Giving in the Difficult Season

Old Testament: Amos 1 & 2

Poetry: Psalm 128

New Testament: Matthew 14

 

We have all heard the story about Jesus feeding the 5 thousand, and what Jesus can do with our little. But what happened prior to these events?

In Matthew 14: 1-12, we are told of the moment that Herod decided to behead John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, and close friend. In Matthew 14:13-14 we are shown the reaction of Jesus when he gets the news.

Matthew 14:13-14

            “When Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there by boat to a remote place to be alone. When the crowds heard this, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd, had compassion on them, and healed their sick.”

This is an incredible image of who Jesus was. Think of a time in your life when all you wanted was some time alone. You have been through a lot and are trying to grieve and yet there are people who want to talk and need your help. What was your reaction?

Were you irritated, did you yell, maybe you said something you wish you hadn’t? We have all been to that place. We are all human. There have been times I have done the same thing, especially in the recent times with trying to find a job and being patient, as I wait for God to open the door. It has been easy to lose my temper with the people around me, or to be distant from them.

Jesus in this passage, is calling us to have compassion even in our grief and sorrow. Have compassion on people and show them the love of God. Even when we are burnt out and only have a little to give. Even that little, when given to others, has the power to change everything. Jesus took the little bread they had and gave it to God in faith and was able to feed everyone there! Our little strength makes a huge difference.

After this incredible miracle, seeing Jesus do these amazing things, the disciples get into a boat and make their way to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. In the night during a storm, they witness Jesus walking towards them on the water. The disciples in fear believe it is a ghost, but Peter says, if it is you Lord, command me to come to you on the water. Jesus says, “Come.”

Peter begins walking on the water in courage and faith, but fear sets in and he begins to sink as he notices the wind and waves.

Jesus then says as he pulls Peter from the water. “You of little Faith. WHY DID YOU DOUBT?” Jesus says this with love. Peter only had a little faith and was willing to get out and take the chance to walk.

We are called to do the same. When we are burnt out and feel empty. We are called to bring the little faith we have and walk with Jesus. Sometimes the waves in life are tall, and the wind roars in our ears. But Jesus says, “Walk with me.”  In other words, “Bring all you have to serve others,” as we are called.

As I write this, I think of the times in life that I feel burnt out, even at my young age. Life is HARD. But even during those times, it brings me hope to see others who have went before me. They continue to serve and give of themselves even in their challenging times. It is amazing to see what God does even through our grief. God uses our biggest trials to make the biggest differences in our lives, and the lives of people around us. He does this with the little we have to give.

Reflection Questions

In times of testing and grief, do we give up or keep on looking for needs of others?

Are we feeding ourselves spiritually to strengthen our faith, so we don’t sink like Peter did?

-Hannah Eldred

Can’t Throw Stones

*THEME WEEK – PETER – Luke 5

Poetry: Psalm 13

Old Testament: Ezra Intro – see below

This week many are gathering for a week of FUEL – a youth and young adult camp of the Church of God. Our theme for the week matches FUEL’s theme of Peter and our writers this week will all be participants and staff at FUEL. Have a great week seeking God, growing faith and loving more and more!

The past few weeks, I have been thinking about this a lot. We are so quick to cast stones when someone hurts us, or we find something out about someone that we think is wrong or sinful. I have seen this in myself recently. I have been quick to judge people when I don’t agree with their opinions or beliefs. I was very excited to have an opportunity to write about Luke 5. The story about Jesus choosing his first disciples has always been one of my favorites. But I never took the time to read deeper into it.

Luke 5: 31

Jesus replied to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees who are watching Jesus have dinner with tax collectors and sinners. In this time, it was crazy and unheard of to associate with these types of people, because they were considered unclean. But Jesus responds and says it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the SICK.

We are to have the same attitude as Jesus and realize that we ourselves are sick. We have all at one time sinned. Jesus has come and brought us, the sick, out of our sickness so that we can do the same for others.

He shows the same act in Luke 5:8-11

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful Man!” For he and all those with him were amazed at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners.

            “Don’t be afraid,” Jesus told Simon, “From now on you will be catching people.” Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed him.

Jesus called to the lost. He went to the darkest places to reach people and has instructed us to do the same.

It is hard to reach out to people sometimes. Especially when we know their past. But how can we judge someone, when Jesus comes to us and says, “You are forgiven.” It says in James 2:10

For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.

We all know that we have sinned before, we are all sinners, but Jesus calls us – to love each other, and show everyone who HE truly is, WASH THEIR FEET.

Wash the sinner’s feet. Love them and serve people as Jesus would serve. We are all sinners, no matter what it may be, we have all fallen short somewhere.

Jesus washes the feet of his disciples in John 13:1-5. He is free of sin, and yet he washes their feet. In this time, washing of someone’s feet was an act of service. Jesus was willing to serve everyone no matter who they were. We are called to do the same.

It is easy to judge and to say, well I couldn’t do that for this person because… (You fill in the blank). I have done it. I have judged people whether that be at work, or even when I was in school. I have judged and said, “Well that person is too far gone. There’s no way I could forgive them.” But the truth is, that everyone deserves Christ’s love. We are called to be free of judgement and full of love and forgiveness.

 You can’t wash feet and throw stones. We can’t do both.

Instead choose to wash the feet of everyone you can, not literally, but be kind and show them Christ’s love.

-Hannah Eldred

Reflection Questions

  1. When have you judged someone else and believed them to be too sick (in their sins) for Jesus to cure? How have you been proved wrong? What examples from the Bible and people you know prove that Jesus heals sinners and changes lives?
  2. Jesus called Peter to catch people not fish. What is Jesus calling you to do? What might you have to leave behind (as Peter left behind his fishing boats and nets)?
  3. How can you – will you – show others the love of Christ this week?

Ezra Introduction

The book of Ezra was written by a man named Ezra who was a Godly scribe and priest – a direct descendant of Aaron the first high priest.  The book starts with the decree of the Persian King Cyrus proclaiming the Israelites could return to Jerusalem and build a temple for God.  This was prophesied in Jeremiah 25:12; 29:10; 50:1-5; and Isaiah 44:28-45:5,13.

The first half of Ezra details the people who returned, and then describes the fits and starts of building the temple, along with the stiff opposition to building that temple.  (It took 23 years to rebuild the temple.)

Once the temple was built, the Israelites needed priests to perform sacrifices and teach God’s laws to the people.  It was at this time that Ezra went from Babylon to Jerusalem in a second wave of returning exiles along with priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants.  

I love the description of Ezra found in 7:10, “Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.”

We see a glimpse of his faith in Ezra 8:21-23, “There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.  I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.”  So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.”

The second half of the book talks about addressing the sin in Israel, culminating in people’s confession of their sins and their pledge to live according to God’s laws.

I’ll close with Ezra 10:6, “… he [Ezra] ate no food and drank no water, because he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.”

How often have you been this distressed over your own sins, let alone the sins of people who claim to follow God, or even the sins of our nation?  

-Steve Mattison

Legacy

*Old Testament: 1 Chronicles 7-9
*Poetry: Psalm 142
New Testament: Colossians 2

Think about all the people in your life, and the people that have come before you. There are always people that come to mind when you think about who you looked up to.

For me those people have been my parents, my grandparents, and uncles. I’ll always be grateful for the amazing people that God has provided.

Now how does this tie into Psalm 142 and 1 Chronicles 7,8,9? After reading 1 Chronicles 7,8, and 9, I realized that the list of names, from generation to generation, is a LEGACY. All the people then till now play a part in a much greater picture, and God knows every individual plan in HIS legacy.

Think back to the people in your life. How did they react when they faced trials, or when the plan they had didn’t match God’s plan? How did it impact the people around them? Our actions in our times of hard ship impact the people around us, whether we see it or not. If you have kids, you know they watch everything you do. It’s the same with other people in our lives. It’s so important that your actions are viewed by everyone, and we need to be aware of how we act.

Think about what you do in your trials as we look at Psalm 142.

Psalm 142:1-3

“I cry aloud to the Lord, I plead aloud for his mercy. I pour out my complaints before him.”

“I cry aloud to the Lord.” This chapter comes from a place when David was in an extremely difficult trial. He was running from King Saul and hiding in the cave of Adullam from persecution.

Even in this dark season, David cries ALOUD to the Lord for his guidance, just as we should in our times of hardship.

Psalm 142:3 goes on to say, “Although my spirit is weak within me. You know my way.”

David trusts God in this time. He trusts that God knows his plan for David and will bring him through this.

What do you do when you face trials?

We have all been in places where all we seem to do is be mad at God in our situation. But what if we turn to God instead, and say, “God I am frustrated, HELP me. I know your plan is good.” How does that impact us, and God’s Legacy.

The way we react to our trials makes an impression. If we lash out in anger when things don’t go our way, we leave an impression. We may hurt feelings and say things we can never take back. Those moments of impact can change how that person we hurt acts, and then it continues. It’s like the saying goes, what comes around goes around. So, what if we spread around love, and trust in God, and watch that spread around. Let’s grow a Legacy of people who love and worship God, and love each other. Love and worship in our times of struggle can make all of the difference.

-Hannah Eldred

Reflection Questions

1) What trials may you be facing in life big or small?

2) How do you react in your trials?

3) How can you show love and worship in your trials? How does this impact God’s legacy?

When You are in Distress

Old Testament Reading: Genesis 35 & 36

Psalms Reading: Psalm 20

New Testament Reading: Matthew 19

In life we come to places where we are in distress, we feel hopeless, and we feel like our circumstances couldn’t be darker. But God is full of hope and knows his plans for us if we trust him.

We begin in Genesis, Jacob has fled from his home from his brother Esau, and after he left Laban now Jacob is being told by God to return to Bethel, the place where he had stopped after running from his brother and having a dream.

Before they get there Jacob tells his family in Genesis 35:2

“So, Jacob said to his household and all who were with him, get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. We must get up and go to Bethel. I will build an alter there to the God who has answered me in my day of distress. He has been there with me everywhere I have gone.”

Jacob is telling his family how God has blessed him and that they are not going back to that place of foreign gods. Just as we are not going back to our places of distress and false gods.

Psalm 20:1

“May the Lord answer you in a day of trouble; may the name of Jacob’s God protect you.”

God provides answers in all our times of distress. In our times of trouble, when we don’t understand why things are happening, he knows why things are happening. He provides us comfort in our struggles; we need to lean on him. God will provide.

It is after this that God tells Jacob to be fruitful and multiply, and he reminds Jacob of the promise he had made to Abraham and Isaac concerning the land.

This means something to us too when times get difficult. We will experience the blessings of God at times, but when questionable circumstances come our way, we need to remember how we obtained those blessings. Forgetting about God in times of need would be a sure sign that we are getting on the wrong path.

Matthew 19 also contains a lot of information. Jesus had to deal with the pharisees trying to trip him up constantly, but what stands out to me is Matthew 19:21-22.

“If you want to be perfect,” Jesus said to him, “go sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.”

This man was faithful to God and had a lot of possessions, but he did not connect his possessions with God’s blessings.  The same goes with us, too often we forget that when times are good and we are feeling high in life, that our blessings come from God!

We can’t forget that in our good and bad times that no matter what, we are to devote ourselves to God. Trust in him and he will bring you through everything that you experience.

-Hannah Eldred

Reflection Questions

  1. What are your usual responses when you feel you are in a time of distress? Are they helpful responses?
  2. What can we learn from our Bible passages today regarding how to turn to God?
  3. What can we learn from our Bible passages today regarding who God is and what He does?

Accountability

Ezekiel 33

Saturday, October 29, 2022

This week we have covered pain and sorrow in our trials, our hope in Jesus, newness in the clay, God’s comfort for us in our battles, and our freewill to live for Christ.

Though these topics are all different, they all connect in how we reach others. Our job as Christians is to share the good news of God and his Son.  Our prayer everyday should be to touch the life of someone in a positive way; and hopefully to bring people with us along the journey. But our job is also to be accountable for one another in our journey of faith. This doesn’t mean to be judgmental but understanding.

As we have gone through this week, we have seen how God comforts, but he also tests by letting us face sorrow, and we have seen how our faith is based on our freewill to follow Him. The same goes with accountability. We are to walk alongside each other in trials and in comfort and help each other walk closer in our faith in God and the hope we have in Jesus.

Ezekiel 33:7-9 says,

As for you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel.  When you hear a word from my mouth, give them a warning from me.  If I say to the wicked, ‘wicked one, you will surely die,’ but you do not speak out to warn him about his way, that wicked person will die for his iniquity, yet I will hold you responsible for his blood.  But if you warn a wicked person to turn from his way and he doesn’t turn from it, he will die for his iniquity, but you will have rescued yourself.”

This scripture really hits home how important remaining faithful every day is. It is not enough to just go to church and give our offering. While those are important things, what really matters is bringing Jesus outside of church. Jesus continually went to people who were broken and lost, just as we are supposed to.

We are supposed to be the light for people who have no light.  We are supposed to be there for the person at school who is always alone, talk to the coworker, who you know is going through a hard time, and spread the joy and hope that Jesus would spread.

 A song written this year by Cain, called The Commission words it perfectly. “Go tell the world about me, I was dead but now I live. I’ve got to go now for a little while, but goodbye is not the end.” He will be back someday, and he wants to see everyone there. If we don’t spread his word who will? 

I want to know that I did everything I could in my life to share Jesus with as many people as God gives me the opportunity.

My Grandpa used to say this quote by Stephen Covey, but it goes like this. “The main thing is to keep the main thing, the main thing.”

-Hannah Eldred

Reflection Questions

  1. How do you feel about the job of watchman?
  2. Has anyone been a faithful watchman for you – warning you of the danger of continuing down a path away from God and his commands? What did they do well?
  3. How can a watchman deliver God’s warning in a way that might be best heard and heeded?

Lamentations of Hope

Lamentations 3

Lamentation is defined as a passionate expression of grief or sorrow. In this time Israel has been through pain and destruction.  Lament is a human response to suffering before God who can stop the suffering. Lamenting pushes us to be helpless before God who can rescue us and bring us out of our situation.

            Have you ever been in deep sorrow? The kind where all you want to do is disappear or break into a thousand pieces. Those times are hard to say the least. I know the same feeling more than I would like to admit.

            But I have realized that in those moments, the best thing we can do is go to God. Bring him our lamentations, our sorrows.

            This is what Lamentations is. In this book Israel is bringing their sorrows to God and finding peace in him. They have nothing left after the destruction and pain brought by the Babylonians, yet in Lamentations 3 it says this.

Lamentations 3:19-24

Remember my affliction and my homelessness, the wormwood, and the poison. I continually remember them and have become depressed. Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness! I say the Lord is my portion therefore I will put my trust in him.

            There is joy in the mourning! These people had nothing, had suffered, and yet they have all this love and trust in God and his faithfulness. Because God is good, and he knows our sorrows. He wants us to go to him with every little heartache just as the Israelites did!

There is hope in our lamentations and love for our suffering because God will use it for good.

            It is encouraging to know the good God we serve, who brings joy in the mourning. Who leads us through battle and into victory.

This is the best part.

Lamentations 3:31-33

For the Lord will not reject us forever. Even if he causes suffering, he will show compassion according to the abundance of his faithful love. For he does not enjoy bringing affliction or suffering on mankind.”

I love this part, but it is a little bit of a tough pill to swallow. God is compassion, love, and peace, but he also brings along testing and affliction when he knows we need it. Those are the hard times. But we are strong through those hard times, knowing that God is there to guide.

We won’t know how long pain may last. But what is important is not letting our grief stop us from serving God. Our pain is what we can use to reach others with God’s love.

-Hannah Eldred

Reflection Questions

  1. Where do you turn in your sorrow?
  2. What gives you hope in the midst of grieving?

Newness in the Clay

Jeremiah 18

In Isaiah 40 we talked about how God provides comfort in our seasons of trouble, but we can also see God’s comfort here in Jeremiah 18. Here in this chapter, God tells Jeremiah to go and watch a potter in his house, and what he sees is this.

Jeremiah 18:1-4

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Go down at once to the potter’s house; there I will reveal my words to you.” So, I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, working away at the wheel. But the jar that he was making from the clay became flawed in the potter’s hand, so he made it into another jar, as it seemed right for him to do.

God then says to Israel, “Can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay?… Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so you are in my hand.

            The comfort comes from the hope that God is our potter. He can make something new out of any situation we may be in.  

In some seasons of life, we may feel like we are broken and there is no coming back from that brokenness. But there is newness in the clay. That brokenness we feel is fixable, and God will make something new out of that brokenness.

            Now when God is telling Israel this in Jeremiah 18, he means it in a different way. In this time Israel was disobedient of God.

 God says in Jeremiah 18:7-8

At one moment I might announce concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will uproot, tear down, and destroy it.  However, if that nation about which I have made the announcement turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the disaster I had planned to do to it.

This passage was as much a lesson for individuals as it was to Israel. Listen to God but know that he will make new beautiful things out of broken things.

-Hannah Eldred

Reflection Questions

  1. What does it mean to you that you are the clay and the Lord God is the potter?
  2. Have you seen a time in your life (or the life of someone else) when God turned a marred pot into a work of art and function? What was the best part of this transformation? Was it easy or still a bit difficult to be the molded clay?
  3. What can be learned at the potter’s house about God’s discipline?

God’s Comfort for Us

Isaiah 40

Wednesday, October 25, 2022

There are many times in life when we feel alone, and without comfort. Times like grieving over death, or a spot in life that just isn’t going our way. In this chapter however, God’s comfort and hope are clear towards God’s people, just as it is today.

Throughout all of Isaiah, there were themes. Isaiah 1-35 deal with condemnation, Isaiah 36-39 are the historic chapters, the chapters with confiscation, and Isaiah 40-66 consolation. Consolation is the comfort people feel after a loss or disappointment.

Every story in the Bible has its sad parts, its broken pieces, but in the end, God provides comfort and peace.

            Isaiah 40:1-2

Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and announce to her that her time of forced labor is over, her iniquity has been pardoned, and she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

The Lord is saying to Isaiah. Tell my people the battle is over; they don’t need to worry. Isaiah knew all about warning and instructing God’s people, but God also wanted His people to receive His comfort.

In any group of people waiting to hear from God, there are always a number of hurting hearts. It is important for us to hear words of comfort for God is comfort. Our purpose is to bring God’s comfort to other’s pain, just as others bring us the same comfort. God’s purpose for us is to love him and love others in our pain.

Our battle may not always be over, it was the same way for God’s people. The battle wasn’t over for Jerusalem when this was written, but God told them it would be over. That is where the comfort comes from.  Knowing the battle may not be over yet, but also knowing we have a mighty God who will bring us through it.

Our purpose is bringing others the Lord’s comfort in their battles too. Share in God’s hope and love.

-Hannah Eldred

Reflection Questions

  1. What characteristics of God do you find in Isaiah 40? Which one do you sometimes forget about? Which one means the most to you today?
  2. Who do you know who you can bring God’s comfort to this week? How will you do so?

Life and Love for All

Isaiah 11

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Have you ever been on a walk outside and been stung by a bee. I have, and it wasn’t the most pleasant experience ever. Animals such as bees use mechanisms like their stinger or teeth to protect themselves from threats, but what if they didn’t have to?

            In Isaiah 11, it alludes to the humble coming of Christ. Jesus comes to us from nothing. He comes from the dead stump of Jesse, and springs forth full of life and hope, bearing fruit. Jesus is full of wisdom and understanding for us, counsel and strength, and a spirit of knowledge and of fear.

            When Jesus commands all the animals will dwell together as it says in Isaiah 11:6-9.

The wolf will dwell with the lamb and the leopard will lie down with the goat. The calf, the young lion and the fattened calf will be together, and a child will lead them. The cow and bear will graze, their young ones will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like cattle. An infant will play beside the cobra’s pit, and a toddler will put his hand into a snake’s den. They will not destroy each other on my entire holy mountain, for the land will be as full of the knowledge of the Lord as the sea is filled with water.”

            There will be no fighting among animals anymore. No more disagreements among us people either. Wouldn’t it be incredible for it to be like that today?

What if we all put our different opinions aside and loved each other with no questioning. The world would be an entirely different place.

That is the challenge for today. Think of a person who you may have had a disagreement with, and just reach out to that person. Let them know you care. Let go of the disagreements. Show each other compassion.

-Hannah Eldred

Reflection Questions

  1. What will the earth look like when it is “filled with the knowledge of the Lord”? How is it different from today?
  2. Reading through Isaiah 11, describe the reign of Jesus the Messiah. What are you most looking forward to and why?
  3. How can we live today to prepare ourselves – and others (even the ones we have disagreements with) for the reign of Jesus?

Our Hope in Christ

Isaiah 9

Monday, October 24, 2022

In yesterday’s devotion, we talked about our vineyard, and how God provides us with freewill to produce the good fruit for our relationship with him and spreading his word.

            Today we will talk about the Hope Jesus was to bring to Israel and Still brings to us today when we work hard with him as a team.

            Isaiah 9: 3-4

You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people have rejoiced before you as they rejoice at harvest time and as they rejoice when dividing spoils. For you have shattered their oppressive yoke and the rod on their shoulders, the staff of their oppressor, just as you did on the day of Midian.

            This passage reminds us of the Hope and glory that come to us from Christ in his coming. It reminds us of the hard work, and hard times we will endure before he finally returns.

            The passage Isaiah 9:3 speaks of the people rejoicing as they did at Harvest time, or while dividing spoils. This is alluding to how the people planted in that time, but it also speaks to the work we do now. We should rejoice in our daily jobs and be joyful while we work.

            A man will reap what he sows, when we sow love for others and trust in following the Lord and his plan, we will celebrate in the harvest of bringing others to Christ. Sowing good works today could look like, volunteering your time for a charity, or participating in service at church by doing slides. The small things matter, just like paying for the person behind you in the drive through window, which just might start a chain reaction as others do it, too. The point is, we will see the incredible rejoicing at what is sown through Christ if we love others and serve him.

            This passage also alludes to how God shatters the enemy as he did in Midian. The battle of Midian is found in the book of Numbers 31, The Lord commanded Moses to recruit a thousand Israelites from every tribe, to go and wage war against Midian. Trusting God to bring them through, they won the battle. Just as one day we will win the battle and rejoice.

It won’t be easy, but there will be hope through till the end.

-Hannah Eldred

Reflection Questions

  1. Consider Jesus’ first coming – what does it mean to you? What hope does it give? What rejoicing does it bring?
  2. Consider Jesus’ second coming – what does it mean to you? What hope does it give? What rejoicing does it bring?
  3. What are you sowing now? What do you expect at harvest time? Is there anything else you want to/should be sowing?