Tag: daily devotion

Calming the Sea

Matthew 8:14-34
Mark 4-5

Devotion by Shelly Millard (Nebraska)

It had been a flurry of activity and much of it miraculous.  Following the Sermon on the Mount we see the healing of the Centurion’s servant, healing Peter’s mother-in-law, and then crowds overwhelming him for healing of the sick and casting out spirits.  He was exhausted and knew he needed rest, so moved onto gathering his disciples in a boat and set out on the Sea of Galilee with his disciples to escape the pressure of the crowds. He quickly fell asleep, oblivious to a building storm.  The boat was buffeted about in the wind and waves; the storm so strong that it was described as cataclysmic or a mega storm.  The disciples, several of whom were fishermen and used to life on the sea, became frightened, fearing they were going to die.  In their fear, they woke Jesus, crying that they were about to perish.  His first response was to respond, “Why are you fearful, you of little faith?” He then gave the command for the wind to abate and the waves to calm, a remarkable illustration of power over the elements.  Jesus often used that phrase “little faith” to challenge his followers.  He is saying just look at me and see what I can do. . . that is what a mature faith looks like.  A big faith, one that is developed, is one where eyes and heart are fixed on the master of the wind even in the midst of the storm.

Fear is something that we are well acquainted with.  Our brains are wired to look for threats to help ensure our survival.  If we are walking through the woods and a bear jumps out, it triggers a fight or flight response to help us react in a way to help us survive—either fight the bear or hope we can run faster than our companions.  The disciples, in the midst of this storm, feared for their life—they were in a fight or flight response.  Jesus, however, took this opportunity to teach a lesson about faith.  These disciples had just been witnesses to incredible miracles; yet in their immature faith, were afraid for themselves.  We’ve all been there, finding ourselves in the midst of life’s storms and being battered by circumstances beyond our control or even by our brain’s proclivity at conjuring up imagined threats to our wellbeing.  Consequently, it is easy to get caught up in a cycle of fear and anxiety about our lives.  A loved one becomes ill, someone loses a job, financial problems hang over our heads, and in addition, we are caught up in a myriad of “what ifs”.  What if I fail? What if my relationship falls apart?  What if I disappoint others? And the list goes on and on in our weary brains.  Jesus speaks to us as he did to his disciples. . . what about faith?  Where does your faith impact your fears in your life?  How would it feel to have some freedom from the fears that seem to plague us?  Faith does not pretend that a storm does not exist. It does not exempt us from efforts to take care of ourselves and others. Faith ensures that we are not overcome with anxiety, stress and worry.  Faith allows us to focus on Jesus who provides the calm in the midst of our storms.

Questions for reflection

What are some of the storms you are experiencing right now? 

Imagine yourself in the boat with the disciples.  How overwhelming does that fear feel?   How would you respond to Jesus commanding the storm to abate?

Jesus uses the phrase, “little faith”.  Where are you in your faith journey?  Do you feel like your faith is growing and developing into a more mature faith?

How is your faith impacting some of the fears you are experiencing in your life?  How do you think you can find the peace within the midst of your storms?

SGL.2025.OctoberFullPageDownload

Storytime in the Gospels

Matthew 13 & Luke 8

Devotion by Shelly Millard (Nebraska)

Storytime when putting the grandchildren to bed is the best.  One of my favorite books is called “Tale of Two Beasts”.  In the story, a little girl is walking through the forest and finds a small beast hanging upside down from a branch.  She decides to take this little one home and turn him into a pet.  The book first tells the story from the perspective of the little girl.  The second part of the book tells the story from the perspective of the little beast.  Gradually, the two tales come together in a happy ending as they learn to appreciate one another despite their differing perspectives.   I love the book because it teaches something I think is important and that is to step back and consider the perspectives of others throughout life.  Many, if not most, children’s books attempt to teach a lesson through storytelling.  In Matthew 13, we see that Jesus knew the power of stories in teaching abstract principles through parables.   He knew that using parables was an effective way to communicate profound truths about faith and life.  He merely looked around him and identified familiar elements and characters like farmers, fishermen, bread making, and harvesting crops that could be used to help his listeners understand deeper spiritual truth.  Using learning principles that we’ve identified today, he uses metaphors and similes to draw comparisons of the everyday to deeper spiritual truths. These stories stay with us and help us to understand and remember what Jesus wanted us to know. The stories told over 2000 years ago still have relevance to us today.

The beautiful thing about parables is it teaches a truth that at first glance seems simple yet allowing for increasing layers of understanding.  Like the layers of an onion, a parable provides layers of depth and nuance that with reflection and application can reveal increasing insights while challenging individuals to grapple with the truths and grow from them.  Jesus is using these stories to turn the listener into a participant rather than just the audience—the best way to learn. Parables Jesus shared are sprinkled throughout the gospels;  Matthew 13 contains several significant ones teaching about faith and the Kingdom of God.

Parable of the Sower: A sower scatters seeds on different types of soil; the path, rocky ground, thorn and good soil with each type of soil representing different responses to the message of the Kingdom of Heaven.  It asks, “How do you receive the message of the kingdom?”

Tares and the Wheat: The combination of tares and wheat together teach lessons about the coexistence of good and evil in the world, emphasizing the importance of discernment and patient waiting. It asks, “How do you understand and identify between good and evil?”

The Mustard Seed: Just as a tiny mustard seed can grow into a large plant, even the smallest amount of faith can be transformative.  It asks, “How does your faith, even if it is found in small belief and actions, lead to significant outcomes?”

The Leaven: A woman mixes leaven into the dough causing it to rise and transform into a delicious loaf of bread just as the message of the Kingdom of Heaven can gradually and irreversibly alter the world.  It asks, “How can you be influential by sharing the message of the Kingdom of Heaven?

Hidden Treasures: A man discovers a treasure and recognizes its value, selling everything to buy the field where the treasure is hidden. The discovery of the message of the Kingdom of Heaven is a remarkable treasure that is worth sacrificing everything to obtain it.  It asks, “What are you willing to sacrifice to pursue the incomparable value of the Kingdom of Heaven?”

Costly Pearl: A merchant is actively searching for fine pearls and when he finds one of great value, sells everything he has to purchase it just as a person searches for truth and spiritual connection.  It asks, “How are you diligent in your search for truth and are you willing to give up everything to make it yours?”

The Dragnet: The fisherman casts out a net that gathers in all kinds of fish, just as the message of the kingdom will gather in all types who will eventually be subjected to God’s judgment.  It asks, “How do you respond to the “all types” gathered together by the gospel message”?

As you engage in these stories, immerse yourself in the “world” that Jesus is creating for us.  If it is the Parable of the Sower, imagine yourself walking through the field and seeing where the seeds you scatter are landing.  If it is “The Leaven”, imagine that you are the one making the bread and leaven to make it rise.  Becoming a part of the story will allow you to deeply engage with the lesson Jesus is teaching.  Approach them with an open heart and mind, asking, “What can I learn and take away from this story”.  Reflect on the story and connect the teachings with your own life asking, “How is what I am learning impacting my faith, my relationships and my behavior”?  The ultimate test is to begin to apply what you have learned and allow those insights to change how you live. 

Questions for reflection

Which of these parables resonate most closely with you?  

Focus on one parable.  Imagine yourself in the context of the story and immerse yourself for a moment in the action.   How does that impact your understanding of the parable?

If Jesus was walking through your world today, what might he choose to build a parable around?

How do you think a parable might increase your faith?

SGL.2025.SeptemberFullPageDownload

Ask, Seek, Knock

Matthew 12:22-50 & Luke 11

Imagine this absurd scenario. . . “Daddy, can I have some fish?”  “No son, but instead here is a plate of snakes”. . . . “Daddy, can I have some bread?”  “No daughter, but instead here is a plate of scorpions”.  Jesus used this extreme example to illustrate the goodness of God.  He points out that if parents, imperfect as they are, would never offer snakes or scorpions to their children, imagine what would be provided from God, a perfect Father who takes delight in providing for his children.  The phrase, “how much more” is used to engage our imagination about how a loving Father provides for His people if only he is asked. 

Luke 11 puts an intense focus on the importance of prayer in the life of a Christian.  He begins with Jesus providing what we know as The Lord’s Prayer as a suggested guide for how to pray but then segues quickly into why we pray and how it works in the lives of believers.  He gives an illustration of going to a friend in the middle of the night and pounding on the door requesting bread to share with another.  While the friend will initially say, “Go away”, he will eventually give in due to the persistence of the request and repeated (and I’m sure annoying) knocking.  The message is clear. . .ask for what you need and be persistent in your prayers. 

Jesus used three verbs to help in our approach to praying. . . Ask, Seek and Knock.  These three verbs involve three different senses.  Asking is verbal—becoming aware of what you need and verbalizing it to God.  Seeking is cognitive—determining priorities and focusing the mind on what is being asked in order to go deeper and be more engaged with the request.  Finally, knocking implies using intentional actions and behaviors toward the request.  The use of these verbs in the Greek are “present imperatives” which suggest continuous and persistent prayers. In other words, keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking with these commands being followed by promises from a loving Father.  If you ask, you receive, if you seek you will find and if you knock, the door will be opened.  It is discovering that prayer is more than just making requests; it is about building a relationship with a loving Father who only wants to give good gifts to his children.  It is discovering that God is not reluctant, but responsive. By this ongoing relationship with Him through persistent prayer, we deepen our relationship with Him and experience his faithfulness.

Questions for reflection:

When have you experienced the faithfulness of God in answering prayers?

How does the phrase “how much more” impact your approach to praying?

How has your relationship with God deepened because of your prayer life?

How might using those present imperative verbs of asking, seeking and knocking impact your prayers?

How does viewing God as Father change the way you approach him in prayer?

How does persistence in praying change your relationship with God?

SGL.2025.SeptemberFullPageDownload

An Invitation to be Yoked

Matthew 11

Devotion by Shelly Millard (Nebraska)

Take a look around you.  You might see people who are exhausted and depleted by life and all the challenges it brings.  You may hear phrases like “I never have enough time”, “There is always too much to do”, “I’m always stressed about money”, “I am feeling so isolated and lonely”, “My anxiety is paralyzing me”.  Those common phrases bear witness to people who are struggling to manage life burdens and feeling continually overwhelmed with no relief in sight. All of us feel the weight of life at times whether it be physical exhaustion, emotional depletion, or spiritual unrest.   Jesus had been teaching his disciples and followers that the law only brought burdens, but a relationship with him provides the freedom and lightness that comes with shared burdens.  The passage we will explore out of Matthew 11 offers hope in the midst of life challenges.  

It begins with an invitation from Jesus to “come”.  It’s a simple imperative statement. It’s not a question or a plea—it is a gentle command to connect with him and to create a relationship with him.  It is an invitation to bring whatever is weighing you down and share the burden with him without shame, guilt or fear.  He is inviting us into a safe space where he will share the burden and offer some respite to you from bearing it all yourself. 

With this invitation comes the metaphor of putting on a yoke with him, which at first glance, may feel like even more of a burden and more constrictive.  He uses a yoke as a metaphor to help us picture the beauty of that “shackling”.  A yoke joins two animals, such as oxen, together so that the animals can share the workload and become more productive. The farmer may choose to shackle an older ox with a younger one or an unruly one with one that is steadier in order to help them both in the work.  The biblical scholar William Barclay describes the creation of a yoke by a carpenter who measures the ox and followed by several fittings, creates a customized yoke that gives the ox comfort while he works.  He also says that there is a legend about Jesus which may or may not be true, that as a carpenter, Jesus had a reputation of making some of the best yokes in the region and had a sign about his door that said, “My yokel fits well”!  Fact or fiction, this is the type of yoke that he is inviting us to take on with him—one that is comfortable, that allows him to lead and gives us relief from bearing burdens by ourselves.   

In the book, The Ragamuffin Gospel, Brennan Manning addressed a specific audience, and as it happens, the same audience Jesus’s invitation is for. He said that the “ragamuffin gospel” is for:

The bedraggled, beat-up, and burnt-out. It is for the sorely burdened who are still shifting the heavy suitcase from one hand to the other. It is for the wobbly and weak-kneed who know they don’t have it altogether. It is for inconsistent, unsteady disciples whose cheese is falling off their cracker. It is for poor, weak, sinful men and women with hereditary faults and limited talents. It is for earthen vessels who shuffle along on feet of clay. It is for the bent and the bruised who feel that their lives are a grave disappointment to God. It is for smart people who know they are stupid and honest disciples who admit they are scalawags.

What would it look like if we actually did this?  We wake up in the morning knowing that we can’t bear the burden of the day and just simply asked him to share the burden?  How would your life be different?

This is an invitation to join with Jesus who describes himself as gentle and humble in heart so that we might find rest for our souls.  In this, he will equip us, teach us, support us, relieve us and guide us as we live our lives. It is a clear path. . . Come to him, Take his yoke, learn from him, and find rest for your weary soul. 

Questions for reflection

What is your initial response to the command to “come”?  What then is your initial response to be “yoked”?

Why do you think we tend to handle our burdens by ourselves?  Why might we hesitate to share the burdens with Jesus?

When you think about being “yoked” together with Jesus, does that feel constrictive or freeing? How do you think you could more intentionally share your burdens as a result of this invitation?

SGL.2025.SeptemberFullPageDownload

Marvelous Faith

Matthew 8:1-13 and Luke 7

Devotion by Shelly Millard (Nebraska)

It might take a lot to surprise Jesus, but surprised and amazed he was.   We could initially assume that this reaction was directed toward his disciples. Perhaps it was from a crowd’s reaction to one of his teachings.  Maybe, just maybe, it was due to an interaction with a rabbi in a synagogue.  Instead, we are told that he “marveled” at the response of a Roman soldier, an unlikely scenario.  People in the area were abuzz with the news of the teachings and miracles of Jesus.  This talk had reached the ears of a Centurion, a Roman soldier that oversaw 100 soldiers occupying the region.  This centurion, likely well versed in the pantheon of Roman gods, heard news of the one claiming to be the son of the living God. This powerful man, when his servant became ill, decided to seek out this Jesus by asking a group of Jewish elders to intercede on his behalf.  They were willing to do so as this Centurion had helped them build a synagogue.  This intercessory group met Jesus as he entered the town and presented the request, at which time Jesus set off to the Centurion’s house.   He had just been teaching the concept of “loving your enemies” and here he was heading to the home of a Roman.  As they drew close, they were met with another group of emissaries with the message that the Centurion did not feel worthy to have Jesus in his home, but believed that he could just say the word and the servant would be healed.  Jesus was astonished.  Here was a Roman, a man of authority, a pagan, and an enemy of the Jewish people who had enough faith to believe that Jesus could heal with a word.  The Greek word “thaumazo” used to describe the reaction of Jesus to this man’s faith is translated as “amazed” or “marveled”. The only other time that this word is used in the New Testament is when Jesus “marveled” at the lack of faith of those in Nazareth.  This centurion was an unlikely person to “amaze” Jesus, yet Jesus described him as having “great” faith.  In other places, Jesus describes “little” faith in describing his disciple’s response to him.  Little faith from the disciples; great faith from the Centurion.  He demonstrated great faith by believing without seeing, stepping out of his culture and authority to humble himself, and trusting what he had heard about Jesus.  As a man of authority, he understood the power of the authority that Jesus had and had confidence to make the request of him.  Such confidence is the essence of faith. It is that confidence that prompted Jesus to respond with “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith”. 

Questions for Reflection

In what ways were the actions of the Centurion a surprise in this story?  How did he act differently than what we might expect of a man in his culture and situation?

What prompted the Centurion to make this request?  Why do you think he was reluctant to approach Jesus directly?  What did this tell Jesus about this man?

Why do you think Jesus marveled at this request?  Why did he identify this man as one with great faith?

When looking at your own faith, where would you place it on a scale of “little faith” to “great faith”?

How do you think you could grow your faith into one that was considered “great”?

SGL.2025.SeptemberFullPageDownload

A Transformed Life

Matthew 5-7

Devotion by Shelly Millard (Nebraska)

It was a warm day by the Sea of Galilee as Jesus and his disciples rested, ate and talked.  They had been on a rigorous schedule following the launch of Jesus’s ministry.  Word about the healings and teachings had spread and people were intrigued by this new itinerant preacher who was sharing a new message about the Kingdom of God.  Folks from all around the region began to seek him out and as Jesus noticed the gathering of the crowds, he moved up the hill to a place where the crowds could see and hear him.  He began to speak, resulting in what we know as the Sermon on the Mount.  He spoke about the Kingdom of God in a way they had never heard before, turning everything they knew about religion, the law and the kingdom upside down. Donald Kraybill in his book, The Upside Down Kingdom, describes how Jesus presented an introduction to the Kingdom of God that was totally opposite of what the world’s definition might be.  In these teachings, Jesus provided a vision of what a life lived with the Kingdom of God in their minds and in their hearts might look like.  Instead of a focus on following the law, he called for the transformation of their hearts and lives.

The upside down kingdom, as described by Jesus, included flipping their perspectives in several ways:

  1.  In a world where power, money, status, aggression, revenge and self-centeredness were valued, he provided a new perspective in the Beatitudes where those who were poor, sad, without status, gentle, forgiving, merciful and looking for peace would be the very ones who were blessed, happy and would receive the ultimate rewards.
  2. The keys to the kingdom were found in sharing your light with the world.  That light was not just keeping the law but letting others see the change in your heart and life.
  3. Keeping the law was not just about following the rules but about creating relationships which reflected the love of Jesus and one another.  You choose not to covet  for example, not because it is a rule, but because it destroys relationships.  Loving God is fleshed out in loving your neighbor by respecting them, sacrificing for them and even loving those you consider your enemies. 
  4. He encouraged them to pray with a focus on building a more personal and intimate relationship with God by providing a template with The Lord’s Prayer.
  5. Instead of focusing on the temporary and insubstantial values of the world, our attention should be on those values of the Kingdom of God which are lasting and substantive.
  6. In a world that is filled with anxiety about the future, Jesus reminds them that this worry is just a waste of time and energy.  Instead, if you focus on seeking the Kingdom, these other things will fall into place. 

We are called to an upside down kingdom where transformed lives allow people to begin to experience the Kingdom of God.  Jesus provided a vision of what a transformed life looks like so that followers can begin the journey toward that destination.  Those steps in that journey come with every intentional decision and choice we, as followers, take.   If I want to reflect God’s kingdom, then I choose to spend time in prayer, focus my time and energy on kingdom values, treat the poor and marginalized with kindness and on and on.  Every choice moves us in the direction of more fully reflecting the Kingdom of God in our lives.  Every thought, belief and action is an opportunity to more fully reflect that transformed life.

Questions for reflection:

How does the term “upside down kingdom” impact how you read the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount?

Which of the teachings contained in this sermon resonate with you?

How do you respond to the idea that each day we are faced with opportunities to intentionally transform into the vision that Jesus has created?

It’s easy to become overwhelmed with the need for transformation and just shut down.  How does it make you feel if you approach it as one decision or choice at a time?

What is one area of your life where you would like to work on transformation? 

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The Gift of the Magi

Matthew 2

Luke 2:39-52

Devotion by Cayce Fletcher (SC)

When I was still teaching seventh-grade English, one of the stories that my students loved (much to my surprise) was “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry. In the story, a young couple needed to buy Christmas presents for each other, but like many young couples, they were severely lacking in funds to do so. In order to scrounge together what they needed for the perfect gift, they sold their most valuable possessions (hair in the girl’s case and an inherited pocket watch for the boy). 

At the end, to their dismay, the boy and the girl realized that the gifts they had purchased were useless, though very expensive. The boy had bought a comb for the girl who had shorn her hair. The girl had bought a chain for the boy who had sold his watch. 

As my students reached the end of the story, they would always laugh and shake their heads at the couple. But, the story ends with this famous quote: “Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.” 

Today’s reading almost feels like Christmas in July (or well… September). In four separate stories of travels, we learn about Jesus’ boyhood. He receives the gifts from the Magi, takes off to Egypt for several years, returns and settles in Nazareth, and finally participates in an annual pilgrimage for the Jewish feast of Passover. 

My students may think that the boy and girl in the story are silly, but when we read the story of the Magi, we should be struck as well. These men left their countries to go on a years long journey. To where? They didn’t know. For what? They also didn’t know. 

All they knew was this: “We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

O. Henry recognized that this was true devotion and love. To recklessly sacrifice to show devotion for something that we hold as truly valuable. The Magi are famously called ‘The Wise Men.’

But, what is true wisdom? 

It is not always playing it safe. It is not always acting in a way the world deems prudent. 

But, it is always rightly ordering our loves so that we can show devotion to the best thing. 

What does that look like? 

It is choosing to put our faith at the forefront of our lives, prioritizing it. We talk of priorities as a list of 3, 5, or even 10. But, really, the word means the thing we hold first. If our faith is placed first, everything else we do falls behind it. 

And, when we devote our lives to our faith, we may pursue the way of the Magi. We may sacrifice (maybe a little recklessly) in order to obey our God. Because we know that the path of obedience is sweet and good. It is worth giving up everything – even our most valuable possessions – for. 

Cayce Fletcher writes and podcasts at amorebeautifullifecollective.com. Check out the blog and other resources to help you create a life you love and cultivate your heart for God. This free resource here will help you take your Bible study one step further with a Bible reading tracker, Bible study reflection page, and more.  

Reflection Questions

  1. We often think of the Wise Men as being Wise because they were simply ‘learned.’ But, how were their actions also wise? 
  2. What is our first priority in our lives? How do we show this through our actions? 
  3. How can choosing to live wisely and righteously look like foolishness to the world? 

SGL.2025.SeptemberFullPageDownload

“I believe; help me in my unbelief.”

Luke 1 and John 1:1-14

If you have been reading with us from the beginning of the year – welcome to the New Testament!

Devotion by Telva Elwell (SC)

Malachi had last spoken 400 years ago and had promised that the Messenger would come.  “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me.”  Surely Zechariah, as a priest, knew this well. But to put it mildly, God caught him off guard one day.

Zechariah was busy in the Holy Place offering incense, a duty Zechariah was permitted to do only once in his lifetime, when suddenly out of nowhere, the angel Gabriel stood by the altar. Of course, Gabriel had to calm Zechariah, because he was focused upon his task and not expecting Gabriel’s visit.  “Fear not,” he said. Not only did Gabriel’s presence startle Zechariah, but the news he brought was also startling.

Gabriel told him that Zechariah and Elizabeth, his wife, were going to have a son!  One would expect this to be good news for Zechariah because Elizabeth and Zechariah had been praying for a child for many years. Zechariah did not believe such a thing possible because he was an old man, and his wife was advanced in years as well. (Luke 1:18) This story was reminiscent of Abraham and Sarah, for God had also said that He would give them a son in their old age.  “Abraham fell on his face and laughed.” (Gen 17:17) 

Before he could even grasp the idea of having a son in his old age, Gabriel told him to name his son John, and that John would grow up to be God’s prophet to show Israel God’s son.  “And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” (vs16-17) (Mal 4:5) I understand that this was a lot to take in. But none of it was new to him. He was well acquainted with the promises of God as told by Malachi and other Old Testament prophets. This was the day, the time, that Zechariah, the priest, was looking forward to.   What a blessing and privilege to be the father of the much-anticipated Messenger who would turn the children of Israel to God. But something got in the way of that for Zechariah.

Instead of rejoicing, Zechariah demanded proof that this was even possible.  Even though an angel, who stands in the presence of God, came to deliver this good news, Zechariah believed this was all nonsense.  He wanted proof—not just a proclamation of an angel of the Lord.  “How can I be SURE of this?” he asked. (vs18) Gabriel gave him proof in the form of punishment. “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words…” (vs19,20) Zechariah was struck dumb, (v20) and quite possibly deaf. (v62)    

When Zechariah finished his priestly duties, he walked home to his faithful wife, and in time, she conceived. For nine months his words did not come, and his world was silent.  Every waking moment of every day, Zechariah was reminded of his unbelief.

I would be remiss in not mentioning Mary. Gabriel also brought her unexpected news. Although young, a virgin, and unmarried, she was also going to have a son—God’s Son, the Messiah. Her response was unlike Zechariah’s.  Instead of demanding proof that this could happen, she humbly submitted to God’s plan as His servant. “Behold I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” (v38) While Zechariah sat silently with his thoughts running rampant in his head, Mary rejoiced in prayer and song. (vs.46-55)

 In time, Elizabeth gave birth to a son.  Relatives and neighbors and friends heard the good news and rejoiced with her. Then something truly miraculous happened.

By custom Jewish boys were circumcised eight days after birth, at which time a name was given to the child. The expectation was that this child would be named Zechariah, after his father, but Elizabeth said his name would be called John, just as Gabriel had told Zechariah. It was unusual not to name the son after his father or another family member, so Zechariah was asked what he wanted the child to be called.  Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote the words, “His name is John.” (v63) That name, John, means God is gracious. When Zechariah penned the baby’s name, “John” on his tablet, he was declaring his belief in God’s faithfulness and grace, and affirming Gabriel’s message to him concerning his son, John. A simple thing, yet profound. Because God is gracious, Zechariah’s tongue was immediately loosed. (v64) Because God is gracious, He did not forget or abandon Zechariah, even when he did not believe.  That does not mean that it is okay to not believe.  We need to believe God. But when we struggle, God is there.   

Belief and unbelief are often at war with one another in our lives.  Sometimes we struggle to believe, much like Zechariah, and then other times we simply believe without doubt or question, much like Mary.  When we struggle, sometimes it is the small things that awaken our faith and cause us to believe—like a new baby named John

That same small baby, named John, awakened the faith of the children of Israel years later when as a man he “came as a witness, to bear witness about the light that all might believe through Him.”  (John 1:7)

Reflection Questions

Question One:  Why do you think God chose to make Zechariah a mute as punishment for his unbelief?

Question Two:  Why do you believe Zechariah struggled to believe God?  Are there times when you struggle to believe God?  Why? When?

Question Three: Right now, where are you in your belief?  More like Zechariah, the high priest, or more like Mary, the young virgin? 

Question Four:  In Mark 9:24, a man came to Jesus and said: “I believe; help me in my unbelief.” How can someone say, I believe, and at the same time ask for help in overcoming unbelief? Do you believe this was the situation with Zechariah?  Is this your situation on occasion?

SGL.2025.SeptemberFullPageDownload

Ask Not for Justice, but for Forgiveness

Nehemiah 13 and Malachi 1-4

Devotion by Telva Elwell (SC)

Oh, how Nehemiah must have wished for a happy ending.  Jerusalem seemed to have been on the right track. The people were singing songs of praise and worship as they marched on the newly rebuilt wall of Jerusalem.  Joy filled the streets of Jerusalem and the hearts and souls of the people.  Fast forward to the future by about 11 or 12 years, and during that time the people had jumped off the wall and were up to their eyeballs in the filth of sin and rebellion to God and His laws.  Nehemiah had gone back to Shushan to his previous position, but when he heard the news of the sad state of affairs in Jerusalem, he returned to Jerusalem once again.  How could things have gone so terribly wrong?

If Nehemiah had prepared a list of things the people were doing wrong, it would have looked something like this.

Things you are doing wrong:
Nehemiah 13
  1.  You are mixing it up with outsiders like the Ammonites, and Moabites, who are enemies.
  2. You are allowing Tobiah to live in a large room in the temple.  Eliashib, a high priest, has given him a room because one of his relatives was married to Sanballat’s daughter, and Sanballat and Tobiah were friends.  (I know, it’s a bit confusing.  But we all know who Sanballat and Tobiah are, and this just can’t be good.)
  3. Tobiah is literally living in a room of the temple dedicated to the storing of the offerings used by the Levites.  (Umm, not good.  Where are the offerings kept now?)
  4. Where ARE the offerings?
  5. You are allowing your daughters and sons to marry people from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab, which you promised NOT to do.  Many of their children even speak foreign languages.
  6. You have stopped paying taxes!  You have stopped giving tithes and offerings to the priests and can’t even provide wood for the altar. (13:32-39). (Guess that is why “room” previously used for storage and offerings had opened up for Tobiah in the temple.)
  7. You are working and selling on the Sabbath, which you promised not to do! (10:31).
  8. Need I continue?
Signed:  Nehemiah

Sounds like Nehemiah had his work cut out for him.  Apparently so did Malachi, the prophet.  Malachi’s words against the people of Israel sounded hauntingly similar to Nehemiah’s words when describing the sins of the people of Israel.

Things you are doing wrong:
  1. You doubt the love of God (Mal 1:1-5) (see also Deut. 6:4,5).
  2. The priests are cheaters who offer polluted, lame, sick and blemished offerings to God (1:6-14).
  3. You divorce your wives then marry pagans (2:1-16).
  4. “You have wearied God with your words saying, everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delights in them” (2:17-3:6).
  5. You are thieves.  You are keeping your tithes and offerings (3:1-8).
  6. “You have spoken against God by saying that it is vain to serve Him, and what is the profit of keeping His commandments? You call the arrogant blessed” and say that “evildoers prosper”. (3:13-15)
  7. You ask, “Where is the God of justice?” (2:17)
        Signed:  Malachi, the Prophet

What Israel did not realize was that they did not need justice as much as they needed forgiveness.

Whereas Nehemiah took a more hands on approach to the problems, even to the point of throwing furniture, hitting and cursing certain men, and pulling hair from their heads (Neh 13:25), Malachi would debate them, beginning with an accusation, then Israel would dispute that accusation, but in the end, God would have the final word. 

Israel demanded to know “Where is the God of justice?”  What they wanted was justice for their wicked enemies and they wanted it now. They claimed that “everyone that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He is pleased with them” (2:17). How can a just God do such things?

And so, God Almighty responded! “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come. (3:1) He then asked a question: “Who can endure the day of His coming, and who can stand when He appears?” (3:2) For “He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver” (3:2,3) “So I will come to put YOU on trial…says the Lord Almighty.” (3:5).

This is not where Israel expected the debate to go. They wanted God to deal with their enemies now. Instead, Malachi is telling them that they need to be cleansed and purified now.

 “Return to Me, and I will return to you.” (3:7) Will they accept that cleansing?   Will they return to Him?  Will they accept His forgiveness? Oh, how Nehemiah and Malachi must have longed for the people to return to God, and “to assemble with fasting, and with sackcloth and earth upon them.  And for the seed of Israel to separate themselves from all strangers, and stand and confess their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers”, as they did when the wall was rebuilt. (9:1-2).

Hope and a Promise

God, the God of Justice, assured them that He will take care of the evil ones.  “Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them.  But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays.  And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.  Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,”’ says the Lord Almighty. (4:1-3) But for Israel it depended upon them deciding now which group they belonged to—the arrogant and evildoers, or those who revere His name.

 “Return to Me”, He pleads.

 He then ends with this promise: “I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.  And he will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents” (4:5).

 As for us, just like Israel, it all depends upon taking accountability and confessing our sins because He is faithful and just and will forgive. (1John 1:9)

Reflection Questions

  1. Did jealousy play a role in the sins of Israel?  If so, does it still play a role in our lives and sin today?
  2. Why do you think it was so easy for Israel to fall back into sin repeatedly?  Were they sincere when they walked the wall of Jerusalem singing praise and thanksgiving?
  3. Do you find it difficult to stay away from sin?  Why?  Can you relate to Paul’s struggles in Romans 7:7-25? In what ways?
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Joy in the City

Nehemiah 11-12 and Psalm 126

(saving Nehemiah 13 for tomorrow)

Devotion by Telva Elwell (SC)

The wall and the gates of Jerusalem had been rebuilt. (Nehemiah 6:15) Leadership and positions of service had been filled. Israelites were moving in to occupy the city of Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 11) The stage was set for a celebration!

It was time!

The dedication of the wall of Jerusalem attracted people to come to Jerusalem to be present for the dedication of the wall of the city.  What a huge crowd that came that day!  The Levites came to celebrate the dedication with gladness, thanksgiving, and singing.  Cymbals, harps, and lyres were played in great celebration.  In addition, singers came from the areas around Jerusalem, and other surrounding areas.  The singers had even built for themselves villages around Jerusalem.  The priests and Levites purified themselves and the people.  All the celebrants were spiritually prepared and excited!  Let the celebration begin! (12:27-30)

Nehemiah then brought the singers and musicians up onto the wall.  What excitement must have stirred through the crowd when they mounted that wall that many thought impossible to rebuild!  The city must have exploded with songs of praise and thanksgiving as Nehemiah instructed one half of the singers to sing songs of praise, accompanied by the blast of trumpets and other instruments created by David, the man of God.   He sent them to march south on the top of the wall, along with Ezra the scribe.  As they marched, they sang loudly with whole hearts overflowing with praise.  Likewise, the second choir was sent to march north on top of the wall, along with Nehemiah.  They sang and worshiped and praised the great God who had done mighty works in Jerusalem.  The two choirs then met at the house of God where they gave thanks and presented sacrifices to their great God. They rejoiced! “For God had made them rejoice with great joy. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.” (v. 43)

One of the Songs of Ascent was probably song.  Psalms 126, one of those songs, has such meaningful words for such an occasion as this:

“When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing; then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.  The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.  Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south.  They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.  He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

Yes, the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away, but how that joy must have stung for some.

Throughout the celebration of praise and thanksgiving to God, this message was being seen and heard by those outside the congregation of the Israelites.  There were a few familiar faces and names of people among the foreigners who probably wanted to hide in embarrassment.  And it was all because of the completion of the work at Jerusalem on the 25th day of Elle (6:15).  “All the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God” (6:16).  Even their enemies and naysayers believed that what they were hearing with their ears and seeing with their eyes, was indeed proof positive that God was with Jerusalem and that He had caused the wall and gates of the city of Jerusalem to be restored! (Ps. 126:2)

Flash back several weeks earlier when word spread throughout the region that the wall was being rebuilt. Sanballat and Tobiah were up to their mischief trying to discourage and hinder the work of the Jews in rebuilding the wall.  They teased; can these feeble old Jewish men even build these walls themselves?  Will they sacrifice? They knew it would take more than a few prayers to rebuild the wall.  Could they even finish it?  They laughed at the materials they were using, calling the stones rubbish, because they were broken and burnt.  They jeered, “How could anyone build anything out of trash?” (4:2) And yet, they built it!  There it stood on this great day of dedication after its completion. So, with God even feeble old men can accomplish great things!  Yes, they were able to finish the wall with God’s help!  Even burnt stone dug from the rubble could become a strong wall!  Sanballat and Tobiah probably heard the praise, the trumpet blasts, the loud songs of worship that day and cringed. But what may have been worse was seeing the wall standing strong, and the people standing strong and thankful upon that wall—that very wall that Tobiah declared would fall in a heap if even one fox went up on to the wall. (4:3). This was just what Nehemiah prayed to God to do…to “turn their taunt on their own heads” (4:4). What a testimony to God and the power of prayer!   Now a multitude of people stood upon the wall and sang out praises to the One true God for the whole world to hear!

What are you doing to make sure that your wall stays strong, and that songs of praise to the One true God can be heard in your part of the world?

Reflection Questions

  1. What is praise?  How important is expressing praise in your prayers to God?  What things do you praise God for?  Is there a relationship between expressing praise to God and feeling joy in your life?
  2. What is the difference between praise and thanks?  Or are they the same thing? Do you share your thanksgiving and praise with others?
  3. What did Paul mean when he said, “In all things give thanks?  (1 Thess. 5:18) Does giving thanks remove fear and worry from your life? How do you incorporate giving thanks in your life when you feel overtaken and undone by loss or grief?
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