Community Devotions

Counter Culture Love

SCRIPTURE

Ezekiel 34:4, "You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally."

OBSERVATION

Andy Stanley asserts that the prevailing culture at the time of the Old Testament and New Testament was that lives were not valuable and a concept of taking care of the helpless and children in need was foreign and disdained upon.  In this culture, God demands that the Israelites do take care of the weak, heal the sick, and recover the lost.  Considering the Chaldean culture who had nearly wiped out Judah and Israel as well as all the surrounding nations, God’s commands of compassion for one another and caring for others clearly would have distinguish the Israelites from others.

With this condemnation, God is passing judgment on the Israelites for being just like those around them, living the life of self indulgence, leveraging might to be right rather than God’s truth and not having compassion on those around them.  So we know that loving one another is a God’s command and not some pious saying that had always existed.  As Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” [John 13:34-35]  So what marks us as Christians is our act of love for one another – putting others before my needs and desires; putting others ahead of me in priority; serving others in order that they would be strengthened, healed and found.

APPLICATION

Help someone in need today, wherever he may be found.  Tell him, “Jesus loves you”.

PRAYER

Father God, I praise you for being a compassionate God who redeemed us by your only Son.  Father, pour out your Holy Spirit in us so that we will be able to do something for others today, in your name – to bring honor and glory to you.  Bless and protect Michael, Joshua and Daniel today.  Grant them wisdom in all decisions they will make and may their hearts to be aligned to you.  Bless Christine today as she prepares for travel. Sustain Grandpa.  I love you LORD.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen.

Water of Life

SCRIPTURE

John 4:13-14

13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

OBSERVATION

The scene of where Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well on his way to Galilee was not conducive for making the point he was making since Jesus was the one who needed help in getting a sip of water from the woman, physically tired from a long trek.  He had no implement to draw the water from the well and she has been drawing water for all her life.

Yet Jesus makes the pronouncement that is very true – it’s not what is right in front of you that is real but to whom do I look to is the real important point – Jesus had provided the water that he offers to all who would drink it and will never thirst again.  It is truly the limitless well of life. 

Even more, Jesus promises that once I draw from his well, I will become an eternal spring well where the source of water will be within me because I am connected to my Savior, Jesus Christ.  How awesome is that!

APPLICATION

Look to Jesus for the water of life that will refresh and sustain me, through hard and difficult part of my life as well as joyous days.  Be in the word daily to draw upon Jesus.

PRAYER 

Father God, thank you for Jesus who provides eternal wellspring for my life.  May I always look to Jesus for that water and reject all other sources in order that I can be of comfort to others.  I love you, LORD.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen.