Monday, August 20
Theme for the week:
Disciples Practice Healthy Relationships by Seeking Godly Reconciliation

Matthew 5:23-24

If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to him; then come and offer your gift…
~ Jesus

Gifts being presented at an altar often relate to one’s relationship with God: Thanks offerings to a benevolent Father; sin offerings in recognition of reconciliation between a Holy God and oneself. This notion of relational wellness with God is what Jesus points to in this week’s focus from His sermon: One can’t disregard unhealthy relationships with other people while aiming to present a healthy walk with God at His altar. That doesn’t keep people from trying. We try, but the blessing of God Almighty isn’t on it.

Listen to Micah lay it down: 

Micah 6:6-8

With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Placeholder Picture

Prayer for the Week

Lord Jesus, you have reminded me that a healthy walk with Father God is not exclusive of my relationships with other people. Rather my relationship with God should totally influence how I relate to others. Be my master and disciple me in this arena of life. So I pray, amen.

Psalm 119: Immersed in the Word of God

Placeholder Picture

This is our continuing opportunity to encounter God through His Word in Psalm 119. Unique in the bible, Psalm 119 is fashioned around the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet (seen above). Each section contains eight verses, making it easily the longest psalm at 176 verses. 

Psalm of Meditation for the Week:

Psalm 119:145-152 (Qoph)

ק

  1. I call with all my heart; answer me, LORD, and I will obey your decrees.
  2. I call out to you; save me and I will keep your statutes.
  3. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word.
  4. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.
  5. Hear my voice in accordance with your love; preserve my life, LORD, according to your laws.
  6. Those who devise wicked schemes are near, but they are far from your law.
  7. Yet you are near, LORD, and all your commands are true.
  8. Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.

  • Read: the verses twice.

  • Mark: the words or phrases that catch your attention.

  • Meditate: talk (better yet write) with God about those words. Ask him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect a response from the Lord.

Placeholder Picture

Pondering Point

The traditional sense of the Hebrew letter Qoph is the back of a man’s head, insinuating following, which is what “ape” or “aping” comes from in Hebrew.
How are you doing at “aping” or following Jesus?

Tuesday, August 21
God’s Mission

2 Corinthians 5:17-18

If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
~ Apostle Paul

God's mission for his disciples as reconcilers works much better when we are not at odds with people. God is of course the real reconciler and we are his vessels holding out Jesus like a light in the darkness. But these vessels are more effective when emptied – or maybe cured – of unhealthy and ungodly attitudes toward those with whom God is seeking to reconcile through Jesus. For many people in this world, we Christians – his disciples – are the face of Jesus. Let's put our best faces forward. I'm reminded of an old camp song lyric, do you know oh Christian you're a sermon in shoes. As we go about “preaching” with our lives, let's not stomp on people but instead go the extra mile to help even those not on our favorites list.

Placeholder Picture

Prayer

Lord God, as Jesus’ disciple, as one of your reconcilers, let me be a sermon in shoes, sharing the good news of life in and with and under you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:145-146

I call with all my heart; answer me, LORD, and I will obey your decrees. I call out to you; save me and I will keep your statutes.

Placeholder Picture

Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

Matthew 7:7

Ask… and it will be given to you;
Seek… and you will find;
Knock… and the door will be opened to you.

The Promise:

Matthew 7:8

For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Placeholder Picture

Pondering Point

Who first taught you to call on God? to learn and obey Him? Whom are you teaching to call on God? Whom are you teaching to know and obey his Word?

Wednesday, August 22
Your Identity in Christ

• In Christ, I am an ambassador to whom He has committed the message of reconciliation. As God does not count people’s sins against them in Christ, I too will forgive in Jesus’ name.

Matthew 18:15

If your brother (or sister) sins, go and point out his fault, just between the two of you.
~ Jesus

Matthew 5:23-24

If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother (or sister) has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to him; then come and offer your gift…
~ Jesus

We often think of reconcilers as third parties between two other conflicting sets of people. But in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount he reminds us that we are to first be reconcilers in our own world -- even before we come and offer a gift to God (Matthew 5:24). We are first to be reconciled to each other. We are first to be reconcilers in our personal lives. A gift offered to the Lord while unreconciled to our brothers is contrary to God's teaching. Maybe one of the best gifts we can offer God is a freshly reconciled relationship with a brother or sister of whom we had an issue.

Placeholder Picture

Prayer Prompt

Father God, foster within me the idea of being a reconciler and peacemaker for You – and help me practice in my own life what I preach to others. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:147-148

I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.

Placeholder Picture

Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

Ephesians 5:15-18

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

The Promise:

Psalm 32:8

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Placeholder Picture

Pondering Point

The writer speaks of late nights and early mornings spent in God’s Word. At this time of your life, what part of your day/week is carved out for God’s Word?

Thursday, August 23
Re-Center Around God

Matthew 5:24

First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
~ Jesus

Review the week

This may be a simple ask but not a simple task: Who are you currently unreconciled with? Would God confirm that you have done what you can? On other fronts, have you been offended but talked about that person rather than to him/her?

Repent (if necessary)

The tough part here is not just repenting, but agreeing to take a step that you have may not have taken yet – or at least not recently. Check in with God about approaching His altar with the current state of your relationships.

Return (as necessary)

Read Matthew 18:15-20 (below) and ask the Spirit for direction he may give. Read Matthew 5:21-24 (also below) then mentally picture yourself returning to God with an offering after reconciling with a brother or sister. See God’s reaction in your mind’s eye having obeyed his will. Pray for this experience to occur in real life.

Dealing With Sin in the Church

Matthew 18:15-20

15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Matthew 5:21-24

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

Placeholder Picture

Prayer Prompt

Pray about what God has put upon your heart.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:149-150

Hear my voice in accordance with your love; preserve my life, LORD, according to your laws. Those who devise wicked schemes are near, but they are far from your law.

Placeholder Picture

Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

Romans 13:3

Rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 

The Promise:

Psalm 66:18-20

If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me! 

Placeholder Picture

Pondering Point

We often talk of hearing God’s voice – such as in His Word and in our hearts. Verse 149 in Psalms talks of God hearing our voice; how often does God hear your voice?

Friday, August 24
Discipleship Point

Matthew 18:15

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.
~ Jesus

On Fellowship

In church circles, some people limit their definition of fellowship to those with whom they agree in belief and practice, known as church fellowship.

There is room for this understanding, but the idea of fellowship goes beyond that – even in the bible.

Peter, James, and John are prime examples. You may know them as Jesus’ closest disciples, his best friends, his devoted allies. What you may not know is that they already had a fellowship before Jesus came along. When Jesus walks into their lives, they already had a connection: Fishing. The NIV refers to them as partners but it is the same Greek derivative (koinonia) for the word “fellowship”.

Fishing isn’t what made the fellowship, but it did provide an avenue for their fellowship. Interests like work, bowling, theatre, exercise, children, or music provide similar avenues in our lives. As with the first disciples, Jesus can use our current fellowships to break into people’s lives and give them new direction.

With Peter, James, and John, He even used the analogy of fishing to make his point, leading to the familiar phrase, follow me and I will make you fishers of men.

Placeholder Picture

Discipleship Prayer

Holy Spirit, thank you for fellowship that we share in You as brothers and sisters in Christ. Use our naturally occurring fellowships in life to build other Spirit-led partnerships. Help us to recognize that You desire to become part of our existing fellowships such as work, family, and friends – and let you lead the way. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:151-152

Yet you are near, LORD, and all your commands are true. Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.

Placeholder Picture

Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

Mark 1:14-15

Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” 

The Promise:

Psalm 23:4

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Placeholder Picture

Pondering Point

Over the years, we tend to change our views toward life, God, and His Word. Some get more rigid, other soften. But God and His Word – they stay the same.

Saturday, August 25

Genesis 50

Joseph Forgives His Brothers

1 Joseph threw himself on his father and wept over him and kissed him. 2 Then Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So the physicians embalmed him, 3 taking a full forty days, for that was the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.

4 When the days of mourning had passed, Joseph said to Pharaoh’s court, “If I have found favor in your eyes, speak to Pharaoh for me. Tell him, 5 ‘My father made me swear an oath and said, “I am about to die; bury me in the tomb I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.” Now let me go up and bury my father; then I will return.’”

6 Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear to do.”

7 So Joseph went up to bury his father. All Pharaoh’s officials accompanied him—the dignitaries of his court and all the dignitaries of Egypt— 8 besides all the members of Joseph’s household and his brothers and those belonging to his father’s household. Only their children and their flocks and herds were left in Goshen. 9 Chariots and horsemen also went up with him. It was a very large company.

10 When they reached the threshing floor of Atad, near the Jordan, they lamented loudly and bitterly; and there Joseph observed a seven-day period of mourning for his father. 11 When the Canaanites who lived there saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “The Egyptians are holding a solemn ceremony of mourning.” That is why that place near the Jordan is called Abel Mizraim.

12 So Jacob’s sons did as he had commanded them: 13 They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre, which Abraham had bought along with the field as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite. 14 After burying his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, together with his brothers and all the others who had gone with him to bury his father.

Joseph Reassures His Brothers
15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.

19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

The Death of Joseph
22 Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years 23 and saw the third generation of Ephraim’s children. Also the children of Makir son of Manasseh were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees.

24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” 25 And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.”

26 So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.

As we take a second look into the life of Joseph, we pick up on the back side of his father Jacob's death. In this episode, Joseph's brothers are bowing down before him a third time in fulfillment of dreams he once had as a teenager. Again they beg for mercy over past sins. It is in this story that we hear the oft-quoted words from Joseph, ones we could all learn to use: Am I in the place of God?

Placeholder Picture

Prayer Prompt

Almighty God, for thirteen years Joseph labored under the enslaved conditions he was sold into by his brothers. But he honored you the entire time. Although it didn't look like it, you were honoring him too. Help me keep such a mindset no matter what goes on in my world. Help me to honor you and trust that you are working all things for good. Amen.

Sunday, August 26
Call to Worship God, to Gather Together

God Bless You

Romans 15:7

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.  

To gather with God's people in united adoration of the Father is as necessary to the Christian Life as prayer.
~ Martin Luther
Placeholder Picture

Prayer for Worship

Father God, as I come to your altar today, I pray that I am at peace with those around me. If I am in need of reconciling with others, please show me how and when. Give me the courage, kindness, and gentleness needed to handle whatever you bring to mind. Amen

Feedback

Any insights you share are helpful as we carry out our mission of building discipleship resources that God can use to strengthen us to “make disciples who make disciples”, the vision of our church.

Please note any mistakes like omissions, typos, incorrect Bible references, or incomplete sentences. We want those addressed, so please identify the date of whatever concerns you notice.

Even more importantly, let us know if the material is good for connecting with God, inspires an insight, or prompts you to deeper thoughts. Let us know if it comes across as too complicated or is confusing; You’re welcome to offer suggestions you think may enhance the devotion. Anonymity is welcome, but leaving your name is fine too. Thanks!

Your feedback message can be as long or short as you want. The comment box will automatically scroll when you enter text on the last line of the box.

Prayer Prompt

Dear Lord,

I am providing these comments about the website and devotion to increase your greater glory.

Amen.

Sponsored by Hope Lutheran Church 

Copyright (c) 2017-2018 Paul vonWerder

Photo Credits
HomeAll DevotionsTop