5-18-13 Daily E-Votional

Saturday, May 18

Hebrews 9:1-14

When we went to the pool in the summer, we had to enter the pool thru the locker room. The locker room always scared me. My dad would often take us to the pool and my brothers and dad entered thru the men’s locker room and I was the only one in the family to go thru the women’s locker room. There was no way into the pool unless you went into the locker room and showered first. There are reasons they have rules like that, but I had a higher rule that I had in place. My rule was just for those who felt they were really somebodies. As somebodies we know that the coolest thing to do when you go to the pool on a very hot day is to approach the water all in one jump. None of this being a sissy by trying to inch your way into the water, getting your body used to the water’s temperature. If there were enough people, I could kind of get lost in a crowd and make my grand leap into the pool without notice. If I wandered out all by my lonesome, I was almost guaranteed a guard calling me over to their chair before that first leap into the pool. They’d ask if I had showered and I’d say that I thought I had. Then they would say that they wanted to go back and take another shower so they could see that my hair was wet. That would make me so mad. I’m not sure that standing in front of the shower really accomplishes anything before you go swimming. Does it?

9:1   That first plan contained directions for worship, and a specially designed place of worship.  2 A large outer tent was set up. The lampstand, the table, and “the bread of presence” were placed in it. This was called “the Holy Place.”  3 Then a curtain was stretched, and behind it a smaller, inside tent set up. This was called “the Holy of Holies.”  4 In it were placed the gold incense altar and the gold-covered ark of the covenant containing the gold urn of manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, the covenant tablets,  5 and the angel-wing-shadowed mercy seat. But we don’t have time to comment on these now. 

6   After this was set up, the priests went about their duties in the large tent.  7 Only the high priest entered the smaller, inside tent, and then only once a year, offering a blood sacrifice for his own sins and the people’s accumulated sins.  8 This was the Holy Spirit’s way of showing with a visible parable that as long as the large tent stands, people can’t just walk in on God.  9 Under this system, the gifts and sacrifices can’t really get to the heart of the matter, can’t assuage the conscience of the people,  10 but are limited to matters of ritual and behavior. It’s essentially a temporary arrangement until a complete overhaul could be made. 

11   But when the Messiah arrived, high priest of the superior things of this new covenant, he bypassed the old tent and its trappings in this created world and went straight into heaven’s “tent”—the true Holy Place—once and for all.  12 He also bypassed the sacrifices consisting of goat and calf blood, instead using his own blood as the price to set us free once and for all.  13 If that animal blood and the other rituals of purification were effective in cleaning up certain matters of our religion and behavior,  14 think how much more the blood of Christ cleans up our whole lives, inside and out.  

The tabernacle was a sanctuary of this world; the true tabernacle, not made with hands, is the dwelling place of God. The high priest entered the tabernacle once a year; Christ entered the heavenly tabernacle and reigns on the throne once for all. The high priest’s sacrifices made mankind outwardly clean; Christ’s sacrifice makes mankind spiritually clean and presentable before God.

What are some things that you’ve had to pass thru to get to the place you really wanted to go? Why do stores place the milk and bread selections in the very back of the store? Have a Day!

In Conversation with a child:    Ask a child why people have to be 16 years of age to drive

Prayers for our soldiers and others fighting for our country: Sgt. Zach Fessler, Peter Davidson

Remember in Prayer: Emily, Linda, Joe & Pat, Jerrad, Marsha & Tom, Jennifer & family, Rusty & family, John, Janet, Charles, Dorothy, Corinne, Linda, Josh, Sharon, Baby Olivia & Season, Edna, Michelle, Richard, Ethan’s family, Peggy, Steve, Kathleen, Andy, Susan & family, Jeanne & family, Jane, Danny, Marshall M. Michelle, Shari & family, Dr. David Tsai, Emily, Godfrey, Rev. Gatu, Sharlene, Rich, Barb, Susie, Herm, David

And those experiencing loss - family & friends of: Brian, Victims of Boston Marathon explosion, Clarence, Mackenzie, Nate, Gertrude, Dion, Marshall

Prayer:    O God, we thank you for this day. Thank you for the better way of being in relationship with you that is all about your action and not about ours. May we live in joy and thankfulness today.  Amen

Your E-Votional Servant

Lucia

© 2013 Lucia Oerter

All rights reserved

Email Lucia

The Message Bible – contemporary translation

A ministry for your daily walk with Christ!

5-17-13 Daily E-Votional

Friday, May 17

Hebrews 8:1-13

A memorial service I attended recently was held in a Catholic church. I’ve always been kind of mesmerized by the rituals in the Catholic church. As I observed the mass, one of the two priests presiding over the service seemed to be pretty new at the whole thing. I only sensed that because the seasoned priest kept whispering to him over his live microphone. After whispering back over his live microphone, the newer priest would dutifully go and do what the seasoned priest must have asked him to do. I might mention that the priests were whispering in Spanish so I didn’t know what the exact instructions involved. I was totally dependent upon the non-verbals. When it was time for the Eucharist, the seasoned priest knelt one or two times and the new priest was to kneel as well. The new priest just did a semi-kneel/bow kind of thing. He kept glancing over at the seasoned priest and tried to put a little more depth into his bow without having to totally kneel. He did this kneel bow thing by bending one knee slightly and the other leg he extended back a bit. It totally looked like a exercise lunge to me. I couldn’t help but think of the priest in the movie, “Four Weddings and a Funeral.” I had to bring myself back into the moment because I was starting to get tickled and I didn’t want to be disrespectful. Maybe the new priest had a bionic knee and he wasn’t allowed to kneel anymore. Maybe the awkwardness was due to the new Catholic missal that came out and everybody is still coming on board with what to do. Because of the new missal, the priests had to learn new words and cadences. Maybe that’s what I was witnessing. I don’t know, but it became less of a ritual and more of a time to watch a newbie learn the ins and outs. I think that’s what was going on.

8:1 In essence, we have just such a high priest: authoritative right alongside God,  2 conducting worship in the one true sanctuary built by God. 

3 The assigned task of a high priest is to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and it’s no different with the priesthood of Jesus. 4 If he were limited to earth, he wouldn’t even be a priest. We wouldn’t need him since there are plenty of priests who offer the gifts designated in the law. 5 These priests provide only a hint of what goes on in the true sanctuary of heaven, which Moses caught a glimpse of as he was about to set up the tent-shrine. It was then that God said, “Be careful to do it exactly as you saw it on the Mountain.” 

6 But Jesus’ priestly work far surpasses what these other priests do, since he’s working from a far better plan. 7 If the first plan—the old covenant—had worked out, a second wouldn’t have been needed. 8 But we know the first was found wanting, because God said, Heads up! The days are coming when I’ll set up a new plan for dealing with Israel and Judah. 

9 I’ll throw out the old plan I set up with their ancestors when I led them by the hand out of Egypt. They didn’t keep their part of the bargain, so I looked away and let it go. 

10 This new plan I’m making with Israel isn’t going to be written on paper, isn’t going to be chiseled in stone; this time I’m writing out the plan in them, carving it on the lining of their hearts. I’ll be their God, they’ll be my people. 

11 They won’t go to school to learn about me, or buy a book called God in Five Easy Lessons. They’ll all get to know me firsthand, the little and the big, the small and the great. 

12 They’ll get to know me by being kindly forgiven, with the slate of their sins forever wiped clean. 

13 By coming up with a new plan, a new covenant between God and his people, God put the old plan on the shelf. And there it stays, gathering dust. 

The law of Moses was given to the children of Israel as a tutor to help them grow up and be prepared for their Messiah’s coming. They were like children; God had to take them by the hand and lead them. But the new covenant, with its heavenly priesthood, leads to spiritual maturity: God’s word is placed in our hearts and transforms our character.

If a car has chronic problems, are you the type to keep fixing it up, or to buy a new car? How do you decide when it’s got to go? What does it mean to you that the new covenant is based on God’s actions in Christ, and not on your efforts? Have a Day!

In Conversation with a child:    Ask a child to tell you who God loves

Prayers for our soldiers and others fighting for our country: Sgt. Zach Fessler, Peter Davidson

Remember in Prayer: Emily, Linda, Joe & Pat, Jerrad, Marsha & Tom, Jennifer & family, Rusty & family, John, Janet, Charles, Dorothy, Corinne, Linda, Josh, Sharon, Baby Olivia & Season, Edna, Michelle, Richard, Ethan’s family, Peggy, Steve, Kathleen, Andy, Susan & family, Jeanne & family, Jane, Danny, Marshall M. Michelle, Shari & family, Dr. David Tsai, Emily, Godfrey, Rev. Gatu, Sharlene, Rich, Barb, Susie, Herm, David

And those experiencing loss - family & friends of: Brian, Victims of Boston Marathon explosion, Clarence, Mackenzie, Nate, Gertrude, Dion, Marshall

Prayer:    We come before you, O God, in great thanks for this new day. We thank you for loving us. Guide us in all that we do and say today. Amen

Your E-Votional Servant

Lucia

© 2013 Lucia Oerter

All rights reserved

Email Lucia

The Message Bible – contemporary translation

A ministry for your daily walk with Christ!

5-16-13 Daily E-Votional

Thursday, May 16

Hebrews 7:18-28

I was trying to think of the oldest thing I have that has been with me for the majority of my life. I think it has to be my baby blanket. I don’t have a story behind the blanket. I don’t know who made the blanket for me. I can see that it is hand stitched. It is pink satin on one side and blue satin on the other; definitely made in the days before ultrasounds could detect the gender of the baby. I’ve also had the thought that it wasn’t my blanket at all. It may be my mother’s baby blanket for all I know. I don’t have any pictures from my babyhood to prove its’ existence in those early years.

I’m guessing that the baby blanket worked for me when I was a baby. My mother may have placed me on it for play. She may have placed the blanket in the crib when I took a nap. Many things I do not know about this blanket.

What I do know is thatI do know that the baby blanket does not fill a need of mine now. Even if I curl up in a tight ball, the baby blanket does not begin to cover me. I’m pretty sure that whoever made the blanket had a baby in mind, and not an adult. Reflecting upon the baby blanket caused me to wonder if there is anything we receive as babies that continues to be of use to us when we are adults.

7:18 The former way of doing things, a system of commandments that never worked out the way it was supposed to, was set aside; 19 the law brought nothing to maturity. Another way—Jesus!—a way that does work, that brings us right into the presence of God, is put in its place. 

20 The old priesthood of Aaron perpetuated itself automatically, father to son, without explicit confirmation by God. 21 But then God intervened and called this new, permanent priesthood into being with an added promise:

 God gave his word; he won’t take it back: “You’re the permanent priest.” 

22 This makes Jesus the guarantee of a far better way between us and God—one that really works! A new covenant. 

23 Earlier there were a lot of priests, for they died and had to be replaced. 24 But Jesus’ priesthood is permanent. He’s there from now to eternity 25 to save everyone who comes to God through him, always on the job to speak up for them. 

26 So now we have a high priest who perfectly fits our needs: completely holy, uncompromised by sin, with authority extending as high as God’s presence in heaven itself. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he doesn’t have to offer sacrifices for his own sins every day before he can get around to us and our sins. He’s done it, once and for all: offered up himself as the sacrifice. 28 The law appoints as high priests men who are never able to get the job done right. But this intervening command of God, which came later, appoints the Son, who is absolutely, eternally perfect. 

The first covenant was sealed with the blood of animals. Christ’s covenant was sealed with his own blood. It was a better covenant, with better promises, based on the unchangeableness of God’s word.

When have you witnessed a law that has failed in its purpose? If we have been ticketed for speeding, how does paying money for a ticket help us to be better drivers in the future? Have a Day!

In Conversation with a child:    Ask a child to tell you what things they can do that babies cannot do

Prayers for our soldiers and others fighting for our country: Sgt. Zach Fessler, Peter Davidson

Remember in Prayer: Emily, Linda, Joe & Pat, Jerrad, Marsha & Tom, Jennifer & family, Rusty & family, John, Janet, Charles, Dorothy, Corinne, Linda, Josh, Sharon, Baby Olivia & Season, Edna, Michelle, Richard, Ethan’s family, Peggy, Steve, Kathleen, Andy, Susan & family, Jeanne & family, Jane, Danny, Marshall M. Michelle, Shari & family, Dr. David Tsai, Emily, Godfrey, Rev. Gatu, Sharlene, Rich, Barb, Susie, Herm, David

And those experiencing loss - family & friends of: Brian, Victims of Boston Marathon explosion, Clarence, Mackenzie, Nate, Gertrude, Dion, Marshall

Prayer:    Loving God, we thank you for the gift of this day and the new things we might learn. Help us to be looking for the new things you want to do with us. Amen

Your E-Votional Servant

Lucia

© 2013 Lucia Oerter

All rights reserved

Email Lucia

The Message Bible – contemporary translation

A ministry for your daily walk with Christ!

5-15-13 Daily E-Votional

Wednesday, May 15

Hebrews 7:1-17

A recent story in the paper sited a family member saying that, “you can’t choose your family.” The point was that the family member was deeply embarrassed by the actions of the relative and didn’t want to claim any relation to the person who had been arrested and charged with some pretty serious stuff. Sadly, this kind of story is becoming more and more a norm.

Think what it would be like if we could choose our family. How many of us would make a decision to be in a family that lived well and didn’t have to worry about the daily struggles? How many of us would choose to be in a family where brains and beauty were leading factors in attaining the right stuff in life? Would any of us actually choose to live in a family that was poor? How many of us would choose to be in a family in a third world country? How many of us would sign up to be in a family where the children behaved poorly?

I remember the mission trip to a Children’s home in Jamaica and how often the little children would snuggle up to us and ask if we could take them to our country. When I asked a little girl to tell me what she thought our country was like, she said that everyone in America is a movie star and lives in a very big house and can buy anything they want. I asked her how many movie stars had been to visit them and she said, “I don’t know.”

7:1   Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of the Highest God. He met Abraham, who was returning from “the royal massacre,” and gave him his blessing.  2 Abraham in turn gave him a tenth of the spoils. “Melchizedek” means “King of Righteousness.” “Salem” means “Peace.” So, he is also “King of Peace.”  3 Melchizedek towers out of the past—without record of family ties, no account of beginning or end. In this way he is like the Son of God, one huge priestly presence dominating the landscape always. 

4   You realize just how great Melchizedek is when you see that Father Abraham gave him a tenth of the captured treasure.  5 Priests descended from Levi are commanded by law to collect tithes from the people, even though they are all more or less equals, priests and people, having a common father in Abraham.  6 But this man, a complete outsider, collected tithes from Abraham and blessed him, the one to whom the promises had been given.  7 In acts of blessing, the lesser is blessed by the greater. 

8   Or look at it this way: We pay our tithes to priests who die, but Abraham paid tithes to a priest who, the Scripture says, “lives.”  9 Ultimately you could even say that since Levi descended from Abraham, who paid tithes to Melchizedek,  10 when we pay tithes to the priestly tribe of Levi they end up with Melchizedek. 

11   If the priesthood of Levi and Aaron, which provided the framework for the giving of the law, could really make people perfect, there wouldn’t have been need for a new priesthood like that of Melchizedek.  12 But since it didn’t get the job done, there was a change of priesthood, which brought with it a radical new kind of law.  13 There is no way of understanding this in terms of the old Levitical priesthood,  14 which is why there is nothing in Jesus’ family tree connecting him with that priestly line. 

15   But the Melchizedek story provides a perfect analogy: Jesus, a priest like Melchizedek,  16 not by genealogical descent but by the sheer force of resurrection life—he lives!—  17 “priest forever in the royal order of Melchizedek.”  

In this chapter, the writer begins to explain the better priesthood of Christ, and he begins with the better order, the order of Melchizedek. The account of Melchizedek is found in Genesis 14:18-20. He was king of Salem and priest of God Most High: a king and a priest. There is no account of Melchizedek’s death in the Bible so the writer concludes that Melchizedek lived forever. Hebrew tradition says that Melchizedek was Shem, the son of Noah.

If you could choose, what family would you choose to be a part of today? What are some things you have learned by being in your family? What are some of the things your family experienced that played a big part in shaping you into the person you are today? Would you say that you are thankful for your family?   Have a Day!

In Conversation with a child:    Ask a child to tell you what they like about their family

Prayers for our soldiers and others fighting for our country: Sgt. Zach Fessler, Peter Davidson

Remember in Prayer: Emily, Linda, Joe & Pat, Jerrad, Marsha & Tom, Jennifer & family, Rusty & family, John, Janet, Charles, Dorothy, Corinne, Linda, Josh, Sharon, Baby Olivia & Season, Edna, Michelle, Richard, Ethan’s family, Peggy, Steve, Kathleen, Andy, Susan & family, Jeanne & family, Jane, Danny, Marshall M. Michelle, Shari & family, Dr. David Tsai, Emily, Godfrey, Rev. Gatu, Sharlene, Rich, Barb, Susie, Herm, David

And those experiencing loss - family & friends of: Brian, Victims of Boston Marathon explosion, Clarence, Mackenzie, Nate, Gertrude, Dion, Marshall

Prayer:    O God, we thank you for your love and care for us. Thank you for calling us your children. Strengthen us this day and help us to live in peace with all of our family members. Amen

Your E-Votional Servant

Lucia

© 2013 Lucia Oerter

All rights reserved

Email Lucia

The Message Bible – contemporary translation

A ministry for your daily walk with Christ!

5-14-13 Daily E-Votional

Tuesday, May 14

Hebrews 6:13-20

When my older brother was in junior high or high school, my parents gave him the gift of a workbench. I suspect my parents were trying to encourage him to pursue his interest in woodshop. One of his shop projects was a scaled down house construction that gave kind of a cross section view of what goes into building a house. It was beautiful, as were the other projects he made.

At some point, my brother received a hand drill. I had no idea what a person would do with a hand drill. So, my brother showed me how it worked. He drilled a hole thru his closet wall into my closet wall. He said he could spy on me that way. I went into my bedroom and could see where the hole had been drilled. When I went back into his bedroom he was drilling a hole thru the floor of his bedroom and his bedroom was right above the kitchen. I was pretty sure he would get in trouble for doing that. It was then that I realized something about sibling promises.

Sibling promises are not always spoken out loud. There are those moments when you know that you have to keep a secret because the information given out would incriminate you, as well as others. If I told my parents that my brother was drilling holes in the walls, the first thing that would happen is my brother would have socked me. The second thing would be that my parents would have asked me why I watched him do such a thing without reporting it. I don’t know if my parents ever noticed the little hole in the ceiling of the kitchen or in the other places in the house.

6:13  When God made his promise to Abraham, he backed it to the hilt, putting his own reputation on the line. 14 He said, “I promise that I’ll bless you with everything I have—bless and bless and bless!” 15 Abraham stuck it out and got everything that had been promised to him. 16 When people make promises, they guarantee them by appeal to some authority above them so that if there is any question that they’ll make good on the promise, the authority will back them up. 17 When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—18 God can’t break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable. 

 We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go.  19 It’s an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God 20 where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us, in the order of Melchizedek. 

Since God does not lie and since God is all-powerful, God will fulfill all of God’s promises. This unchanging nature of God is the believer’s stronghold and encouragement.

When do you first remember making a promise to someone? Was that promise kept? When do you remember someone asking you to promise to keep a secret? When did you first learn that some people don’t keep promises? Have a Day!

In Conversation with a child:    Ask a child to tell you what it means when a person makes a promise

Prayers for our soldiers and others fighting for our country: Sgt. Zach Fessler, Peter Davidson

Remember in Prayer: Emily, Linda, Joe & Pat, Jerrad, Marsha & Tom, Jennifer & family, Rusty & family, John, Janet, Charles, Dorothy, Corinne, Linda, Josh, Sharon, Baby Olivia & Season, Edna, Michelle, Richard, Ethan’s family, Peggy, Steve, Kathleen, Andy, Susan & family, Jeanne & family, Jane, Danny, Marshall M. Michelle, Shari & family, Dr. David Tsai, Emily, Godfrey, Rev. Gatu, Sharlene, Rich, Barb, Susie, Herm, David

And those experiencing loss - family & friends of: Brian, Victims of Boston Marathon explosion, Clarence, Mackenzie, Nate, Gertrude, Dion, Marshall

Prayer:    Loving God, we begin this day surrounded by your care and love. We give you thanks for the grounding you provide for us. Fill us with the strength and confidence for each day and each opportunity you place in our care. Amen

Your E-Votional Servant

Lucia

© 2013 Lucia Oerter

All rights reserved

Email Lucia

The Message Bible – contemporary translation

A ministry for your daily walk with Christ!

5-13-13 Daily E-Votional

Monday, May 13

Hebrews 6:1-12

I saw a picture of the most amazing “sewing room” the other day. Actually, the room looked like it was half of the floor of a very large house that had been made into the perfect sewing room. It was like picking up a McCall’s magazine or Better Homes and Gardens showcase feature how to do it right if you love sewing. It was just amazing. A loom was set up for any size quilt. There were shelving cubbies that held anything you would ever need for sewing. And all of the cubbies had little plastic containers that were marked clearly on the outside what was on the inside. Then there was the other sewing machine room right next door to the quilting, cutting, patterning room. The woman said that she could spend all day in that room and I could see why. There was a refrigerator, a restroom, and all of the comforts a person could ever want if they loved sewing.

When we’re passionate about something, we could do it all day, everyday, and find great delight each and every moment we were given. And, I rather imagine that the woman with the sewing space continues to explore new ways of doing things. There are new fabrics, new patterns, new styles, new threads, and new techniques that hit the market almost daily. It is very good to keep learning something new when things could easily become so very comfortable. Imagine if the church became stagnant and wasn’t of interest to the changing world outside its doors?

6:1   So come on, let’s leave the preschool fingerpainting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on “salvation by self-help” and turning in trust toward God;  2 baptismal instructions; laying on of hands; resurrection of the dead; eternal judgment.  3 God helping us, we’ll stay true to all that. But there’s so much more. Let’s get on with it! 

4   Once people have seen the light, gotten a taste of heaven and been part of the work of the Holy Spirit,  5 once they’ve personally experienced the sheer goodness of God’s Word and the powers breaking in on us—  6 if then they turn their backs on it, washing their hands of the whole thing, well, they can’t start over as if nothing happened. That’s impossible. Why, they’ve re-crucified Jesus! They’ve repudiated him in public!  7 Parched ground that soaks up the rain and then produces an abundance of carrots and corn for its gardener gets God’s “Well done!”  8 But if it produces weeds and thistles, it’s more likely to get cussed out. Fields like that are burned, not harvested. 

9   I’m sure that won’t happen to you, friends. I have better things in mind for you—salvation things!  10 God doesn’t miss anything. He knows perfectly well all the love you’ve shown him by helping needy Christians, and that you keep at it.  11 And now I want each of you to extend that same intensity toward a full-bodied hope, and keep at it till the finish.  12 Don’t drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them.

Hebrews is written to Jewish believers who were tempted to abandon the fullness of Christ and go back to the emptiness of a religious system soon to be destroyed.

What would be wrong with prolonged immaturity? What would be wrong with prolonged spiritual immaturity? What are some ways that you push yourself to keep learning new things? Why do our parents strongly encourage us to do better? Do you think there comes a time in life to stop learning?  Have a Day!

In Conversation with a child:    Ask a child to tell you what new things they learned this year

Prayers for our soldiers and others fighting for our country: Sgt. Zach Fessler, Peter Davidson

Remember in Prayer: Emily, Linda, Joe & Pat, Jerrad, Marsha & Tom, Jennifer & family, Rusty & family, John, Janet, Charles, Dorothy, Corinne, Linda, Josh, Sharon, Baby Olivia & Season, Edna, Michelle, Richard, Ethan’s family, Peggy, Steve, Kathleen, Andy, Susan & family, Jeanne & family, Jane, Danny, Marshall M. Michelle, Shari & family, Dr. David Tsai, Emily, Godfrey, Rev. Gatu, Sharlene, Rich, Barb, Susie, Herm, David

And those experiencing loss - family & friends of: Brian, Victims of Boston Marathon explosion, Clarence, Mackenzie, Nate, Gertrude, Dion, Marshall

Prayer:    O God, we thank you for this new day. We thank you for those who teach us and for those who encourage us. May our words and our actions be a blessing to you. Amen

Your E-Votional Servant

Lucia

© 2013 Lucia Oerter

All rights reserved

Email Lucia

The Message Bible – contemporary translation

A ministry for your daily walk with Christ!

5-12-13 Daily E-Votional

Sunday, May 12

Happy Mother’s Day!!!

Ephesians 2:1-10

Trust. I want to believe that we are born trusting others. We don’t know that it’s called trust when we are so little, but our hearts know, in pretty quick order, who is trustworthy and who is not.

My parents were not so trustworthy. They would say that they would do something and then they would not follow thru. My dad might say that he would take us to the park in a little bit and then, he would be in the car and on his way to somewhere else. Or he might say that he would be at my friend’s house to pick me up at a certain time and then not show up. My mom would say that she would attend an event at school and then she would not remember, or not be in any shape to navigate her way to my school. Over the years, I developed more trust in their not following thru with things, than trusting their words of good intentions. That helped me protect myself from the sting of my parents not being there for me, and it helped me become independent at a pretty young age.

Let me be the first to say that I think there are times when each of us says we will do something and then time gets away and we forget or whatever. Most of those times are not like, “Oh, gosh. I just plain forgot that you were having my baby today.” We overbook, we slip up, and we forget because we are human and we’re walking around in this complex and we’re bombarded with so much information. We shouldn’t be surprised if others lose their trust in us when we make a habit of not following thru on our word. If we want to change, it can happen, but we have to really pay attention to the words coming out of our mouths.

2:1 It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin.  2 You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience.  3 We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us.  4 Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, 5 he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us!  6 Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.

7 Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. 8 Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish!  9 We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing!  10 No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.

Paul writes that no matter what the past way of life was for the person who is now a believer, they were to no longer walk according to their past sinful ways. They are to walk worthy of their calling, which means to walk in love, in light, and in wisdom.

In what ways would you say you have matured in your life? Who are some people you can totally depend on and you would trust them with your life? In what ways would people from your past see you as much the same in today’s world? What are some ways that people would say you have changed in your life for the good? Have a Day!

In Conversation with a child:    Ask a child to tell you how people know when to trust someone

Prayers for our soldiers and others fighting for our country: Sgt. Zach Fessler, Peter Davidson

Remember in Prayer: Emily, Linda, Joe & Pat, Jerrad, Marsha & Tom, Jennifer & family, Rusty & family, John, Janet, Charles, Dorothy, Corinne, Linda, Josh, Sharon, Baby Olivia & Season, Edna, Michelle, Richard, Ethan’s family, Peggy, Steve, Kathleen, Andy, Susan & family, Jeanne & family, Jane, Danny, Marshall M. Michelle, Shari & family, Dr. David Tsai, Emily, Godfrey, Rev. Gatu, Sharlene, Rich, Barb, Susie, Herm, David

And those experiencing loss - family & friends of: Brian, Victims of Boston Marathon explosion, Clarence, Mackenzie, Nate, Gertrude, Dion, Marshall

Prayer:    O God, we thank you for your love and for this day. We thank you being with us in all times. Help us in this day to do and say what is pleasing to you. Amen

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Lucia

© 2013 Lucia Oerter

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The Message Bible – contemporary translation

A ministry for your daily walk with Christ!