but the people who are listening to these lying prophets instead of God are going to be penalized (See Jer 14:16).  He is constantly and faithfully relaying the word of Yahweh to the people, a word of warning and a call to repentance, and the lying prophets are saying “there will be peace.”  Of course he’s frustrated to the point of tears, these are his people, and God is speaking to them but they’re just not hearing it.

            So while there is a woe that will befall the bad shepherds (this is also brought up in a few other places: see Eze 34:2 and Zech 11:17 for a couple other references to this theme), it should be very sharply understood by the sheep that if they choose to ignore God and have their ears tickled instead, it won’t end well for them either.  For us.  We are the sheep.  So how do we know if we’re doing right, and following the right shepherd?  How do we know we’re not galloping en masse toward the edge of a cliff, or about to be eaten by wolves?  We, as sheep, need to take some responsibility for our own well being: because it’s our lives that are at stake.

            Here are just a few suggestions:

  1. Scripturational Awareness:  “Turn to the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light of dawn in them. ” (Isa 8:20, REV).  Situational awareness is very important, but scripturational awareness (yes, I know it’s a made up word, but it works so shh!) is even more important.  Know your scripture.  It is SUPER easy to believe something a charismatic smiling guy is telling you with a look of sincere conviction, even if the only reason he believes it is that at some other time some other smiling charismatic guy told him the same thing with a look of sincere conviction.  Don’t fall for it.  The scripture is our ruler, our standard.  Not tradition, not guys in suits, not any specific denomination, but God’s word, and God’s word alone.  I don’t need a  guy in a suit telling me something that sounds beautiful if he has no dawn, I want to see the dawn.
  • Situational Awareness: “…You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you are not able to interpret the signs of the times. ” (Jesus, Matt 16:3, REV).  I have watched someone I love happily and obliviously counting out a stack of money onto their lap while a street gang looked on with intensely growing interest behind her.  Acknowledging your situation can save your life.  Ok, look around you.  Be honest.  Does it look like we, as a people, are listening to the voice of God and humbly and obediently following His will?  If not (spoiler alert, the answer is no) you should be reeeeeeeaaaally careful to not listen to anyone saying “peace, peace, tomorrow will be just like today, only better” because at least according to scripture (the testimony and the law), that’s just not how God operates.  Read the room, because like it or not, this is the room that you’re standing in.  Maybe clean out your corner of it before Dad comes home.
  • Relational Awareness: “The earth is Yahweh’s, and all it contains; the world, and those who dwell in it. ” (Ps 24:1).  Since the beginning of time, when man was created in the image of God, man has taken that authority and ran with it.  Sometimes a little too far and a little too fast.  Yes, we were created in the image of God, but we were also created by God.  So is everything else here on the earth.  It’s all created by God, even us, and it all belongs to Him.  We are all under the authority of God, but most of us have either forgotten or chosen to ignore this very simple foundational understanding that brings life: there is a God, and you are not Him.  Know your role, and humbly seek to obey your creator.  Pray, fast, humble yourself, and seek God.

            This is all very concerning, for those who are paying attention, but there’s hope.  Jer 23:4-5 says “I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them, and they will fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor will any be missing, says Yahweh.  Behold, the days are coming, says Yahweh, that I will raise for David a righteous Branch, and he will reign as king and deal wisely, and will execute justice and righteousness in the land.” (REV).  We believe that this righteous branch has come and will come again, our Messiah, the king, Jesus.  Please also note that the word that is translated as righteous/ness here is (once again) “tzedakah”, do a search (just type in “tzedakah” in the search bar on this website) to get a fuller understanding of what that means and implies.  It’s important.

            This is of the utmost importance.  In a world with thousands of shepherds, each herding their sheep in a different direction, we need to ensure that we’re listening to the Good Shepherd, the man God sent, our Messiah.  Yesterday’s devotion touched on this a little as well.  We need to listen to Jesus.  There’s an ancient book called “The Didache” that deals extensively with the workings of the (very) early church.  In it, one of the methods offered by which to discern a false apostle or bad shepherd was “do they ask for money? If they do, they’re a false apostle.”.  Jesus never asked for any money, just saying.  All I remember Jesus saying about money is that one cannot serve both God and money (Matt 6:24).  Hrmm, interesting.

            That means that even if someone else has a very melodious voice, even if they’re very handsome and charismatic, even if they preach at a mega-church (which are in and of themselves all fine things), even if they have thousands and thousands of followers: if they say anything other than exactly what Jesus was saying, it’s because they have no dawn.  They won’t see the morning when the morning comes.  The people who are following them blindly won’t either.  Let that sink in.

            We have a God that loves us intensely, whom we have grieved over and over with our disregard and misplaced priorities.  Yes, God is love.  He sent us Jesus as a way for us be be reconciled, to once again dwell with our God: we have one good shepherd that will lead us back to our God, and a thousand bad shepherds that will lead us to destruction.  We only need to listen to the one that God sent.

            “If Yahweh does not build a house, those who built it labored in vain. If Yahweh does not watch over a city, the watchman keeps awake in vain. ” (Ps 127:1, REV).  Please, be careful.  Examine yourself daily, speak to God regularly, ask Him to reveal to you your own hidden faults, and seek His wisdom in correcting them.  Act generously towards your fellow creation, and seek to the best of your ability to fulfill the tasks that we as servants of the living God have been given.  Listen to Jesus, follow the only Good Shepherd, the one God sent.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. Why do you think there are such a large number of bad shepherds in the world, and why do you think they are thriving?
  2. If I gave you $100 for every bible verse you memorized, would you memorize more verses? 
  3. Why? (It’s a deep question.  Think about it.)

PRAYER

Father God, Thank you for life.  Please guide me, there are so many distractions here, so many things and theories that are not from you, please grant me discernment and wisdom and help me to follow Jesus alone, to your glory.  Thank you Father, in Jesus name, Amen.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

Martha, Martha, Martha!

Mary listened to the Lord's teaching at his feet

Jeremiah 21-22

Psalm 127

*Luke 10

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            Ok, to be fair, in the target verse I took the title from there are only 2 “Martha”s, but every time I read this verse I think of the old Brady Bunch television show and crack up laughing.   In the context of the show, Jan (a younger sister) would often complain that Marcia was receiving all the attention, leading to the whined repetition of her sister’s name. This is often (and incorrectly) quoted as “Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!” (it’s actually “Marcia”, pronounced the same, spelled differently).

            The sentiment expressed biblically is exactly the same though: hey, why are they getting all the attention, when I’m the one doing the work here?  How often do you feel as if you’re going above and beyond when _______  (insert any name here) is really just not trying nearly as hard.  I know I’m absolutely guilty of that at times, both at my job and at my home. 

            Here in America (where I live), we have a phrase: “phoning it in.”.  It implies that the person in question is too lazy to even show up to work, and they are “phoning it in.”.  I say with shame that I have on occasions in the past when I have felt like I was shouldering the majority burden of a load around the house called out to my wife “Hey, it’s 865.”.  To which she’d go, “What is?”  and I’d reply “that’s our area code, so when you’re phoning it in you’ll at least get close to where we live.” (I know, I know…).

            The problem with that is, and I’ve said this many times: when we stand before the throne of judgment on the last day, what other people have done will not enter into the conversation.  Each person’s actions are between them and God, when we make preliminary judgment we’re taking a dangerous action.  Remember the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (in Luke 18)?  The Pharisee was puffed up by all the things he had done, the Tax Collector just begged God for forgiveness, and only one of them went home justified that night before God.

            The verse that the title is taken from is near the very end of this chapter, and says (Luke 10:41-42): But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,but one thing is necessary; indeed, Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (the REV translation is used throughout this devotion).

            Like us, Martha is anxious and troubled about many things.  Jesus tells her, and us, though: but one thing is necessary.  What is the one thing?  To listen to Jesus.  To sit obediently at his feet and listen to the things that he tells us.  Mary got to do this in person, to gaze up at our Teacher as he spoke.  We have to rely on the scriptures, and the urgings of the spirit, but the one thing that is necessary remains the same.  Listen to Jesus.

            So backing up in this chapter, Jesus says and does a few things.  Let’s listen to Jesus.  If you flip back to the previous chapter (9) Jesus sends out the 12.  At the beginning of this chapter, he sends out the 72, with roughly the same mission.  One of the things he said to them stands out to me, in verse 3 he says “…I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.”. 

            When I first began attending Atlanta Bible College, freshly come from life as a career criminal (yes, of course there’s a story there…), Kent Ross asked me about a week in how I was doing with it all.  Kent was awesome.  I had to think about it really hard, so it took me a second to answer him, and I said “Kent, I feel like a wolf among sheep.”.  He just smiled and patted me on the shoulder and said “It’ll get better”, and he was right.

            When the 72 returned, they marvelled that even the demons submitted to them.  Jesus warned them not to rejoice in this, but to rejoice instead that their names were written in heaven (presumably in the “book of life”).

            When a certain expert of the law (Jewish Orthodox Law) asked Jesus “What must I do to obtain life in the age to come?” (ie, the kingdom of God), Jesus replied, “What is written?”.  The implication here is that the understanding and practice of what is written in scripture can lead one to life in the age to come, in the kingdom.  The man quoted the Shema (Deut 6:4-5), the absolutely most important commandment, and followed it with Leviticus 19:18.  Both are pasted below, since Jesus himself said that this was the greatest and the next greatest commandment both here and in other accounts (in Mark 12:29-32).  You should know these verses and have them memorized, because according to Jesus these are the most important commandments:

The Shema, The Greatest Commandment (Deut 6:4-5): “4“Hear, O Israel! Yahweh is our God, Yahweh alone! 5Therefore you are to love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. “

The Golden Rule, the second greatest commandment (Leviticus 19:18): “Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you are to love your neighbor as yourself; I am Yahweh. “

            In the parable of the Good Samaritan, just after this conversation, Jesus tells us who our neighbor is that we are to love.  It’s everyone, every other vessel of clay that the Lord God Yahweh has made, which is all of us.

            What else did Jesus say?  Well, Jesus has a God, and tells us that his God and our God are the same God (John 20:17).  He says that God has sent him and that he can only say and do the things that God has told him to (John 12:49).  Jesus tells us that the Father, Yahweh, is greater than he is (John 14:28).  Jesus tells us that he is the Christ, the one whom God has anointed, the man whom God has chosen to be the king (John 4:26).  How has the modern church confused and altered such simple teachings?  Like Mary and Martha in this story at the end of Luke 10, we need to understand that only one thing is necessary: to listen to Jesus.

            If you really want to listen to Jesus, and want a concentrated dose of what Jesus said, I really think (ie, it’s my opinion) that reading and putting in to practice Matthew 5-8 are probably the most important things that we can do to become citizens of the kingdom of God, and to have our names written in the book of life.  Please read it for yourself, and tell me if you agree.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. Do you ever fall into this trap, of comparing yourself to another human instead of measuring yourself up against God’s expectations?
  2. What is the best way to avoid this pitfall, and how can we implement it in our daily lives?
  3. How often do we just shut up, when we are praying, and try to listen?  If we’re talking more than we’re listening, doesn’t that imply that we view the relationship in a skewed fashion?

PRAYER

Father God, please forgive my arrogance when I judge others.  Help me not to do that, help me to avoid the things that can trap me in wrong thinking, and please create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me.  Teach me and help me to listen, guide me and give me the courage to follow, hold me and help me to know I am loved.  Thank you God, in Jesus name, Amen.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

Recurring Themes: The Kingdom and The Christ

Jeremiah 19-20

Psalm 127

*Luke 9

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            Lots of time in the scriptures we see a “recurring theme”; a central idea, message, or concept that appears repeatedly throughout a single work of art, a series of works, or across different narratives.  We see this a lot in scripture, and you can probably think of at least 3 examples of this without thinking too hard about it.

            In today’s reading of Luke 9, we see a couple of recurring themes that occur through this single chapter of scripture: 1 of these themes (the Christ, and what that means identity-wise)  occurs about 531 times directly in the new testament, myriads of other times semi-directly , and another (the kingdom of God) occurs about 365 times throughout the bible.

            Dissecting Luke 9, we see right off the bat (in v 1-6) that the 12 (disciples) are empowered to cast out demons and cure sicknesses, and sent out to (in v2): “…preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. “.  The last verse of this section says “6 And they departed and went throughout the villages proclaiming good news and healing people everywhere”.  So what is this good news?  What is the gospel that they are preaching?  They are preaching about the kingdom of God.  That’s the good news that Jesus sends them out to speak about.

            The kingdom of God (or kingdom of Heaven) is one of the recurring themes throughout scripture, and occurs about 365 times, give or take.  It’s mentioned 6 times in this chapter alone, and refers to God’s coming kingdom that will be established (on the earth).  When Jesus teaches his disciples to pray, a portion of the prayer includes …”your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:10, Luke 11:12).  Jesus teaches us that we are to “seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.” (Matt 6:33), so it’s not just a priority, it’s top priority.

            Throughout the centuries since Jesus the Christ left us, the focus has gradually shifted away from attaining citizenship into this kingdom (after the resurrection of the dead at the second coming), and towards “going to heaven” when we die.  Unfortunately, this “traditional orthodox” understanding is not scriptural: scriptures themselves speak only of a type of “sleep” for the righteous (with the notable exceptions of Enoch and Elijah).  In scripture, there are no verses that say that the righteous will go to heaven when they die, and approximately 54 that state they enter into a state of “sleep”* when they die (prior to a day of resurrection) so it can be logically inferred that the majority of traditional “orthodox” understanding is probably erroneous in this matter.  I’ll spare you the bad joke about what Mozart is doing right now**, along with the rest of the dead.

            It should also be noted that the kingdom of Heaven/kingdom of God is, according to scripture, going to be established here upon the earth***, after the return of the Christ, the judgment, and the resurrection of the dead.  If we entered immediately into the kingdom upon death, there would be no need for a resurrection, or the establishment of the kingdom on the earth.  The kingdom of God is to be established here on the earth after a number of specific criteria and events have occurred (see Revelation for reference).  Scriptures that seem to uphold both this and the above paragraph are listed at the bottom, if you’d like to compare and contrast them with your beliefs, but by all means make your own interpretations and do your own studies.

            So, is the kingdom of God a big deal?  It absolutely is, it’s what Jesus preached about, and sent his disciples out to preach about.  Has it been misunderstood and misrepresented in these later times?  It would seem so, according to scripture.  We are also told that in the last days, there will be lots of misunderstandings (See 1 Tim 4:1) and misrepresentations, so this shouldn’t come as any surprise.

            Another recurring theme we see through Luke 9 is folks wondering who Jesus is, who is this Nazarene fellow that some are calling The Christ?  Herod wonders this in Luke 9:7-9.  In Luke 9:18-22, Jesus asks his own disciples who the people are saying he is, and then asks Peter.  In Luke 9: 35 we hear what is presumably the voice of God stating who this Jesus fellow is.

            So, who was the Christ?  What does “Christ” mean?  What relationship did Jesus have with God, according to scripture?  What relationship does Jesus have with God, according to “orthodox tradition”?  Are they the same answer?  Why, or why not?

            This is a recurring theme even today, and unfortunately, we’ve let years of tradition influence our answer in most churches.  There is a fantastic and disturbingly educational book I’ve read recently which explains how a lot of the current “orthodox” traditions were accepted by the church that I’m going to highly, highly recommend to anyone who is truly serious about separating fact from fiction from tradition.  It’s called: “Voting About God in Early Church Councils”, by Ramsay MacMullen.  It’s a book that draws on extensive verbatim stenographic records, and analyzes the ecumenical councils from 325 to 553, in which participants gave authority to doctrinal choices by majority vote.  Did you ever wonder how some of these things really went down?  This book tells you (with original sources quoted extensively).   Spoiler Alert: it’s disturbing.

            Forget tradition, scripture slone should be our measuring stick.  If we hear anything that does not perfectly align with the majority of scripture, then it should be looked at very carefully.  Luke 9, along with all other scriptures, give us some very specific things that it claims that Jesus, the Christ, is.  It is also notably missing some of the larger more ambitious claims of later “orthodox” doctrine.  While our job is not to hold a measuring stick up to our brothers and sisters, we are told quite extensively in scripture to examine ourselves.  With that in mind:

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

  1. What do you think the “kingdom of God” is?  Where and when does it take place? Which verses do you feel lend credence to your interpretation?  What level of priority should we assign to becoming citizens of this kingdom?
  2. Who do you say that Jesus is?  Does your belief line up with the majority of scripture?  Why, or why not?
  3. Possibly the most important question: how does your interpretation and understanding of scripture affect how you view and interact with both God and the rest of the humans he made?

PRAYER:

Father God, Please open my eyes and let me see.  Speak into my ear, and let me understand your word.  Grant me wisdom to discern the truth, and obedience to follow your word.  Forgive me of the many times I fall short, and help me to be as forgiving to the people around me when they do.  Thank you God, for life, breath, and all things.  In Jesus name, Amen.

* the “sleep of the dead” is extensively referred to throughout scripture: Gen 47:30; Deut 31:16; 2 Sam 7:12; 1 Ki 2:10; 1 Ki 11:21; 1 Ki 14:20; 1 Ki 15:8; 1 Ki 15:24; 1 Ki 22:40; 1 Ki 22:50; 2 Ki 8:24; 2 Ki 13:9; 2 Ki 14:16; 2 Ki 14:22; 2 Ki 15:7; 2 Ki 15:38; 2 Ki 16:20; 2 Ki 20:21; 2 Ki 21:18; 2 Ki 21:26. 1 Chron 28:10; 2 Chron 9:31; 2 Chron 14:1; 2 Chron 16:13; 2 Chron 21:20; 2 Chron 24:25; 2 Chron 26:23; 2 Chron 32:33; Job 7:21; Job 14:12; Ps 13:3; Ps 90:5; Dan 12:2. Matt 9:24; Mark 5:39; Luke 8:52; John 11:11; Matt 27:52; Acts 7:60; Acts 13:36; 1 Cor 7:39; 1 Cor 11:30; 1 Cor 15:20; 1 Cor 15:51; 1 Thess 4:13; 1 Thess 5:10; 2 Peter 3:4.  Additionally, the entirety of Heb 11 is devoted to explaining this concept, with examples.

** “De-composing”, pa dum pum (at least until Jesus comes back).  Ok, so I won’t completely spare you.

*** The Kingdom of God established on the earth: Is 65:17-19, Dan 2:44, Mic 4:1-2, Zech 14:9-11, Heb 12:22, Rev 3:12, 5:10, 11:15, 21:1-3, and more.  These texts collectively affirm that the Kingdom is a literal, earthly government rather than a purely spiritual or heavenly entity.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

Clay Vessels

A person shaping a clay pot on a spinning wheel, with hands covered in clay. The image features the quote from Jeremiah 18:2 NIV overlayed on top.

*Jeremiah 17-18

Psalm 126

Luke 9

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            Genesis 2:7 states that God made man from the “dust of the ground“, and the literal translation of “dust” in this could equally be translated as “dirt/dust/clay/mud/earth”.  The literal origin of the species* happened at this time, according to scripture, when God made man (from the dirt/clay/mud  of the earth) and “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life“.  “Breath” in this verse is also the same exact word for spirit in the original language, by the way, so you could honestly say with accuracy that every human being who is living and breathing at this moment in time has a small piece of the “spirit” or “breath” of God in them.  That’s what animates us all, and gives us life.

            This is an important concept and it’s ramifications to our place in the universe are pretty extensive.  We exist solely because God (1) formed us out of the dirt and (2) breathed into us His breath or spirit, which gave us life.  This is a conscious act of creation, an act of will, an intentional making which caused us to be.  It’s easy to forget sometimes, when we see some of the other tiny little humans walking about that are famous, wealthy, beautiful, full of pride, etc. Etc.; but we are all creations, jars of clay formed by our creator, God.  We live solely because our lungs are filled with the “breath”, or “spirit”, of God.  Regardless of our status towards the other humans, we are all the same before God: vessels of clay, which He has formed and animated, creations which He owns since He made it all.

            There are a couple verses in Job that I like a lot specifically because they highlight these simple teachings.  In Job 33:6 it says: “Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay. ” when the young Elihu speaks to Job, and later in that same conversation, in 34:14-15 he says: “If he set his heart on himself, if he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath, all flesh would die together and man would turn again to dust.“.  Think about that for a moment.  God, as the creator of the earth and all the things in it (even us) has absolute authority over all of it, because it is His.  This is clearly stated throughout scripture, and most beautifully put in Psalms 24:1 “The earth is Yahweh’s, and all it contains; the world, and those who dwell in it.“.

            In our Jeremiah reading today, we get a pretty clear restatement of this simple concept.  Jeremiah 18:1-4 reads: “The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying, “Get up and go down to the potter’s house and I will tell you my message there.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and behold, he was making a work on the wheels. Whenever the vessel that he made of the clay came out ruined in the hand of the potter, he made it again, into another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. “.  It’s a very straightforward visual lesson: perform the purpose for which you are created or else back in the bucket you’ll go.  God is the divine potter, we are his clay.

            A while back, there was a famous (and now disgraced) comedian who had a great bit in his show about a parental warning that his father gave to his 7 year old self that went something like this: “I brought you into this world, and I can take you out. And it don’t make no difference to me, I’ll make another one look just like you”.  Hilarious when presented in the comedy show, it’s a bit ominous and concerning when it turns out to be a scriptural accuracy that is clearly demonstrated in our reading today.

            Here are a couple verses to compare and consider, from Jeremiah 17 (please note that ALL scriptures from today’s devotion are quoted from the REV translation, available free online):

“5This is what Yahweh says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in humans and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart departs from Yahweh.” 

“7Blessed is the one who trusts in Yahweh, and whose confidence is Yahweh.”

“9The heart is deceitful above all things, and is incurable; who can know it?”

            To trust in humans is a curse, to trust in Yahweh is a blessing, and our own hearts are deceitful above all things.  This means that even if we really feel like something is right, we need to compare it to scripture and see if it meets the criteria before we can make a discerning judgment. 

            In my sabbath school class this morning, I heard for the second time a teaching I was unfamiliar with from scripture, the concept that Adam and Eve wore “robes of light” in the garden of Eden.  It’s a common belief in the denomination of the church I was attending this morning.  Everyone in the class was on board with this belief, but I was unfamiliar with it. 

            I double checked in scripture, and then raised my hand and politely asked about it.  We all had a very respectfully polite and loving conversation about it; while there were some later verses that could be read in a specific way to imply that such a thing might exist (or come to exist for believers), nothing in scripture stated this specifically and more to the point in question, there was nowhere in scripture during the creation story that stated or even implied that Adam and Eve were wearing such a thing (and some verses which seemed to potentially contradict this belief).

            As a result, and since scripture is the ruler by which we should measure all of our beliefs, we as a group came to the conclusion that while it was not necessarily detrimental to salvation and perfectly acceptable to be held as a personal belief, the belief that Adam and Eve wore “robes of light” in the garden couldn’t be found anywhere in scripture and therefore shouldn’t be spoken of with certainty when teaching (at least without a caveat mentioned).  This conversation was all done in love and unity, with a common seeking an understanding of God’s word.  We didn’t all agree on the “robes of light”, but we did all agree that scripture should be our guide.

            I offer the above (true) story as a template to a loving and respectful way that we can, as a body of believers, seek after the truth of God’s word in humility and respect and to weigh the truth of scripture against what our heart may hold dear as it has been presented to us in the traditions of man.  It’s ok to raise your hand.  It’s ok to ask questions.  It’s ok to lovingly request clarification on any specific belief or tradition.  Then, it’s required to compare that to what the scriptures say, because trusting in men is a curse, but trusting in Yahweh is a blessing.  Even if you really feel strongly about something in your heart, because the heart is deceitful above all else.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. Think of a time when you really wanted something to be true, but it just wasn’t.  How many things did you just think of?
  2. Of all those times you just thought about, how many times was your mistaken belief because you were deceived by others compared to you deceiving yourself?
  3. Do you find yourself sometimes thinking that your jar of clay is better than someone else’s, or vice versa?  Why?  Do you think that’s scripturally accurate?

PRAYER

Father God, you have created not only me but all things here on the earth.  You are my maker, I am your creation.  Father forgive me when I fall short, please mold me to serve the purpose which you intended for me.  Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me, for your glory.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

*-The question of the origin of the species can be boiled down to a simple and single binary question: is the existence of man(kind) planned or random?  Mathematical Physicist Robert Pemrose has calculated that the probability of a life-supporting universe arising by chance as 1 in 10^10^123, which is an infinitesmally small percentage.  This in turn suggests that the precise constants required for life make a random origin of our existence statistically impossible, thereby increasing the likelihood of a conscious creator to near certainty.  Just some math stuff for you nerds.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

Who Touched Me?

*Jeremiah 15-16

Psalm 126

*Luke 8

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            If you read yesterday’s devotion, do you remember there being at least 8 devotions worth of material in Luke 8?  Well, lucky day, since Luke 8 is partially in today’s reading too, one of them (the woman who touched Jesus and was healed) is going to be our primary study today.

            Before we go there though, just a touch upon our Jeremiah reading today.  If you read through these chapters, it really sounds like God is super-pi….well, let’s just say really angry. If you wonder why, check out the devotion from  June 17th this year entitled “Tingling Ears”.  Manasseh means “forgetting” or “causing to forget”, and Manasseh caused the Israelites to forget about God, while being credited in a number of scriptures as being so bad that he pretty much caused the babylonian exile (and the destruction of the temple) because of his sins.  In Jeremiah 15:4 specifically it says: “And I will make them an object of horror among all the kingdoms of the earth because of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, the king of Judah, because of what he did in Jerusalem.”.   Just another clear reminder that just because you come from good stock doesn’t mean you’re good.

            Moving forward to Luke 8, let’s talk about the woman who touched Jesus, as there are a couple interesting points to make here.  First let’s set the scene a little.  Jesus and the twelve are travelling about, preaching and healing people, along with a group of benefactor ladies (Luke 8:1-3).  Huge crowds are gathering to hear what this Jesus guy is saying, people are even being healed, so everywhere he goes there’s a crowd either curious to hear his words or maybe even to get lucky enough to be healed of an affliction.  Maybe even both.  Jesus got in a boat to get some peace, calmed a storm, cast out demon(s), and then returned.  When he got back, the crowds were waiting on him.

            So, did you ever wonder if Jesus obeyed Jewish law?  He did.  When the woman in the crowd touched Jesus and was healed, she touched what is commonly translated as “the hem of his robe”.  What she actually touched was the fringe (or tassel) of Jesus’ garment, which was the part of the clothing known as the “tzitzit” worn by faithful Jewish men in obedience to biblical commands (found in Num 15:38 and Deut 22:12).  So yes, our Messiah was a very faithful and law obeying Jewish man, just as it was prophesied throughout scripture that he would be.  The seed of the woman, an Israelite man which God would raise up from among his brothers “like Moses” who would be completely obedient, a genealogical descendant of David.

            When the woman touched Jesus’ tassel and was healed, he felt the power go out of him.  There’s an interesting discussion here in Luke 8:45-48, in which Jesus asks who touched him.  Once, while attending a “traditional, orthodox” church,  a teacher speaking about this event told me (and the rest of the class) “well, he actually already knew, because God is omniscient…”.  Let’s pause a moment there and consider that.  While I’d agree that omniscience is probably a trait of God (Yahweh),  it seems as if in addition to many of the other notable traits and characteristics that distinguish the son of God (Yeshua) from God Himself (Yahweh), Jesus did not share this trait.  To imply that Jesus, our Messiah, would intentionally dissemble and mislead seems rather silly to me, and ill informed and ungracious at best.  Jesus, as the man God sent, only spoke the words that God told him to speak (and that’s according to Jesus himself, see John 12:49) so I think we can safely rule that theory out completely and move on to the simpler, more honest, reading.

            We don’t know the woman’s name* who touched Jesus in the crowd, the bible doesn’t mention it.   We do know that she was suffering for 12 years from  a chronic bleeding condition, “a discharge of blood” (possibly menstrual), which would render her ceremonially unclean and socially isolated under Jewish law.  To even touch an unclean person under Jewish law meant that you became unclean too.  What’s the big deal though?

            It’s a bigger deal than you can possibly imagine.  In the ancient world, the Jewish people had at the core of their social identity as a people the common belief in the one God, the God who had saved them from Egypt and claimed them as a people, and there was only one place in Israel that it was acceptable to go and worship this God, and that was at the Temple in Jerusalem.  You could not enter the temple if you were unclean, not without a very specific (and time consuming) ritual cleansing.  If you had a chronic bleeding condition, you could never become ritually clean, and therefore you could never enter the temple.  You couldn’t make your sacrifices before God.  You were cut off, not only from your people, but from your God. 

            Put it in your own social terms.  Let’s say you live in a medium-sized town, and everybody in this town goes to one church.  Now imagine that nobody will socialize with you or even approach you, and the only place that you can go to that everyone else goes to is denied to you.  In addition, even though you want to serve God, the only place you’re allowed to do it is at this church, which you’re not allowed in.  Feel isolated yet?  It was exponentially worse for this woman, because the core of the Jewish identity centered around the temple, and the belief and worship of the one God, which could only ritually take place in the temple.  This woman had no friends, and couldn’t even officially approach God, not like the rest of the Israelites could.  Just imagine how that would make you feel.

            When Jesus found out who had touched him, he didn’t rebuke her.  He didn’t scold her as an unclean woman touching a faithful and ritually clean Jewish man.  He blessed her, and told her that her faith had made her clean.  From this point, all she had to do was to go and see a priest, serve out the prescribed time for purification, and then she could enter the Temple.  Jesus restored her ability to have a direct relationship to God.  He brought her back in to the tribe of Israel socially as well, and enabled her to be a part of the nation that was no longer isolated and excluded.

            No matter who you are, no matter what tribe you are from, no matter what the color of your skin is, what language you speak, or what nation you live in: Jesus offers us this same invitation.  A chance to remove our affliction, to restore us to our God, and to be a part of the kingdom.  An opportunity, for those of us bold enough and willing to just reach out and try to touch him.  Even if it’s just the hem of his robe.  All praise to the God who sent him, our king is a restorer, a mender of the breach, a repairer of what is broken.  Thank you, Jesus.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

  1. Had you ever considered the social and spiritual ramifications of having a chronic bleeding illness in the ancient Israelite world, based on Jewish law?
  2. Had you ever considered that our king, Jesus, was a (Jewish) law abiding man, and what the ramifications of that are to us today?
  3. Had you ever considered the deeper implications of why Jesus didn’t know who touched him?

Prayer

Father God, thank you for sending us your son.  Please heal us.  Thank you for all of the blessings that you have given us, all undeserved and unwarranted on our part.  Please help me to glorify your name, to obey your laws, and to follow the teachings of the one you sent to us.  In Jesus name, Amen.

* It should be noted that later “church tradition” does identify her by name with some other interesting and apocryphal trivia about her, but like any church traditions that aren’t explicitly in scripture, they should be discarded with the waste water.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

False Prophets

*Jeremiah 13-14

Psalm 125

*Luke 8

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            Luke 8 alone (ironically) has enough material for about 8 devotions all by itself by my reckoning, so please read it thoroughly as we’ll be moving along quickly to get to some other juicy bits today.  Aside from the (1)women supporting the ministry (see below), we have (2) the parable of the sower (hugely important concepts) and it’s explanation, (3) the parable of the hidden lamp (nothing is hidden that will not be revealed!), (4) Jesus’ mother and brothers (are the ones hearing and doing the word of God), (5) Jesus calms the storm (and teaches about faith), (6) Jesus casts out demons (into pigs, and gains a follower), (7) Jesus heals a woman who touches him (whose affliction would have kept her from going to the temple to worship), and (8) Jesus raises a dead girl (who he says has “fallen asleep”).  Whew.  Busy chapter, easily 8 full devotions worth.

            The first 3 verses here are interesting because after it mentions Jesus and his disciples (specifically “the twelve”) travelling about and preaching, it also says “certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, and then lists 3 specific names, but says that there were “many others” who were providing for them out of their own resources.

            Of the 3 ladies mentioned by name, Susanna has no other references in the bible, Mary Magdalene* has numerous other references in scripture, and then Joanna, who was married to Chuza, has no other mention in the bible.  An interesting note though: Joanna was Chuza’s wife, who was Herod’s manager.  This would be Herod Antipas, there were 5-6 Herods in scripture starting with “Herod the Great” (who was not so great, and was responsible for the massacre of infants in the Bethlehem area shortly after Jesus birth).  Herod Antipas was Herod the Great’s son, and is noted for his rule and roles in the executions of John the Baptist, and Jesus of Nazareth.  That Herod.  His manager’s wife was a noted follower of Jesus.  Interesting, isn’t it?  You’re welcome, history nerds!

            The Jeremiah reading today is going to be our focus.  In Jeremiah 13, God commands Jeremiah to buy a linen loincloth (skivvies).  The word used here can also be translated as “belt, waistband, or girdle”, but the idea is that it was a cloth that was worn close to the body around the waist.  He’s told to go bury the loincloth and then retrieve it “after many days” and when he does it’s worthless and gross, and this is to be a visual sign to Israel and Judah.  As visual signs and prophecies go, as gross as it sounds putting on a nasty ruined loincloth, in this instance Jeremiah could have had it a lot worse (See Isaiah 20 for comparison).  This visual prophecy, like most that God gives His people, is another attempt to guide them back to Him, which really speaks a lot toward the character of our loving and merciful God.

            Here’s what I’d like to focus on today, though.  In Jeremiah 14, false prophets have come among the people of Israel, telling them that everything is going to be fine and not to worry.  Jeremiah is upset about this, and mentions it to God, see below:

13Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Behold, the prophets say to them, ‘You will not see the sword, nor will you have famine, but I will give you lasting peace and prosperity in this place.’” 14Then Yahweh said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in my name. I did not send them, nor have I commanded them, nor did I speak to them. They prophesy to you a lying vision, and worthless divination, and the deceptions of their own heart. 15Therefore this is what Yahweh says: As for the prophets who prophesy in my name although I did not send them, yet they keep saying, ‘Sword and famine will not be in this land,’ By sword and famine those prophets will be consumed. 16And the people they prophesy to will be cast out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword, and they will have no one to bury them—them, nor their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters—because I will pour their wickedness on them. (REV translation)

            There are false prophets among the people, they are telling the people what they want to hear, but they are telling lies and God didn’t send them or tell them to say these things.  Sound familiar? The point of concern here though is that the people will still be held accountable!  God gave us His word as a template, by which we are to measure the words of men.  Why is it important to be discerning with your understanding of scripture? Because God has already told us: of His nature, of what is to come, of what our expectations are.  We change these precepts, ignore them, or listen to others who speak contrary to these things at our own peril.  We will be held accountable.

            There are false prophets today, too.  In 1 Timothy 4:1 it tells us that in the last days they’ll abound.  We generally think that we’re in the last days now.  Why would they do such a thing, though?  Well, we had a discussion about this just recently at church Saturday morning: it could be people seeking profit or gain, it could be people seeking fame or social status, and it could also be genuine people who themselves have been deceived and are now in all earnestness and good intentions deceiving others.  The point is, it doesn’t matter why.  If you allow yourself to be misled, you will be held accountable.  How then are we to discern what is truth, and what is a lie?

            Isaiah 8:20 “Turn to the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light of dawn in them.“  (REV translation used).  Think about it.  If you listen to someone who speaks against exactly (and only) what the Bible says, they don’t have a morning, and neither will you.  Be discerning.  Abhor tradition and teachings where it contradicts scripture.  In Ephesians 6:10-17 when speaking of the “Armor of God”, among all of the defensive items of armor listed there is only one offensive tool mentioned with which we can fight, and it is the sword of the spirit, the word of God, the scriptures.  If you don’t know how to wield it, there’s a good chance you’re going to get murdered.  Practice with your sword and read your Bible, for your own sake, and for the love of God.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. How many false prophets can you think of, off the top of your head?
  2. How many of these do you think are genuinely earnest people, who have themselves been decieved?
  3. How many times a day/week do you read your Bible?  Would you read it more if your life depended on it? (spoiler alert: it does.)

Prayer

Father God, you have warned us of those who have eyes but are blind, and those who have ears but are deaf.  Please Father, open our eyes, clean out our ears, and speak to us clearly so that we are not deceived.  Lead us and guide us, whisper to us and tell us the way in which we should go.  Have mercy upon your people, Lord God, for your own name’s sake.  Thank you, in Jesus name, amen.

* Since the rooting out and exposing of unscriptural church traditions has become something of a hobby for me, it should be noted regarding Mary Magdalene that the belief that she was a repentant sex worker or the sister of Martha and Lazarus stems from later church traditions and misinterpretations, not from scriptural text. She was however “healed of seven demons” and contributed to Jesus’ ministry financially, in addition to getting honorable mention in all 4 of the gospels, and being the first to arrive at the empty tomb of Jesus after his resurrection.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

Are You Keeping Your Promises? 

The devotion by Cayce Fletcher reflects on the nature of promises and covenants, highlighting humanity’s tendency to break commitments. It draws parallels between God’s covenant with Israel and our relationships today. Despite human unfaithfulness, God remains steadfast. Fletcher encourages readers to evaluate their promises and live faithfully, inspired by God’s unwavering commitment.

Jer 11-12

Ps 125

Luke 7

-Devotion by Cayce Fletcher

One of my favorite movies is the original animated Beauty and the Beast. In one of the scenes, Cogsworth is explaining how to ‘woo’ a woman, and he says you do it with “flowers, chocolates, promises you don’t intend to keep.”

A promise is supposed to be something that is lasting. That you are committed to upholding. But, unfortunately, today, promises are viewed as disposable. 

From the covenant of marriage, to the relationships between family members, to simple contractual obligations, everyone seems to be breaking their word. It’s almost like the human bent is to break our promise. 

In today’s passage, we read of a similar story: God is reminding Israel of their covenant promise, but Israel refuses to listen. In Exodus (through Deuteronomy), God establishes the Mosaic covenant with His people. In Deuteronomy 30, he presents to them a choice: Choose life and keep the covenant, or choose death and reject it. 

Jeremiah reminds the people of the covenant that was made in the wilderness, which the people continue to break (Jer. 11). God continually called them back, but the people continued to reject Him. 

The old covenant has given way to the new covenant, which we are under today in Christ. The curtain is torn (Matt. 27:51), the old covenant is done away with, and through Christ we are able to enter into the Most Holy Place (Heb. 10:19). We don’t have to wear bells and fear dropping dead; instead, the very Spirit of God has come to dwell in us as His temple (1 Cor. 6:19). 

The story of Israel reminds us just how easy it is for people to make promises to God and then slowly wander away from them. We can sing the songs, say the prayers, and profess our devotion—and then live as though those promises have little bearing on our everyday lives.

But God is not like us. He does not make “promises He doesn’t intend to keep.” Throughout Scripture, even as His people prove themselves unfaithful again and again, God remains faithful.

And because He has been faithful to us, we are called to be faithful to Him.

So take some time to consider the promises you have made. Are you living faithfully in your covenant relationship with God? Are you keeping your word to your spouse, your family, your church, and the people around you?

In a world where promises are increasingly treated as disposable, let us be people whose word means something—because we belong to a God who always keeps His.

Cayce Fletcher is a wife and mom of three. In addition to homeschooling and other ministry projects, she writes and podcasts at amorebeautifullifecollective.com about faith, motherhood, and theology. 

Reflection Questions

  1. Why is keeping promises important? Why is it so hard to keep promises? 
  2. How are covenants similar to and different from promises? 
  3. What is so unique about the New Covenant that we have in Christ?

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for the New Covenant that we have in Christ—that we can enter into the most holy place and not be afraid. We praise you and honor you with our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload