A Devotion for Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Actually, this is a 2-for-1 Day as I missed Monday, so first,
here’s Monday’s “Word in Season”:
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 134 (NRSV)
1 Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,
who stand by night in the house of the Lord!
2 Lift up your hands to the holy place,
and bless the Lord.
3 May the Lord, maker of heaven and earth,
bless you from Zion.
Thoughts from “The Word in Season”
Blessed to Bless
“Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,
ho stand by night in the house of the Lord!”
This psalm was part of a dialogue between those who came to worship in the temple in Jerusalem and those who served in the temple: priests, attendants, ministers. In blessing God they were simultaneously blessing one another. Furthermore, in this way they also carried out God’s command to Abraham of old: “I will bless you … so that you will be a blessing” (Gen. 12:2).
To bless means to proclaim God’s favor and presence for something. Just as we hear and receive God’s presence for us, we pray and proclaim God’s presence for the world. We pray for those who are sick and all who are in need, for family and friends, for our communities, and for the grieving. Loved by God, we trust and proclaim God’s steadfast lovingkindness for others.
Prayer: Gracious God, as I seek your blessing, may I be a blessing to others as well. Amen.
Prayer Concern: All who need a blessing
Personal Comment:
Over the past five weeks and more, we have seen evidence of people being a blessing to others in many ways. Whether as “front line” workers of many kinds, or as people who have stepped up to help in a variety of ways, from making face masks and shields, to providing meals for medical staff and first responders, to acts and words of encouragement. It’s pleasing to hear about these “blessings” alongside the persistent news about the virus.
At the end of each Devotional, I have been listing some ways we could be a blessing in this time. Some have taken those up. There may be other ideas you could share for other to consider. Let’s do our part to be a blessing for those needing a word or act of hope, support and encouragement, for we are indeed blessed!
And Tuesday’s Word in Season:
Scripture Reading:
1 Peter 2:1-3 (NRSV)
1 Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation – 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Thoughts from “The Word in Season”
Food to Grow on
“Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk,
so that by it you may grow into salvation.”
As long as I live, I will never forget the joy of holding my only child, Scott, for the first time. Precious, cuddly and … hungry! That problem was solved without delay. And those early feedings helped him to grow.
Just as newborns need food to grow, we adults need food to grow spiritually. One place we can find this “food” is in the scriptures. For example, when we read this text from Isaiah, we may receive courage: “Do not fear, for I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10). When we read this from 1 John, we may receive the power to love: “We love because [God] first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
Food helps us grow and stay nourished. Spiritual food helps us grow in our faith. We receive spiritual food through studying scripture, hearing the Good News proclaimed, receiving Christ’s body and blood, and in the mutual conversation and consolation of the saints of God.
Prayer: Great teacher Jesus, open my mind to learn all you want me to learn this day. Amen.
Prayer Concern: All who need a blessing
Scripture Reading for Personal Reflection:
Psalm 118:19-24 (NRSV)
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing;
`it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Personal Reflection – Joanne Hachtel:
Several people have heard me say: “I’m not a morning person.”
When I sometimes have trouble waking up,
I’ll sit on the side of the bed, look out the window at the trees, hear the birds,
and say to myself a favorite Bible verse:
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
– Psalms 118:24
Do you have a Bible verse that “gets you going?”
Hymn for Reflection:
“Oh, Sing to God Above” (ELW #555, WOV #726)
Oh, sing to God above a hymn of joyful greeting,
A song of grateful love in the new day’s light repeating:
You made the sea and sky, the sun and stars in splendor;
Delight shown in your eye – all your works were filled with wonder.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Oh, sing to God above: alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Oh, sing to God above: alleluia!
Oh, sing to God above a hymn of praise and blessing,
A song of grateful love, hope and faith our hearts expressing:
Creation lifts its voice to tell your might and glory,
And we, too, will rejoice to proclaim the saving story.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Oh, sing to God above: alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Oh, sing to God above: alleluia!
“God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance,
so that by always having enough of everything,
you may share abundantly in every good work.”
– 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NRSV)
Blessings & Peace,
Pastor Wayne
Want to do something positive in this uncertain, anxious time?
Write an encouraging card, note or letter
for one of our shut-ins (Ken Bechtler, Myrtle Danielson, Helen Randall and Barb Morphew) which can be brought to church for delivery (place in the basket in the breezeway).
Or, make some cheerful, simple artwork –
for others and for yourself – that can be put in a window to cheer you up, and those who may see it in your neighborhood.
Do you Quilt?
How about making Masks out of quilting fabric? It’s supposed to be one of the best fabrics to use, and there are patterns online to make them.
Write a Devotion
to post here and share with others, something encouraging or inspirational.
Pray …
For those affected in any way by the Covid-19 pandemic.
For our congregation in this time of separation, that we would yet be held together.
What about a Sign Campaign?
Would we want to make simple roadside signs – from the people of Messiah – indicating prayers and support for medical, food, pharmacy, and other essential service workers (especially “on the front lines”)? What do you think? Could be a visible way of “sharing the love of Christ” in this time.
Have another idea? Let me know, and I will share it here!