God Dares Us To Pray This . . .

by | Mar 17, 2025 | Community Conversations

– Today’s Community Scripture – 3/17/2025

Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean, scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life. Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing. Don’t look too close for blemishes, give me a clean bill of health. God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Don’t throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails! Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home. Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God, and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways. Unbutton my lips, dear God; I’ll let loose with your praise.

Psalm 51:8–15 (MSG)

Key Verse – God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Don’t throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. Psalm 51:10–11 (MSG)

– Reflection:

GOD Dares Us To Pray This…

In the aftermath of adultery and murder, King David pleaded with God, begging Him not to cut him off. David understood what it meant to know God, to spend time with Him, to listen to Him and trust Him, to love and be loved by Him—and he dreaded losing that closeness, goodness, and truth- and he dreaded losing that So, in desperation, he invited God to do something new within him, allowing God to rebuild his heart in whatever way He wished. He surrendered himself completely to whatever work, journey, or adventure God might have in store for him, deciding to trust God more than himself. How about we do that, too? While we may not be guilty of adultery or murder, we are all sinners, carrying the stain of sin. “If we say we have no sin… the truth is not in us.” So how about we also invite God to do something new in us? How about we, too, surrender to whatever work, journey, or adventure God might have for each of us? And how about we do it together, as men and women? We’ll be better for it. God is brilliant, good, and loves us. Might it be scary? Sure, it might. Might it even be a little painful? Sure, it might. Will it be one of the best things we ever do? It will.

Where do we go from here?

“Do a new work in me, God. You’re brilliant and good, and you love me. So do whatever you’d like. And whatever it is, I’m in. I’ll trust you more than I trust myself.” When we ask this question, be ready for the changes in your life. They are coming, and it will be up to you to honor every moment of change that God presents in your life.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, please do something new in us, just as you did for David in his times of need. We ask for the same transformation in us that David needed for himself. Grant us the ability to become the people capable of doing the new things that bring GOD all the glory. Amen.

Jesus Never Judged; We Shouldn’t Either

Jesus Never Judged; We Shouldn’t Either

by | Mar 14, 2025 | Community Conversations, Prayers

Today’s Community Scripture – 3/14/2025

When he finished that talk, a Pharisee asked him to dinner. He entered his house and sat right down at the table. The Pharisee was shocked and somewhat offended when he saw that Jesus didn’t wash up before the meal. But the Master said to him, “I know you Pharisees burnish the surface of your cups and plates so they sparkle in the sun, but I also know your insides are maggoty with greed and secret evil. Stupid Pharisees! Didn’t the One who made the outside also make the inside? Turn both your pockets and your hearts inside out and give generously to the poor; then your lives will be clean, not just your dishes and your hands. “I’ve had it with you! You’re hopeless, you Pharisees! Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but manage to find loopholes for getting around basic matters of justice and God’s love. Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are required. “You’re hopeless, you Pharisees! Frauds! You love sitting at the head table at church dinners, love preening yourselves in the radiance of public flattery. Frauds! You’re just like unmarked graves: People walk over that nice, grassy surface, never suspecting the rot and corruption that is six feet under.”

Key Verse – “You’re hopeless, you Pharisees! Frauds! You love sitting at the head table at church dinners, love preening yourselves in the radiance of public flattery. Frauds! You’re just like unmarked graves: People walk over that nice, grassy surface, never suspecting the rot and corruption that is six feet under.”

– Reflection:

Jesus Never Judged; We Shouldn’t Either

“Jesus never judged anyone, and neither should we.” That was the statement made by the candidate for ordination to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament on the floor of Presbytery that day. I remember thinking, “Has this person even read the New Testament?” While I appreciate the sentiment against judgmentalism, the truth is, Jesus judged plenty of people in the gospels. However, that judgment was most often reserved for those who saw themselves as righteous, like the Pharisees. In fact, Jesus doesn’t mention hell very much in the gospels—only a total of seven times by my count. And when he does, it’s not to the crowds but to his own disciples or to the religious leaders of his time.

– Where do we go from here?

What does that mean for those striving to be faithful in this world? You’re reading this devotion today, likely as part of your daily faith practice. You’re working to live out your faith and apply it to your life. You’re closer to the Pharisees of Jesus’ time than to the crowds who live without any thought of God. So, what does Jesus’ judgment of the religious people of his day say to you? It undoubtedly serves as a guard against self-righteousness, that tendency to see the sins of others while remaining blind to the darkness within us. How do we respond to that inner darkness? Too often in this world, we view those living in poverty as individuals who have somehow sinned — they’re lazy, irresponsible, and so on. Behind that judgment lies a self-righteousness that believes we possess material wealth due to our goodness, while they lack it because of their sins. According to Jesus, one way to respond to this darkness within us is to share what we have with the poor, “give alms for the things that are within.” This generosity brings grace into our lives — “everything will be clean for you.” By living generously in response to God’s amazing grace for us, we will surely discover God’s grace for all those the world sees as sinners.

– Our Prayer for Today?

Father, as I look at this broken world, it’s easy to view myself as holier and above others. This brokenness exists within me too. Help me to respond by living generously with what You’ve entrusted to me, so that Your light may shine through my life and into this world that You love enough to enter and redeem. Amen.

Work Love Into Your Hearts

by | Mar 12, 2025 | Community Conversations

Today’s Community Scripture – 3/12/2025

“To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously. “Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. “I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.

Key Verse – “I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it.

– Reflection:

Work Love Into Your Hearts

This is incredibly challenging! Love your enemies?! That is the command. It’s not just about trying to love your enemies; it’s about actively loving them, doing good for them, and expecting nothing in return. Love. Love. Love. We recognize the transformative power of love, yet it’s often easier to ignore, judge, hold contempt for, or outright hate them. I was raised with the understanding that hate leads to no positive outcomes. It’s not merely about being good or doing good. Jesus instructs us: love. So, love your enemies. Friends, now is the time to open our hearts and put in the effort.

Martin Luther King Jr. delivered countless sermons on this theme, the most notable one occurring in 1957 at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Dr. King described what loving our enemies entails. Initially, we must cultivate the ability to forgive, ensuring that the evil acts of others do not obstruct our relationships. Next, we must understand that everyone possesses both good and evil aspects. Finally, our goal should be to earn our enemy’s friendship rather than to defeat them.

– Where do we go from here?

I don’t know about you, but I have some work. I think it will start with some genuine conversations and a lot of curiosity. How about you? Are you ready to open your heart and embrace love?

Our Prayer for Today

Father, standing in your love, grant us the courage to reach out in love, curiosity, and hope. Open our hearts to your love, which is always transformative and never-ending, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Coming To See You

by | Mar 10, 2025 | Community Conversations

Today’s Community Scripture – 3/10/2025

Regarding the relief offering for poor Christians that is being collected, you get the same instructions I gave the churches in Galatia. Every Sunday each of you make an offering and put it in safekeeping. Be as generous as you can. When I get there you’ll have it ready, and I won’t have to make a special appeal. Then after I arrive, I’ll write letters authorizing whomever you delegate, and send them off to Jerusalem to deliver your gift. If you think it best that I go along, I’ll be glad to travel with them. I plan to visit you after passing through northern Greece. I won’t be staying long there, but maybe I can stay awhile with you—maybe even spend the winter? Then you could give me a good send-off, wherever I may be headed next. I don’t want to just drop by in between other “primary” destinations. I want a good, long, leisurely visit. If the Master agrees, we’ll have it! For the present, I’m staying right here in Ephesus. A huge door of opportunity for good work has opened up here. (There is also mushrooming opposition.)

1 Corinthians 16:1–9 (MSG)

Key Verse – A huge door of opportunity for good work has opened up here. (There is also mushrooming opposition.)

– Reflection:

Coming to See You

The apostle Paul says we should never let the rains of adversity to fool us. There may be flooding now—someone walked away, disappointment, a contract fell through, sickness—but the rain is necessary. There are seeds in you that will only open up by going through excessive rain. The rain seems like a setback, but it’s setting you up for greater levels. You’re tempted to get discouraged and give up, but on the other side of that difficulty is favor that you’ve never seen.

– Where do we go from here?

Prepare yourself. God is preparing you to thrive, and to experience new growth and increased blessing. You’re about to witness God perform what only He can do. Your best days are still ahead of you. Get in community with people and allow GOD to show each one of you who he is.

– Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank You for the gifts, talents, and seeds of greatness You have given us. Thank You for every opportunity You open for us, and for reminding us that adversity is merely a sign that You are about to do something amazing. We believe that You have the final say. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Living In The Tension

Living In The Tension

by | Mar 7, 2025 | Community Conversations, Prayers

Today’s Community Scripture – 3/7/2025

So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.

Colossians 3:1–2 (MSG)

– Reflection:

You can’t be successful in life without compromising. That’s a lie. You can’t get ahead without adopting the values of the places where you live and work. That’s not true. There’s tension, of course. Our cities and workplaces are part of the world, and the ruler of this world is the enemy. That’s why arrogance, greed, and materialism often characterize these places, bringing admiration, status, recognition, and promotion. There’s tension because, while the enemy may rule the world—for now—he doesn’t rule us. The one who rules us stands for humility, generosity, and love.

The lie is that we should try to ease this tension—that by compromising, we try to make things easier on ourselves. It’s from the enemy, a tactic he uses often:

“Go ahead. It’s just the way things work in the real world.”

“You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do to compete… to survive.”

“Relax. Everybody does it.”

– Where do we go from here?

This week, when you walk into any situation—into work in the morning; into conversations with colleagues; into the schools your kids attend; into a restaurant with friends—declare ahead of time, in prayer, that you’re bringing the Kingdom of Jesus with you. Then act like it. 

– Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank you for bringing the correct mindset to our day. It is because of you that we can claim victory from where we stand. Continue to guide us along the paths before us. Amen.

 

Who’s Your Daddy

Who’s Your Daddy

by | Mar 6, 2025 | Community Conversations, Prayers

Today’s Community Scripture – 3/4/2025

Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him. “If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.” Surprised, they said, “But we’re descendants of Abraham. We’ve never been slaves to anyone. How can you say, ‘The truth will free you’?” Jesus said, “I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is trapped in a dead-end life and is, in fact, a slave. A slave is a transient, who can’t come and go at will. The Son, though, has an established position, the run of the house. So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through. I know you are Abraham’s descendants. But I also know that you are trying to kill me because my message hasn’t yet penetrated your thick skulls. I’m talking about things I have seen while keeping company with the Father, and you just go on doing what you have heard from your father.” They were indignant. “Our father is Abraham!” Jesus said, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would have been doing the things Abraham did. And yet here you are trying to kill me, a man who has spoken to you the truth he got straight from God! Abraham never did that sort of thing. You persist in repeating the works of your father.”

John 8:31–41 (MSG)

Key Verse – They were indignant. “Our father is Abraham!” John 8:39 (MSG)

– Reflection:

Who’s Your Daddy

We cannot mature in our faith without community. We simply cannot. The process of maturing isn’t easy and isn’t smooth. It involves getting off track and getting back on again—time and time again. We need help with that. We’re designed to be together; we’re built to need one another. To “grow up healthy in God, robust in love,” we need community. However, our communities must genuinely be capable of picking us up, getting us back on track, and encouraging us. They must be places where we can speak the truth in love. Speaking this way requires us to move beyond mere politeness and the habit of ignoring or excusing sin. It also necessitates going beyond simply pointing out sin, shortcomings, or what bothers us or what we think might bother God.

Where do we go from here?

Do you have a sense of the true identities of your brothers in the community? Get serious about learning. Get intentional about allowing God to reveal this to you. When you meet next, have each man bring a favorite story or verse from Scripture. Could you read them? Discuss them. They’ll point to something true. For instance, if a man loves the story of Caleb, he is likely designed to be brave, bold, and faithful just like Caleb. And his community must support him in doing just that.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank you for creating us to need one another. This gives each of us a way to connect with others in whatever community exists between two, three, or however many there are. Continue to bless each of us in your way, allowing us to come together for your purpose and not our own. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

Coach Arthur Poston Jr.
Focused Development Organization
Middle School Coach