Community Devotions

Walking in my Belovedness

Scripture

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17)

Observation

Before Jesus demonstrated his piety by fasting forty days and forty nights in complete reliance and obedience to the Father, the Father was pleased and loved the Son. Before Jesus began his public ministry, preached his first sermon, recruited the first disciples or healed a sick person—he was a beloved Son, fully pleasing to the father. This is the love of God. A love that is unconditional, not based on performance or obedience. A love that loved first, without expecting anything in return. A love that is steadfast, constant when we do bad or do good.

Application

I stand firm and walk in God’s love for me this morning. The unconditional love that God has for me cannot be earned by my obedience or diminished by my disobedience. His love is for me is constant—He is not more pleased with me when I obey or less pleased when I sin. I also need God’s unconditional love in loving and leading my family. Too many times my mood is dependent on whether my kids behaved or not. I am communicating a love to them that is conditional on their behavior. Jesus I need you so much.

Prayer

Thank you so much for the constancy of your love for me. I walk in and live out in your belovedness for me. I love you. Maranatha!

Integrity of Mouth

SCRIPTURE

Malachi 2:5-7, “My covenant with him [Levi] was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and the people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

OBSERVATION

Yahweh is a covenant keeping God and He expects his people to be covenant keeping people. In this first of six disputes between God and his people, God reminds the people of how the priests have broken the original covenant. The covenant with Levi and his tribe of priests consist of life, peace and a fear of the the Lord that lead to a life of integrity. The common understanding of integrity is who you are and what you do when no one is looking. Yet God describes Levi’s integrity primarily based on his mouth in that “no wrong was found on his lips”. Because Levi feared the Lord and stood in awe of his name, he guarded his mouth as the messenger of God. Everything starts with leadership and before God was judging Israel as a nation he first starts with the leadership of the priests.

APPLICATION

On a scale from one to ten how is my integrity in the fear of the Lord? As a messenger of God, am I guarding my mouth against lies, gossip, slander, empty talk, exaggeration? I think James exhortation is appropriate (James 3:1-2): Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways, And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man (mature), able also to bridle his whole body.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the grace that is found in your son, Jesus. Please forgive me for not having the fear and integrity to guard against my mouth? I repent from empty talk, lies, gossip and slander. I fear you and stand in awe of who you are. Amen.