Category: grace

What Does God Require of Us?

Leviticus 8-9     

Psalm 9                

Matthew 23

Devotion by Tom Siderius (MI)

Religious practice is exactly what is said.  It is our habitual practices that we bring to our walk with God and make rules for our lives.  These practices are not necessarily good or evil but become the habits that we follow as people in our daily life.  We also build habits that govern our time together as the body of Christ at church or fellowship.  Once again, these practices are neither good or evil but are the way that we have decided to fellowship together.

The law of Moses covered almost every aspect of life for the nation of Israel and gave instruction in how to do righteous actions and have righteous thoughts.  As we read in Leviticus these instructions can be very complex and to our culture maybe not very understandable. 

In our reading in Matthew, we are at almost the end of Jesus’ life here on earth and he is at the temple. He has many debates with the leaders there and also spends time teaching the people. He throws out the moneychangers and vendors and then has many interactions with them that are maybe not the most decorous from their viewpoint.

Matthew 23:1-13(NLT) Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. 3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. 4 They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.
5 “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels. 6 And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. 7 They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’
8 “Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. 9 And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your Father. 10 And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you must be a servant. 12 But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
13 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.

Jesus gives us a compact instruction on how we are to practice our religious life in these short verses. 

  • We are to obey the true Word of God which does not fall
  • We should not add rules and conditions of man to the Word of God
  • We need to worship and practice with humility to God and His instructions to us.
  • Bring people into the kingdom of God not draw lines to exclude them

In Micah God reminds us of what is important to Him and what we really need to do to live out the life of compassion and grace that He has called us to. 

Micah 6:6-8)NLT) What can we bring to the LORD?
Should we bring him burnt offerings?
Should we bow before God Most High
with offerings of yearling calves?
7 Should we offer him thousands of rams
and ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Should we sacrifice our firstborn children
to pay for our sins?
8 No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.

Why does this judge our hearts so well?

We must be careful every day not to start to exalt our minds against God by patting ourselves on our backs for the great works of righteousness for Him that we do.  Just doing religious practices and ignoring the grace that God has given us is the way to go down the wrong road (that’s when the pat on the back needs to be down lower).  If our religious practices bring us closer to God through prayer, praise, love for others, and Christian service then we are building our relationship with God. 

This is what He truly desires from us, not a showy religious practice.  Contrast this with what so much of Christianity does today and the consequences of religious practice become immediately evident.  Our God wants us to have the heart of grace and mercy towards this fallen world and people that He has.  He has built the way to life through His Son Jesus Christ, and he is who we are to become like.

Galatians 2:16(NLT) Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”

God’s grace is the important thing to bring to every part of life and practice.  It is so human and wrong to be judgmental of people based on how I think they should act or think.  I am offended in my mind by their lack of doing of the things that I think they ought to be doing.

Is this the mind of Christ towards others?

Titus 2:11-15a (NLT) For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. 15 You must teach these things and encourage the believers to do them

Hope of life with God and Christ in the kingdom to come is the guiding light for everything that we should be doing.  When our motivations and intents of our hearts towards others is right with God then our actions will be godly and good.  Our religious practices will become pleasing to God. 

How can we examine our hearts in light of this understanding?

Romans 14:10-11(NLT) So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For the Scriptures say,
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the LORD,
‘every knee will bend to me,
and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’”

Ultimately the motives of our hearts will be examined before all the creation and we will be judged at the “bema” for our actions and thoughts.  It is not in the actions but our hearts that God sees as important to Him.  To renew our minds is to change to become like Christ and do the true instruction of God in this world.

Matthew 23:37-39(NLT) “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. 38 And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate. 39 For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD!’”

Reflection Questions

See questions in bold above.

Prayer:

Dear God, Thank you for the gifts of Your Word and Your Son where we see what You desire and the perfect example of loving and pleasing You. Forgive me for the times I have had a Pharisee’s heart. I want instead the mind of Christ. Help me see myself and others with Your eyes and remembering Your grace humbly respond as You want me to.

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Our Sin Against God

Leviticus 4-5

Psalm 8                

Matthew 22

We are reading today in the book of Leviticus which is where many Bible reading plans go out the window.  Tough going I admit but full of truths for us to mine if we can look past the intricacies of the law of Moses set down.  Reading from Leviticus 4 and 5 today there are some words that we could examine more deeply.  We read about sin offerings, trespass offerings and others.  What is this all about?

Leviticus 4:2-3(NKJV) If a person sin (ha’ta  Strong’s H2398)  unintentionally against any of the commandments of the LORD in anything which ought not to be done, and does any of them, 3 if the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, then let him offer to the LORD for his sin which he has sinned a young bull without blemish as a sin offering.

When God  talks about sin, He is talking about something much deeper and more complex than regulatory lists of good and bad behaviors or choices. He is concerned with the corruption of God’s intentions for us that show up in human relationships and choices. This can be something that we do or something that happens to us.

(ha’ta  Strong’s H2398)  is translated as sin but means “to miss the mark”,  like shooting an arrow at the target and missing.  We miss the direction that God wants and has asked us to go in, and then end up in a place He did not intend us to be.  All the words in bold below are this word (ha’ta)

Leviticus 5:5-6(NKJV) And it shall be, when he is guilty in any of these matters, that he shall confess that he has sinned in that thing; 6 and he shall bring his trespass offering to the LORD for his sin which he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin.

Leviticus 5:17(NKJV) If a person sins, and commits any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD, though he does not know it, yet he is guilty and shall bear his iniquity. (ʿāôn Strong’s H5771)

We start down the path of sin by doing something or saying something that misses the mark, but then we are told that we must bear that “iniquity” (ʿāôn Strong’s H5771)  This is a different word  that starts from the missing of the mark, but then causes us to become “bent or twisted”.  When we intentionally or unintentionally miss God’s standard of life, we become bent by our sin.  In the Old Testament the answer was the sin offering for the original sin, or a trespass offering for the bent nature of our lives.  Unfortunately, we all have missed the mark of the standards of God’s Word and have become twisted in our human natures.  Examples of this type of twisted behavior include deceitfulness, violence, and other kinds of harm we might do to others.

This is the root cause of our human sin nature that no amount of self-discipline or self-chastisement can make us straight again.  We are never able by our own efforts to make ourselves perfect before God, only by His grace and mercy can we come before Him. 

Take a paper clip and unbend it to a more or less straight piece of wire which is what it was to begin with.  Can you make it straight?  Close maybe, but not really.  Now bend it back into the same shape as it was before coming out of the box.  Can you bend it back to the original?  These are the results of our sin nature that we have in our human lives.  Our sin causes us to become bent or twisted, and no amount of effort on our parts can make us straight or perfectly formed again. 

Our “Good News” though is that there is an answer to our bent nature coming from the sacrifice that God gives us in the life of His Son.   Look at this familiar passage from Isaiah 53.

Isaiah 53:4-6(NKJV) Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities (ʿāôn Strong’s H5771)” 
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Jesus brings our sin, trespass and bent nature to the cross and takes it all on him to heal us in every way.  “He has born our griefs” which is our sicknesses and “by His stripes we are healed”  which is to take away our pain. 

Luke 22:41-44(NKJV) And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” 43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Questions for Reflection:

How great is the grace of God in Christ to us?

What can we do to live out our walks in Christ today?

Has the discussion changed your perception of what sin is?

Prayer:

Father God thank you for straightening us out in Christ and keeping us on the straight paths to You.  Give us help today to confess our sin and walk with You in the spirit that you have given us.  Bless the works of our hands and keep them that they would do the good works that You have ordained for them.  In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray this day.

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God’s Character

 Exodus 23-24

Psalm 3

Matthew 17

Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

What a powerful moment in history.  God has redeemed and claimed His chosen people the Israelites, and is laying down a few ground rules for their behavior towards Him and towards each other.  The 10 commandments have just been given a few chapters back, and Ex 23 begins with a continuation of some guidelines for interaction.  Read through these carefully, do you see a common theme?  These rules that God is giving really highlight His character.  When I read through these (Ex 23:1-19) what stands out to me isn’t that God wants a bunch of rules followed, but that the character of God is shining through.  Look closely.

God is just.  God is merciful.  God is forgiving.  God is loving.  God wants us to respect each other, and Him.  God will punish the guilty.  These characteristics are easily seen by the rules he asks us to follow.  When I read these verses, 23:19 really stands out to me: “You shall not boil a young goat in the milk of his mother.”.  Why?  Because that would be unjust, and not fair.  God is so full of love for all of his creation, that he’s concerned with even a baby goat, and is concerned about justice for it.  Which makes sense, when you consider that the earth and all that is in it belong to God (Ps 24:1), and you consider the beauty of God’s character.

If we turn ahead a few chapters to Ex 34, God actually tells Moses (1) who He is and (2) what His character is like.  This is one of my dad’s favorite verses: “…Yahweh, Yahweh God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in loving-kindness (or, mercy) and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished…” (LSB translation, Ex 34: 6-7).  All of the “Children of the Book” agree on the nature of God, because He has revealed it to us.  In the Quran 1:3 it describes God as “Most Gracious, Most Merciful.” (a loving nod to some of our Muslim brothers and sisters).  I urge us all, let us exhibit God’s characteristics within ourselves, not only to our creator but to our fellow creation.

In Ex 23:20-23 we once again clearly see the concept of “shaliah” demonstrated, and it’s important to note that God actually clearly states “My name is in him”, granting the angel full authority.  I suppose the American equivalent would be “active Power of Attorney”, but that doesn’t quite cover the fullness of the concept.  We also see Jesus stating clearly in John 17:11 that he has been given this same name, the name of God, so he is acting with the full authority of the God who sent him.  If you’d like a more detailed understanding of “shaliah” you can scroll back to the 1/27/2026 devotional, or just ask a jewish person.

In Ex 24, God cuts a covenant with Israel.  The phrase “cuts a covenant” was at the time quite literal and involved animal sacrifice and blood, and was considered a binding promise.  In this chapter we see a beautiful moment where God speaks to a large number  of the priests and elders of Israel and makes a deal with them.  In Ex 24:7 it states “Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, “all that Yahweh has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!”” (LSB translation).  Can you just feel the excited vibe amongst these people, who have witnessed an amazing and miraculous covenenat being formed, with the glory of Yahweh “like a consuming fire on the mountain top, in the eyes of the sons of Israel”?

What an amazing event!  Never before had something like THIS happened, this was huge!  This is what would be described by most folks as a life altering event, something that would change your outlook and destiny, something that would inspire you for a lifetime and change the very fiber of your being for the better. How long do you think something like this would stick in your memory? 

40 days, that’s the answer.  Moses disappears up the mountain, into the fiery glory of God and is gone for 40 days and nights before it all goes bad.  While God and Moses are chatting, the sons of Israel are getting restless.  Despite seeing miraculous signs and wonders, if you flip ahead to Ex 32: 1-2 it says “Then the people saw that Moses had delayed to come down from the mountain.  So the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, “arise, make us gods who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” (LSB translation).  Forty days.  It’s just embarrasing.  It’s really a good thing that God is so forgiving and merciful, because that could very easily have been turned into what the scientific minded folk would call an “Extinction Level Event” for the Israelites.

God not only doesn’t wipe them out, but He continues to shelter them, to love them, and to keep them safe and fulfill the promises he’d made both to them and to their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  WHY? Because God always keeps His promises. Because he is the Most Merciful, the Most Gracious.

Do you need further proof?  Flip over to our NT reading today.  In Matt 17:5 God states audibly (for the second time) “This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him!” (LSB Translation).  Then later on, he offers up this man Jesus, His own beloved obedient son, as a sacrifice to grant redemption to humanity and to cut a covenant of salvation.  Folks, let me tell you something; I’m a father, and although I absolutely do love a lot of you people out there that I know, if it came to a choice between you and my son…well, let’s just say you would not come out ahead in the equation, I’m sorry.  “But God…” (I love that phrase) is the perfection of character, the perfection of love, the highest example of what our own character should be.  

What a beautiful God we serve.  I know that He is beautiful, because His creation is beautiful.  The mist as it gathers at the tops of the mountains is beautiful.  The sun arising through the clouds and shedding new light on the world every day is beautiful.  YOU are beautiful, as is the entirety of the creation of God, and the voice that spoke all of this creation into being.  It should humble and awe you, when you think about the utter depth of the love that God has towards all of His creation.  We do not deserve it… “but God…” is the most compassionate, the most merciful, praise His holy name.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

  1. Stop for a moment and think.  How many times has God done something amazing and miraculous in your life?
  2. How long did it take after that amazing and miraculous thing that God did for you before you “moved on” in your mind?
  3. Why do you think that we, as humans, have this inclination, and what can we do better to hold on to that “awe and wonder” that is rightfully due our God?
  4. Are WE gracious, compassionate, and merciful to our fellow creation? (Answer for all:) What about people of different denominations? Different cultures? Different faiths?  Our “enemies”?  Why, or why not?  What can we do better?

PRAYER:

Father God, thank you.  

You are the Most gracious, the Most merciful.  Time and time again we have disappointed and failed You, we’ve broken the covenants that we’ve made with You, but You forgive us over and over.  Father, help us to have Your character, to love our neighbor as ourself, and to never forget You who gave us life, breath, and all things.  Thank You for Your never ending mercies, which are made new every morning.  Help us to humbly seek Your face, to obey Your will, and to be servants who please You.  Thank you Yahoveh God, in Jesus name, Amen.

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Hide and Seek

Genesis 3, Proverbs 3, Matthew 2

Devotion by Aaron Winner (SC)

Our two-year-old’s favorite game is probably hide and seek. She is actually pretty remarkable at staying still and quieting her breaths so she will not be found. The only problem with her strategy is that she always chooses the same hiding spot—the curtains in our master bedroom. For her, the game is not about actually remaining hidden. It would lose its appeal quickly if she stayed concealed too long. Her joy is ultimately to be found and to be reunited with family, “Daddy, you found me!”

In today’s reading, we see God playing the seeker as He looks for His favored creation in the garden. No matter how still Adam and Eve remain, God knows the hiding place. When He asks, “Where are you?”, it is a loaded question from the one who knows us most intimately, both our physical location and hearts. God is not met by the joyful giggles of a toddler, but by the shameful chagrin of sin (Prov. 3:7). Even though God knew where He would find them and did not withhold discipline (Prov. 3:12), by His infinite grace, He still searched for them.

That same grace carries forward into the arrival of the Son of Man. God hung a star in the east to announce the birth of Jesus Christ. He is the hope first spoken in Genesis, the One who would crush the head of the serpent (Gen 3:15). Though the distance was far, men who were seeking found a child, guided by both the heavens and the Word of God (Matt. 2:6). God makes His mercies known.

And so, when we are searching, we are always led to the same place. If we are looking for rest, we look to Jesus. If we are looking for meaning, we look to Jesus. If we are looking for hope, we look to Jesus. Throughout the Old Testament, again and again, God “hides” His promise of His Son in plain sight some 300 times, all pointing toward the life, death, resurrection, and return of Jesus Christ, who conquers sin once and for all.

So who are we fooling if we think we can remain hidden among the foliage and unseen by God? If we feel distant from him, the heavens and His word are still declaring we need only turn to the same place where our faith begins, Jesus Christ. Unchanged is the place where grace and hope begin.

Let us pray this together:

Abba Father, I have been desperately hoping you would find me. I will trust in You with all of my heart. I won’t lean on my understanding but Yours. Give me correction along with your grace that is greater still. In all Your ways, let me submit to You, for I know You will make my path straight. Lead me to the advent of Christ, to be found among the faithful who seek You. In your name of your Son, whose resurrection gives us hope. Amen

Reflection Questions

  1. It is good for us to remember we do not have the mind of God – but what tone of voice do you imagine God used when asking, “Where are you?” Why might He have started with a question, and this specific question? What tone of voice might He have used when giving correction and consequences?
  2. How are you like Adam? How are you like Eve? How did God show grace and correction with consequences to Adam and Eve? How have you experienced both grace and correction with consequences from God? What is the purpose of each?
  3. Adam and Eve obviously didn’t have Proverbs 3:5-7 on their refrigerator. How might it have helped them to know these verses of wisdom? How can you better live out Proverbs 3:5-7? When do you most need to hear these verses? How can you memorize them and/or plaster them in your life so they will be part of your first line of defense against temptation so you can spend less time hiding from God.
  4. From today’s readings, what are some beautiful things about God’s plan of salvation through His Son Jesus?
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An Important Letter

Titus 1-3

Devotion by John Tullis (OH)

Everyone likes to get a letter in the mail!  Especially around Christmas time.  Getting a letter from a friend or loved one might seem old fashioned, but letters have a way of being more personal and intimate.  Receiving a letter from a mentor or person you respect is especially important when the letter includes an important message. 

The Book of Titus is a letter written by Paul to his “true son in the common faith” Titus.  Titus was an early Christian leader and a close friend of the apostle Paul.  He is best known as being the leader of the churches in Crete and Corinth.  He was sent by Paul to these churches to help them solve problems.   In this letter, he asks Titus to ask the people in the churches to stop arguing with each other over silly things and to focus on doing good things in the name of Jesus.

To help the church at Crete, Paul sent recommendations on how to pick good leaders to look after the church (Titus 1:5-9).  Having leaders who are qualified is important in leading a church.  Like shepherds of a flock of sheep, the “elders” of the church look after us and protect us from making mistakes that can harm us.  Their job is to help us do good works for God.

Paul also reminds us that we should always do good because we are Christians. Paul writes that the grace of God “teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions”.  As Christians we should always seek to serve other people and be good to them.  Sometimes it is hard to live obediently for God.  Paul asks us to be “self-controlled” and live upright and godly lives.  It’s not easy, but God wants to help us and to “purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good”. (Titus 2:11-15).

It is important to always remember that God has shown His mercy to us not only because He wants us to be good, but so that He could adopt us into His family.  Paul hopes that each of us “might become heirs having the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:7).  Living a godly life is how we declare our thankfulness for His great mercy.  As we accept God’s gift of grace, it makes us want to do good things for the Kingdom of God.

Questions for Discussion:

  1. In Titus 2:2, what does it mean to be “self-controlled”?
  2. What does Paul mean when he says to “avoid foolish controversies” in Titus 3:9?
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True Fellowship

Romans 8-10

The book of Romans has been called the Magna Carta of the Word by many writers when they describe the freedoms that God shows us in its pages.  Romans 8 is the start of a transition from the doctrine of salvation that is presented in Chapters 1-7.  Chapter 8 is about walking in the spirit and what true fellowship with God is based on.  Chapter 9 moves to a section that is concerned with Israel and their relationship to the church and salvation in Christ.

Chapter 7 ends with these verses where Paul tells us of his frustration with his walk of believing
Romans 7:21-25. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So, you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Paul has trouble with his Christian Walk???

But then Romans 8 begins with this contrast of truth about who we really are in Christ:

Romans 8:1-4(NLT) So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

The transition that we are being taught by Paul is that when we walk in fellowship with God, then we are able to overcome our sin nature.  We will be without condemnation when we are guided by the spirit of God that He has given us.  Our spiritual nature of Christ in us gives us the power and ability to do the will of God and do good in this world.  

We have Christ in us when we are born again by God’s spirit but our daily walk with God is one of obedience to fellowship with Him, or disobedience to living without God’s fellowship.  Christ walked in perfect fellowship with God and because he always did the Father’s will, he was not condemned by the law.  

What are the ways we can grow in our ability to be in fellowship with God and His Son?

Romans 8:5-6(NLT) Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

The Old Testament law really is a law of life, but the Pharisees and scribes had turned it into a law to control people politically and physically.  Look sometime at the undoable complexity of the rulemaking in the Talmud and Mishnah.  Those regulations are only to control people from a human standpoint.  Jesus Christ does all of God’s intentions for the true interpretation of the law of Moses.  He is judged righteous by God because of his obedience.  God gives to us the righteousness of Christ when we confess him as lord and savior.  

Romans 10:9-13(NLT) If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.”

Our salvation is received by grace from God and is not dependent on our works or actions before that point.  We cannot earn our salvation, but we receive it by trust that Christ is what we need in our lives.  To confess him as lord is to say fully in our hearts that we cannot do this ourselves but will follow and obey him.  Many denominations have reduced this as a simple confession of “Jesus is Lord”, but to truly say this declaration it means that I understand the complete futility and incompetence of my own efforts.  I need the righteousness that comes only from God in Christ to overcome the sinful person who is me.

What righteous thing have you done that will impress God with your goodness?

Before or after the point of your salvation?

Grace from God is the only way to fellowship with Him.  We can approach the throne of grace because the righteous son of God is there to advocate for us.  God sees us with the righteousness of the Christ in us and then we are able to have fellowship with a righteous God.  By our own efforts we fall completely short of this.  That is why we are able to walk with no condemnation from the law of Moses or the law of slavery to sin that we are delivered from. 

Why do we need Christ’s intercession with God on our behalf?

Have a victorious day today walking in fellowship with God with Christ beside you.

Romans 8:38-39(NLT) And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Only God’s love can change us and this fallen world.  Thanks be to our God that He truly loves us so much to save us and take care of us each and every day.

Love in Christ – Tom Siderius

See Reflection Questions Above

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Hearts Far from God

Isaiah 28-30

July 11, 2025

              Within the contents of Isaiah 28-30, there are a few verses that stick out to me that I think are worth dwelling on. The first of those is Isaiah 29:13 which reads:

 [13] And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, – Isaiah 29:13 (ESV)

I think this verse describes what is happening a lot in the Church today. Many of us, me included, are guilty of claiming with our mouth that we are living holy and righteous while not giving up the areas we need to improve. I don’t want to be someone always ready to give a good answer, something that sounds intelligent, ready to glorify God, but do not live out what my mouth claims. I don’t want to be someone who is ready to sing a worship song but not ready to forgive the person who has wronged me.

The next verse I wish for us to dwell on is Isaiah 29:19.

 [19] The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel. – Isaiah 29:19 (ESV)

              This verse can act as an encouragement for some and a warning to others. Whether you are rich or poor, strong or weak, short or tall, educated or uneducated, I think this verse tells us to adopt a mindset of being humble. Throughout the Bible, over and over, God helps those in need and sympathizes with the struggling. Especially in America, it is so easy to live in comfort and the mindset of self-reliance. We blind ourselves with the things we possess or the abilities we have and try to forget how much we depend on God. Let us remember that God will make great the meek and lift up the lowly.

The last verse that I want to cover is Isaiah 30:18.

 [18] Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. – Isaiah 30:18 (ESV)

When we receive God’s grace it is freeing to know that despite all that we have done that is evil, God still chooses us and extends forgiveness toward us. Sometimes it is hard to see that God is gracious with us. We constantly need to be reminded of the fact that God will be gracious with us if only we would turn to him and allow his grace to change us.

Application Questions:

If you have received grace from God, how does your life reflect that?

Who is someone who needs to hear about God’s grace today?

Will you be a talker or a doer of following God?

-Jeremiah Grable

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Power & Pride OR Loyalty & Compassion

2 Samuel 8-9

1 Chronicles 18

I bet we all have experience with someone who is prideful.  We’ve heard stories of wildly successful people, and in their triumph, they forget the people who helped them get there.  

In 2 Samuel 8, we hear about some of David’s great victories in battle- he’s at the top of his game- a picture of power and achievement.

Then, in stark contrast, chapter 9 gives us a glimpse at a softer and more compassionate side of David where he actively looks for someone “from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?”  David remembers the promises that he made to Jonathan and, in his moment of power, chooses kindness over vengeance. David easily could’ve broken his promise and basked in his victories- instead, he extended grace to a man who could offer him nothing in return.

This act of unexpected mercy shines a light on David’s character, revealing a heart that prioritizes loyalty and compassion over pride and power.

-Hope Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. When have you been tempted toward the power and pride side – or deep into its territory? Have you found a good way to resist pridefulness?
  2. Who do you admire for their loyalty and compassion?
  3. Whom can you (will you) seek out to show a bit of God’s kindness to?
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Messy Parts

Joshua 1-4

Then Joshua son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went, and entered the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab, and spent the night there. Joshua 2:1 (NRSV)

Context is important. Out of context, this verse might convey something completely different from the story that follows. In the same way, when we hear an unsavory detail about an individual, it could easily prejudice our opinion of them. Everyone has messy parts of their lives, but those messy parts don’t tell the whole story.

Descriptors carry weight. Rahab the prostitute… If, in casual conversation, you hear that about someone, what do you think? The modern vernacular is “sex worker” trying to clean up a description about someone who works in a profession that is not lacking in crude descriptors. We won’t go there. You probably don’t think the best of that individual. You ask what happened that they went down that path in their life? So many questions… or maybe none. We write them off as someone who is living outside of God’s will and God’s grace.

The spies are commissioned to go and get a close-up of what Jericho is about. Boots on the ground in an espionage mission to help determine what will need to happen to eliminate a fortress city that is currently situated in the land that has been promised to God’s people.  

The spies get there, they meet a prostitute, and they go lay low in her house. Probably not who they expected to find as a sympathizer. Rahab is knowledgeable about the God of Israel. She offers and provides help to these spies and ensures they remain hidden from the Canaanites, who are wary and fearful of the impending insurgence of Israelites into “their land”.

But a prostitute…

Everyone does not get to choose their lot in life. Millions of people are trafficked or remain in a human sex trafficking situation at any given time. These people do not enter this willingly, it is essentially slavery.

Rahab. A prostitute. By choice? We don’t get much clarity here, but Rahab was likely forced into this situation where she engaged in prostitution. Slavery of this kind would not have been uncommon. Perhaps she was widowed or divorced and had no other recourse? Again, we don’t know. What we do know is that this unlikely ally to the people of Israel changed the course of history. While her profession was unsavory, her heart was made of gold. She had respect for Yahweh, the God of the Israelites, and she was willing to help Israel for a guarantee of safety and liberation. Seems legit. It’s a bad situation Rahab has found herself in, but she has heard of the power of God and wants to be a part of the community that is protected by the almighty God.

The spies promise her safety if she protects them, and they uphold their end of the bargain after she keeps them safe (Josh 6:22).  When Jericho is destroyed, Rahab and her household are spared.

James 2:23-26 says, “And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead” (NIV).

Describing Rahab as a prostitute, something that she did in Jericho, does not do her justice. We are, after all, talking about King David’s great-great-great grandmother. She is not just a footnote in history; she is in the genealogy of the savior of the world (Matthew 1:5)! Rahab is, in her actions, a savior for the Israelites, especially the two spies who trusted her, and is an ancestor to Jesus, the most consequential figure in human history. The Son of Man, the Son of God, the anointed king of the coming Kingdom of God.

When I think about Rahab, I think about a talk that Tony Campolo gave about throwing a birthday party for a prostitute at 3 AM. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWlMV-UmueM&ab_channel=EvanCourtney

Don’t write people off. They may be far from God or living in situations that, for lack of a better descriptor, we would call complex. No one is beyond redemption, and we should strive to extend grace and try to bring the joy that we find in Christ into the lives of everyone we meet, whether they be a pastor, an executive, that elderly woman who sits three rows in front of you every week at church, or the prostitute you bump into at a diner at 3 AM when you are adjusting to being many time zones away from home.

-JJ Fletcher

Reflection Questions:

  1. Why is it so easy to dismiss “unsavory” people?
  2. Do you have “unsavory” parts to your life that you don’t want anyone to know about? What if people knew? How would they treat you? Is there a way you can use the messy parts of your story to help someone else?
  3. What can we glean from the role of Rahab in the victory of the Israelites over Jericho? What can we glean from how the spies treated and trusted her?
  4. Sin is sin. Why does sexual sin have a different gravitas than most other sins?
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Searching for Cause and Effect

Job 21-25 (NLT)

The book of Job is poetry not narrative and in the English it does not necessarily read as well as it could.  Try reading this epic poem in a version of the Bible like the New Living Translation which I am quoting here, as it gives the speeches and poetry more flow. 

We don’t know who wrote the book but it is probably not Job himself.  Maybe Elihu?  Or Moses?  What about Solomon?  We don’t know if the record is exactly what the people involved said or is it the gist of their arguments?  Holy men of God wrote what God showed them to write and the scene in heaven at the beginning argues for someone who is very conversant with God and the Hebrew scriptures.  Remember that the timeframe of this book predates the Law of Moses and the OT writings, but is very complimentary with them.

In today’s chapters Job continues to proclaim his innocence, and the comforters continue to reason with him from their human logic and understanding of God.  Job does not disagree with their logic, but protests that he does not deserve God’s punishment because he has not sinned.

Job 21:1-6(NLT) Job’s Seventh Speech: A Response to Zophar
​1 Then Job spoke again:
2 “Listen closely to what I am saying.
That’s one consolation you can give me.
3 Bear with me, and let me speak.
After I have spoken, you may resume mocking me.
4 “My complaint is with God, not with people.
I have good reason to be so impatient.
5 Look at me and be stunned.
Put your hand over your mouth in shock.
6 When I think about what I am saying, I shudder.
My body trembles.

Job 21:34 34 “How can your empty clichés comfort me?
All your explanations are lies!”

Job 22:1-5(NLT) Eliphaz’s Third Response to Job
​1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
2 “Can a person do anything to help God?
Can even a wise person be helpful to him?
3 Is it any advantage to the Almighty if you are righteous?
Would it be any gain to him if you were perfect?
4 Is it because you’re so pious that he accuses you
and brings judgment against you?
5 No, it’s because of your wickedness!
There’s no limit to your sins.

Human logic demands that there is cause and effect in this life, even in our relationship with God.  We continue to try to justify our own selves by pointing out to God all the good and minimizing all the evil of our hearts.  Human nature causes us to want to earn our salvation and position because this is how we do it in the world.  Our positions and wealth, family, friends, and possessions are a result of our hard work and shrewd dealing.  Even if we are Christian we usually see it that God is the giver of all that is good, but I must deserve it because I have served Him so well. 

Job 22:26-30(NLT) “Then you will take delight in the Almighty
and look up to God.
27 You will pray to him, and he will hear you,
and you will fulfill your vows to him.
28 You will succeed in whatever you choose to do,
and light will shine on the road ahead of you.
29 If people are in trouble and you say, ‘Help them,’
God will save them.
30 Even sinners will be rescued;
they will be rescued because your hands are pure.”

Job 23:1-5(NLT)  Job’s Eighth Speech: A Response to Eliphaz
​1 Then Job spoke again:
2 “My complaint today is still a bitter one,
and I try hard not to groan aloud.
3 If only I knew where to find God,
I would go to his court.
4 I would lay out my case
and present my arguments.
5 Then I would listen to his reply
and understand what he says to me.

Job 23:10-13 (NLT) “But he knows where I am going.
And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.
11 For I have stayed on God’s paths;
I have followed his ways and not turned aside.
12 I have not departed from his commands,
but have treasured his words more than daily food.
13 But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind?
Whatever he wants to do, he does.

-Tom Siderius

Questions for Reflection:

What are the true motivations of your heart for the things that you do?

Are we trying to earn our way to the grace that God gives freely?

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