Category: First Steps

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First Steps – October 12, 2020

As sinful creatures, we are shaken like wheat in a sieve. We are pulled this way and that by a seductive world. We can’t settle down. Christ can make a difference. A Christian’s mind and heart can be centered on the divine. Over a period of time this can free us from being sifted. It will bring us peace. We will live balanced lives.

You can easily determine your preferences. If your interest is in money, honors, power, or violence you will quickly give yourself to such things. This shows that you love them. What absorbs your interest? Is it clothes? Gossip?…Many different kinds of chains bind you to the earth. If you do not resist these objects of your affection, you are hindered in your ability to direct your thoughts to God.

Such wise words from a Syrian Monk, whose name is lost to history. Though written in the 4th Century, this sermon still has value today. What chains bind you? Where do your affections pull you away from God’s Kingdom? The answer is not hard to determine, simply look at what you love most.

Matthew’s Gospel records something similar:
Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”

Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:

“‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’”

Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” (Matthew 15:1-11).

For Jesus, the heart was the key – what one loves the most is tied to the heart. If we want to know what is of highest priority, look inward and there you will find your answer.

This Week’s Readings:
  • Monday – Acts 27
  • Tuesday – Acts 28
  • Wednesday – Mark 1
  • Thursday – Mark 2
  • Friday – Mark 3
Please Pray for:
  • The St. Paul Church family and our ministries.
  • Teachers and students as they transition.
  • Friends and family members battling illness.
  • Those seeking to find their way.
  • The United Methodist Church family.
  • Our nation and our leaders.
  • The Covid-19 Pandemic.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

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First Steps – October 5, 2020

I’ve just started studying the book of Ephesians.  I’ve always liked this book of the Bible because it follows a logical pattern.  If this happens, then that should happen as a result.  The “if” is the first three chapters while the “then” is the last three chapters.  If God has acted in Jesus Christ, then we should live a certain way as a result of God’s action.

In the “then” portion of the letter, the reader will find practical application of his/her faith.  For instance, if God has redeemed people through the work of the cross and resurrection, then one shouldn’t be controlled by anger (Ephesians 4:26, “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry”.) When anger flares out towards another person, correct it immediately with an act of gentleness towards the person who made you angry.  Balance the act in anger with an act in gentleness. Most fresh wounds are quickly healed with gentleness.

This week accumulate a stockpile of gentleness. Form the habit so that it becomes second nature. Then, when anger raises its ugly head, you will be able and ready to cancel it out with gentleness.

This Week’s Readings:
  • Monday – Acts 22
  • Tuesday – Acts 23
  • Wednesday – Acts 24
  • Thursday – Acts 25
  • Friday – Acts 26
Please Pray for:
  • The St. Paul Church family and our ministries.
  • Teachers and students as they transition.
  • Friends and family members battling illness.
  • Those seeking to find their way.
  • The United Methodist Church family.
  • Our nation and our leaders.
  • The Covid-19 Pandemic.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

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First Steps – September 28, 2020

Lately, I’ve been praying for myself.  I want to be more patient.  I’m a planner—I know this about myself.  On one level, I like this about myself.  But on another level, when my plans are interrupted, there lies the rub.  Knowing this, I want to be more patient, especially in handling interruptions.

Are you like me?  If so, Dietrich Bonhoeffer has a good word for us.  He said, “We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God, who will thwart our plans and frustrate our ways time and again, even daily, by sending people across our path with their demands and requests.” (Life Together and Prayerbook of the Bible).

Try this.  The next time your plans are interrupted, imagine it as an opportunity to commune with God.  See the interruption as a gift.

This Week’s Readings:
  • Monday – Acts 17
  • Tuesday – Acts 18
  • Wednesday – Acts 19
  • Thursday – Acts 20
  • Friday – Acts 21
Please Pray for:
  • The St. Paul Church family and our ministries.
  • Teachers and students as they transition.
  • Friends and family members battling illness.
  • Those seeking to find their way.
  • The United Methodist Church family.
  • Our nation and our leaders.
  • The Covid-19 Pandemic.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

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First Steps – September 21, 2020

Recently a good friend sent this devotional to me. Originally penned by Paul David Trip (New Morning Mercies), I thought it was worthwhile to share.

In a world of justice gone bad, where disloyalty brings daily pain, where government is corrupt, and even faithful friends come up short; where the haves get more and the have-nots wonder why; and where it is very tempting to look over the fence at someone else’s life and wonder why so much good has fallen on him [or her], it is so good to know that you never play favorites. You lavish riches of grace on each and every one of your children. You meet every child’s every need, and you do it with unbroken faithfulness. So I will quit keeping score. I will not judge your goodness. No, I will rest in the bounty of your mercy.

I’m not sure what lines resonate with you, but for me, the lines “very tempting to look over the fence” and “I will quit keeping score.” It has been my experience that if I focus on God’s goodness, the desire to keep score or look over the fence just doesn’t matter anymore. Spend your time reflecting on the goodness of God. The rest will take care of itself.

This Week’s Readings:
  • Monday – Acts 12
  • Tuesday – Acts 13
  • Wednesday – Acts 14
  • Thursday – Acts 15
  • Friday – Acts 16
Please Pray for:
  • The St. Paul Church family and our ministries.
  • Teachers and students as they transition.
  • Friends and family members battling illness.
  • Those seeking to find their way.
  • The United Methodist Church family.
  • The Covid-19 Pandemic.
  • Our nation and our leaders.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

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First Steps – September 14, 2020

When Saint Basil came to the monastery one day, he said to the abbot, ‘Do you have someone here who is obedient?’ The other replied, ‘They are all your servants, master, and strive for their salvation.’ But he repeated, ‘Do you have someone who is really obedient?’ Then the abbot led a brother to him, and Saint Basil used him to serve during the meal. When the meal ended, the brother brought him some water for rinsing his hands. Saint Basil said to him, ‘Come here, so I may also offer water to you.’ The brother allowed the bishop to pour the water. Then Saint Basil said to him, ‘When I enter the sanctuary, come, so that I may ordain you deacon.’ When this was done, he ordained him priest and took him with him to the bishop’s palace because of his obedience. (The Wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, pages 97-98).

Often when we think of humility, we think of serving others. Seldom do we associate having obedience and the ability to be served with humility. Humility is born first out of obedience. If we are first obedient, then serving or allowing others the opportunity to serve will take care of itself. Focus on obedience. If you do so, you will naturally be a servant.

This Week’s Readings:
  • Monday – Acts 7
  • Tuesday – Acts 8
  • Wednesday – Acts 9
  • Thursday – Acts 10
  • Friday – Acts 11
Please Pray for:
  • Our ministers and their families.
  • Friends and family members battling illness.
  • Those seeking to find their way.
  • Teachers and students as they transition.
  • The United Methodist Church family.
  • The Covid-19 Pandemic.
  • Our nation and our leaders.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

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First Steps – September 7, 2020

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace” (Col 1:3-6a).

Paul highlights three particular traits in the Colossian believers:  Faith, Love, and Hope.  Wherever we see these traits, like Paul, we should give thanks to God.  It is noteworthy that Paul informs the reader that faith and love arise, spring out of hope (see italics).  The gospel promises a certain hope and that hope transforms.

I mention this today, because of the increased conflict, anger, and despair due to a pandemic, so that we will be reminded on the hope of heaven. Setting our hope on heaven puts everything in a proper perspective. Jonathan Edwards, the great Puritan preacher, called heaven “a world of love.”  Our heavenly hope inspires us to see as God sees, to love as Jesus loves, and to know that this too shall pass.  This week, fix your gaze on God’s gift of heaven and allow His presence to saturate you with peace.

This Week’s Readings:
  • Monday – Acts 2
  • Tuesday – Acts 3
  • Wednesday – Acts 4
  • Thursday – Acts 5
  • Friday – Acts 6
Please Pray for:
  • Our ministers and their families.
  • Friends and family members battling illness.
  • Those seeking to find their way.
  • Teachers and students as they transition.
  • The United Methodist Church family.
  • The Covid-19 Pandemic.
  • Our nation and our leaders.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

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