for the love of bread

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

I love bread.
I grew up on a street that had an Italian bakery that made the most amazing bread.
On Sundays my dad would send one of us there to buy a dozen warm dinner rolls.

My mouth waters at that memory.
This is the context that I have when I think about bread.
Even so, consider this response to the word of God from Psalm 119:
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Sometimes I think that we are what we love and desire.
As I said before, I love bread.
My waistline shows it.

Yet I am not sure that I love God's bread as much.

My love of bread has caused me to sometimes eat it too much.
Yet I am not sure that I am fat on spiritual bread.
Honestly, my mouth does not water for it like it does for that stuffed cooked in ovens.

Lord, cause my mouth to hunger and thirst for the Bread of Life.

... this devotion is part of the Red Letters series. Click here to read more.
2 comments:

the light of the new heart

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. [Matthew 5:14-16 NIV]

Again Jesus makes an amazing declaration about his followers. He does not say that He is the light that shines from within us. He says that we are the light. A few thoughts:
  • God created that light within us. He gave us a new shining regenerated heart (i.e. innermost being) when we were born again.
  • Jesus says that we are not to hide this light. We are not to suppress the workings of our heart. We are to live from our new heart and not from our head (i.e. flesh).
  • People notice when we live from our heart because we act differently. Love emanates from our new heart and God is glorified as we love others.
Lord, help me to shine. Help me to love from my heart today.

... this devotion is part of the Red Letters series. Click here to read more.
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spiritual salt shakers

You are the salt of the earth. If salt loses its taste, how can it be made to taste like salt again? It is no good. It is thrown away and people walk on it. -Matthew 5:13 NLV

These verses cause me to remember that we are salt shakers in the Lord's service.
In a sense, the Holy Spirit turns us upside down when he lives through us.
He shakes us and releases beautiful seasoning into the lives of those around us.

In that sense, the releasing ofsalt defies all that we find comfortable.
Being turned upside down, like a salt shaker, is really uncomfortable.
Uncomfortable, but necessary if we want to help those around us.

When I think about this idea, the word encouragement comes to me.
And how salt often looks like comforting and strengthening those around us.
This kind of loving seasoning will add such flavor to the world.

Turn me upside down Lord and shake the salt out of me.

... this devotion is part of the Red Letters series. Click here to read more.
3 comments:

religious hatred

Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. [Luke 6:22-23 NIV]

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. [Matthew 5:10-11 NIV]

I have to admit that I cannot relate to being persecuted.
I am not really sure that I know what it means to be hated.
Much less hated or persecuted for my faith in God.

Still, the attacks of 9/11 brought home the idea that some religious folks do hate.
Honestly, I cannot relate to this sort of hate.
Yet I do remember the arrogant way that I once viewed non-Christians.

In reality, we often believe that our religion(s) are better than others.
Sometimes theology can be the greatest stumbling block to loving humility.
Sadly, our prideful behavior does not endear us to those of other religions.

Perhaps our greatest challenge is to love those religious folks who hate us.
To pray for those who persecute and torture those who God loves.
Interceding in prayer that those who hate would be won over by love.

Lastly, these verses remind us of our need to endure the hatred of others.
To pray for those who speak ill of us and wish us harm.
To bless those who are blind to the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Lord Jesus, help us to show your love to those who are held captive by hate.

... this devotion is part of the Red Letters series. Click here to read more.
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the uncomfortable call of making peace

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. -Matthew 5:9 NIV

Methodist theologian Adam Clarke once wrote:
"the Gospel is called the Gospel of peace,
because it tends to reconcile men to God and to each other"
I think that reconciliation is the operative word.
Peacemakers are reconcilers who bring folks together.
Healing folks that are alienated and often hostile to each other.

An old friend died a few years ago.
I was sad because we had not talked in a long time.
It caused me to contact another old friend that I had not seen in a while.

I shared a meal with my old friend.
As we dined together we shared our lives.
Life is too short to allow any sort of alienation in our lives.

Being a peacemaker sometimes involves making contact when it is uncomfortable.
Being a peacemaker is a divine call to reconcile and be reconciled.
Small wonder that folks who make peace are called children of God.

Lord, help me to be at peace and to make peace. Even when it is uncomfortable.

... this devotion is part of the Red Letters series. Click here to read more.
2 comments:

when I see with my heart

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. [Matthew 5:8 NIV]

I think that this verse can be a very intimidating one because we are all very aware of the lack of purity in our thoughts and motives. Even so, I think that Jesus is speaking to us of the wonder of the new creation that Paul teaches in his writings. Consider what Jesus said to Nicodemus in John's gospel:
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Again Jesus speaks of seeing. Seeing God. Seeing His kingdom. Perhaps it was because of their unregenerate and impure hearts that the religious leaders of Jesus' day could not see God standing before them. Could not see the works of God's kingdom done before their eyes?

This speaks to my need to live from this pure heart that was born in me so many years ago. It instructs me to see not with my head but with my heart. It challenges me to move beyond the natural and physical aspects of life and press into the invisible and eternal life of God.

This all helps me to know that when I see with my heart I will see God and His kingdom.

Lord, help me to live from, and see with, my heart.

... this devotion is part of the Red Letters series. Click here to read more.
1 comment:

the nature of mercy

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. [Matthew 5:7 NIV]

Is there a quality in life more divine than mercy?
Is there anything like showing mercy to one who does not deserve it?
I guess that is the heart of mercy isn't it?

It reminds me of the Lord's prayer where Jesus instructs us to pray:
"forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors"
Have you ever considered that forgiving others is an expression of mercy?
Especially when forgiveness is not requested or accompanied by repentance.
In reality anyone can be merciful when there are strings attached.

Yet that is not really mercy. Is it?
Mercy is forgiving without the promise of being forgiven.

Interesting how Jesus ties the giving and receiving of mercy in this verse.
Perhaps that is the nature of mercy and forgiveness?
These things flow into our lives when we simply exercise them.
In that sense our mercy muscles gets stronger and we are in turn blessed.

I need mercy Lord. Help me to be merciful.

... this devotion is part of the Red Letters series. Click here to read more.
2 comments:
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