27/2/21 Day 10

TODAY'S VERSE: 27/2/21 Day 10

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
- Hebrews 10:24-25
 

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

Growing up, especially as a Lutheran pastor’s kid, the season of Lent meant one thing—Wednesday night soup suppers. I’m not sure why that’s one of the top memories that I still remember, given that at the time I wasn’t a huge fan! When you’re a teenager, going to the church basement to have soup with people twice your age wasn’t the primary definition of fun. Yet there’s a reason I remember those nights to this day—it was a picture of the church as family. We ate together, taking turns serving the meal, shared stories, and then worshipped together. We used the season of Lent to gather weekly—because that’s what family does—we keep showing up no matter what.

This season of Lent, I want to encourage you to think about the power of community, the fact that God calls us as His church a family. We may not have soup suppers in the church basement for Lent, but there are literally dozens of ways to gather weekly with your church family, the most central being weekend worship.

What I learned on those Wednesday nights long ago was that consistency is powerful. This is what the writer of Hebrews is encouraging the church with as well. Don’t give up meeting together because you need each other. This season of Lent, in addition to what you’ll give up, consider taking on the discipline of gathering. As we say at Hope a lot, when you gather for worship or groups, it’s good for the church, and it’s good for you!

Pastor Jon

TODAY'S PRAYER:

Dear God, thank you for the power of community. I know that you created me to be in relationship with others, even though I don’t always make it a priority. Thank you for brothers and sisters in Christ that I can be honest and real with, and continue to show me the joy and power of gathering with my church family. Amen.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

17/2/21 Day 1

Image
TODAY'S VERSE:  17/2/21 Day 1 “To all who mourn … he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.” Isaiah 61:3 TODAY'S DEVOTION: Oh, Snow! You charmed us with fresh beauty upon arrival but so quickly became a beast better suited for departure thanks for stopping by now please go ... we’re done with you even as you choose to stay with your record-setting mountains lining our sidewalks accompanied by whipping winds bone-chilling cold short gray days and long dark nights    tempting us to hibernate and cancel life for a season. Oh, Spring! How our collective soul longs for the Creator to make all things new. Surround us again with signs of new life –   songbirds, blooming trees and a full palette of lost color – promised changes that will fill our hearts with hope!   Our weary world waits for warmer days, and a Sabbath to praise our Savior again,   a family reunited...
Read more

18/2/21 Day 2

Image
TODAY'S VERSE:  18/2/21 Day 2 "When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor – sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who now they are sinners.” Mark 2:17   TODAY'S DEVOTION: Have you ever wondered what the qualifications are for being a part of what God is up to? Maybe more specifically, have you ever questioned if you are (or someone else is) a “good enough person” to share the Good News of Jesus? If so, you aren’t alone. But, here’s the good news … Early on in his ministry, there were a lot of people who were more than a little surprised by Jesus. In fact, a lot of religious people were down right offended by what he was doing and who he was doing it with. Not only was Jesus reaching out to those who were on the fringes, but he started to call those same people to be a part of the movement he was starting. Today we are living in the response to Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday we are re...
Read more

24/2/21 Day 7

Image
TODAY'S VERSE: 24/2/21 Day 7 “And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them.” - Mark 6:5   TODAY'S DEVOTION: I’ve always said you can tell a lot by someone’s posture.  Take a look around you next time you are surrounded by people. Body language can tell you a lot about what’s on someone's mind. Take students in a classroom for example. When a teacher engages kindergartners who have just come in from recess, what kind of posture do you envision? I envision urgently reaching for the sky as they raise their hands. Compare this with a sophomore English class and I’m guessing you’d agree, it will probably be much different. Our posture (physical and otherwise) says a lot about us, and it’s pretty evident when we look at Jesus’ ministry. In Mark 6, Jesus has rolled back into his hometown and their posture isn’t good. People seem to be fixated on the Jesus they grew up wit...
Read more