Today’s devotion is written by Deacon Karen Katamay.

“We brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.” – 1 Timothy 6:7-8

“He who has the most toys, wins.” I am not sure who first said this, but this is a quote I have heard often.  Yet what I have found in my own life as I have accumulated things over the years, as did my mother and grandmothers before me, is that the beloved china and collectibles are not treasured in the same way by future generations.  I always thought I could pass on some of these things to my children, but so far my family has shown no interest in these things and I will just end up leaving them things that they will have to figure out how to get rid of once I am gone. 

Like the Bible verse in 1 Timothy says, we bring nothing into this world with us and we will take nothing out of it when we die. Yet why do we feel we have to fill up our lives in between with things we don’t really need?  Shouldn’t we just be happy with “our daily bread”, or in other words, our food, clothing, shelter and basic needs?  Granted, there are some things I own that make it easier to do what I need to do, such as my computer to help me compose this devotion and participate in our virtual worship services.  And having a car makes it easier for me to get around, and there are other things as well that are useful to me.  Still, there is a lot I own that is purely decorative or was an impulse buy at one time.  And I can’t say that all of it has brought me contentment, and maybe even left me with less understanding and empathy for those who have less.

The text for this day should probably have also included the verse right before verses 7 and 8.  Verse 6 says this: “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” In other words, our relationship with Christ brings us a contentment that nothing we own can ever give to us.  And that’s the true contentment we should all be seeking in our lives.  Amen.

O that you would tear open the heavens and come down! –Isaiah 64:1

Rescue us from the evil one. –Matthew 6:13

A couple days ago, I watched the movie 1917. If you haven’t seen it already, I highly recommend it (ideally in a space where you won’t be embarrassed uttering involuntary, audible gasps like I did.) In the film, set in France during WWI, two British soldiers are tasked with traveling on foot to stop another regiment from walking, unwittingly, into a German trap. The movie begins with these two young men ready to risk their lives in an attempt to rescue 1,600 soldiers from peril they’re not even aware lies ahead of them.

The passages we’re reading today are requests for rescue. They are prayers asking God to intervene powerfully. Sometimes these words sound more dramatic, more weighty, than I feel my everyday circumstances merit. Jesus’ words at the end of the Lord’s Prayer, “deliver us from the evil one,” and Isaiah’s desire for the Lord to “tear open the heavens,” sometimes feel disproportionately epic and cinematic relative to my own day-to-day life. And yet, like the regiment in the film, we are all in desperate need of rescue, whether we see it clearly or not. What Jesus did for us truly is an event of epic proportion. Jesus defeated death. We call Jesus “Savior” because he has rescued you and me from the snare of sin, from our own inclination to separate ourselves from God, and from walking toward the things that would harm us. Jesus instructs his followers to pray “deliver us from the evil one” because there are strong forces that would pull us away from God without Jesus’ ultimately reliable protection. 

The especially wonderful news is, we don’t have to hold our breath wondering if we’ll be rescued. We already have been. Jesus’ death and resurrection sealed the deal for good. We can approach each day—regardless of how epic or mundane it may seem—rejoicing in that rescue. As we continue to pray for God’s intervention and protection (as Isaiah demonstrated and as Jesus instructed) we can live in the secure knowledge that God has defeated the enemy in definitive and permanent ways. 

It can be difficult to really take in these large-scale truths. May you find moments today to marvel at the sheer scale of what Jesus’ has done. May your words, attitudes, and behaviors be motivated by the staggering reality that you have been forever rescued by your Savior, Jesus.

Today’s devotion is written by Deacon Karen Katamay

Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are now far from my righteousness. I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away.  – Isaiah 46:12-13

I had to smile a bit when I read this passage.  Can’t we all be a little stubborn-hearted at times?  This passage ties in so well with Pastor Dan’s message on Sunday about Noah, and what was happening in the world at that time.  The people were sinful and stubborn-hearted, turning away from God and God’s righteousness.  God had every right to give up on the human race, but he provided a way for the human race and creation to survive through Noah and his family and all the animals on the ark.

Today we can be just as stubborn-hearted as the people back then.  We know exactly what God should do, so why doesn’t he do it?  Why doesn’t he just speak the words or wave his hand and make the coronavirus go away?  Why doesn’t he bring an end to all the violence in the world, and solve all the world’s problems for us?  Shouldn’t our will be God’s will, too?  Yes, we are a stubborn people, thinking we know better than God about everything.  And that includes me at times, too. 

But no matter how stubborn or self-righteous we are, God always gives us a way back, bringing his righteousness and salvation near to us through Jesus.  We only have to read the Bible to know through what Jesus taught us that God and God’s kingdom are near.  We have to trust that God understands our suffering and our pain and is with us through all of this.  He sighs when we sigh, and weeps when we weep, and surrounds us with his comfort and grace.  And we know that when God is by our side, and works with us and through us, that every little thing we do to make this world a better place and to ease the sufferings of others helps God’s kingdom draw a little bit closer.  Yes, God’s righteousness is not far away, it’s here.  You only have to believe!

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. – Titus 2:11

Today’s devotion was written by Deacon Karen Katamay.

“Therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for each other.” – 1 Peter 4:7-8

During Lent of this year I led a Bible study on the Lord’s Prayer.  Most of us know the prayer by heart and can recite it easily if asked.  The problem for us can be that we recite it so often, that we sometimes forget to focus on what those words mean.  The study was just as helpful for me as it was for my group, because it helped me dig in to the meaning of each part of the prayer and explore it in depth.

As we pray the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray, one helpful thing to remember is that this is a group prayer.  Our Father … give us this day … forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us … and lead us not … but deliver us.  See the pattern?   Jesus was teaching us more than just a prayer to pray, he was teaching us to care for each other and to pray for one another.  Everything we do, and every time we pray, we are to show our constant love for each other.  We are to pray for daily bread for all who are hungry.  We are to forgive others as we ask for our own forgiveness.  We pray that God will deliver all of us from evil and keep all of us from temptation.

My favorite part of the prayer is about God’s kingdom. (Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven).  I dream for the day when life on earth can be as it is in heaven, with everyone loving each other and caring for each other and following God’s will each and every day.  Jesus gives us so many different images for what the kingdom of God is like.  We can think of a net thrown into the sea, catching fish of every shape and kind and color, including all and leaving none out.  We can think of yeast being mixed into flour, changing the flour and helping it to expand and grow and flourish. We can think of the kingdom of God as a great banquet, where all are invited and no one is left out and everyone has enough to eat.  And many more. Jesus gave us these images because that is how he wanted us to see our life on earth – as the kingdom of God here on earth, with everyone loving and caring for each other.

So take time to pray the Lord’s Prayer this week and pause after each petition, reflecting on what it means.  You can use the contemporary or traditional version, whichever you are more comfortable with. It might give the prayer a whole new meaning for you and a new love for all.

And the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours, forever and ever, Amen.

One generation shall laud your works to another and shall declare your mighty acts. —Psalm 145:4

Since we’ve been worshiping from home, I’ve been in the Redeemer sanctuary only a handful of times. Each time I walk through those glass doors, I can’t help but laugh. Maybe you remember the banner set up right by the Welcome Table. It says, “Be Contagious.” The irony, right?

But today’s passage reminds me of why those words really are so important, despite how currently inappropriate they sound. This pandemic has certainly drilled home our capacity to spread what is bad. Yet this Psalm reminds us of our capacity to spread the ultimate good, infinitely and exponentially. The Psalmist marvels at what happens over time, over generations even, when people sing God’s praises. When one generation “lauds [God’s] works,” the next generation gets to catch the good news too, and they can pass it on to the next generation, and so forth. The world is changed.

And the reality is, we are direct beneficiaries of people’s commitment to share the good news of Jesus. My guess is you met Jesus because someone introduced you to him, or helped you get to know him better. Maybe it was a parent or a friend or someone else. Who helped you make Jesus’ acquaintance? Who helped you to understand who he is and what he did for you? Who helped you clear out your misconceptions so you could really nurture that relationship? People have been doing that for a long time and it’s why you get to know Jesus now. When we’re generous with the news we’ve received, we have the capacity to influence and impact generations to come, as well.

Sometimes Jesus’ call to share the Good News can be intimidating. If it feels that way to you, be encouraged by the Psalm. Each new generation came to know God because the ones before them couldn’t help but talk about how great he is. It really can be that simple. When you talk about what Jesus has done for you, about Jesus’ deep and unswerving love for you, about how following Jesus changed your life—and when you share those things with authentic love—it’s a pure blessing to those who get to hear it. You’re making an introduction, you’re nurturing a new relationship, you’re making sure future generations get to know how great God is, too.

A few years ago our Faith in Action t-shirts featured a picture of a dandelion with its seeds (are they called seeds?) blowing away in the wind. The implication is ongoing, far-reaching impact. That’s the kind of impact we’re talking about here, but bigger. How might you change the world simply by singing God’s praises today?