Where Your Heart Is

Daily Devotions - Week of October 12, 2014

SendingMany worship services end with “Go in peace; serve the Lord.” Genuine peace in a world where that is a precious and highly prized commodity, is reason enough to exclaim, “Thanks be to God!” But the promises we hear in worship push us into the street and down the road. If worship is the mountain, the life of Christ’s servants is lived in the valley.

Prayer for the Week:Lord of the feast, you have prepared a table before all peoples and poured out your life with abundance. Fill us with your abundant blessings and transform us into a people of love, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen!

Sunday, October 12“And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? How do you read?’ And he answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’ And he said to him, ‘You have answered right; do this, and you will live.’” (Luke 10:25-28) Caring Conversation: Discuss/think why love is the best summary of God’s law. Devotion: Pray that love for God possess your heart and soul & to love others. Service: Arrange your schedule to make time with God your first priority. Ritual: Say to God ”Take away my desire to test you & lead me to love you more!”

Monday, October 13 “Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Never lag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality.” (Romans 12:9-13) Caring Conversation: List the actions in the above verse that define genuine love. Devotion: Pray for God to make your love deep, authentic, and genuine. Service: Arrange your schedule to make time with God your first priority. Ritual: Smile & say “Make my love genuine & my face glowing with your Spirit.”

Tuesday, October 14God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:9-11)

Caring Conversation: Why is Jesus being our “atoning sacrifice” so amazing? Devotion: “Oh God, get it into my head that you love me even when I’m not worthy” Service: Arrange your schedule to make time with God your first priority. Ritual: Name someone you don’t like & state, “Because of you, Jesus I will love __”

Wednesday, October 15 Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.’” (Matthew 28:16-20) Caring Conversation: Do I live as if Jesus has all authority & is with us always? Devotion: Pray for God to lead you in discipling, teaching, & trusting in Jesus. Service: Arrange your schedule to make time with God your first priority. Ritual: Look in the mirror or at another & say, “Jesus is with me/you always!”

Thursday, October 16 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.” (John 14:27-28) Caring Conversation: Am I troubled & afraid? Where must I claim Jesus’ peace? Devotion: Pray for God’s peace in you even when you do not feel Jesus’ presence. Service: Arrange your schedule to make time with God your first priority. Ritual: Put a cross in each room in your house saying, “Jesus you are peace & joy”

Friday, October 17 One of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31) Caring Conversation: Why ought loving God be my first & highest priority? Is it? Devotion: “Lord God, lead me to love you with all my heart, soul, mind & strength” Service: Arrange your schedule to make time with God your first priority. Ritual: Write out the above verse, add “this is most certainly true”& sign your name

Saturday, October 18“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’” (Isaiah 6:8) Caring Conversation: Am I hearing God? Am I going? Am I willing? Devotion: “Lord send me! Reluctant, fearful, & selfish as I am, send me anyway!” Service: Arrange your schedule to make time with God your first priority. Ritual: Say out loud, “Lord God, here I am! Send me!”