Peace Of Christ
Sunday, November 24
Joel 2:21-27
The most meaningful part of the liturgy for me has become the prayer of confession, declaration of forgiveness, and the passing of peace. As I’ve grown older, I’ve recognized my severe need to confess my sins and be assured of forgiveness in Christ. To be reminded of the grace that washes me once and for all again and again is overwhelmingly beautiful. To receive God’s peace and share it with God’s people is grace upon grace.
This is the pattern God has given us throughout his story. We see it again in Joel. God’s people wandered repeatedly and without repentance. The beginning of the chapter prescribes a harsh correction. The middle has the prophet making a plea for repentance. Then, in the wake of confession there is assurance of forgiveness, grace, peace, and restored love.
What was proclaimed in Joel’s time came fully in God’s Son, and we receive his grace and peace now as the Spirit indwells us.
Father, we confess, receive your renewed love, and thank you for the peace of Christ. Amen.
Vines And Fig Trees
Monday, November 25
Deuteronomy 8:7-10
In today’s passage God’s people are about to enter God’s promised land. God reveals the blessing before them. What’s striking is its excess: abundance over and again. Good land. Flowing streams. Oil and honey. Iron and copper. A land where “you will lack nothing” (v. 9, NRSV).
As you ponder the vastness of God’s blessing, simultaneously direct your eyes to the future he has promised all his people. In Christ, God is restoring all things, even us, and he is bringing his future into every moment. We started in a garden; we start anew in a city with its centerpiece God, its trees for the healing of nations (Revelation 22:1-5). Abundance, over and again.
The mission God has given us is to bring his abundance that all might experience it, now through to God’s future. It’s vines and fig trees for all kind of mission.
Father, as we thankfully receive your abundance, may we bless others with the whole gospel, traveling together toward your promised city. Amen.
Turtles Like Us
Tuesday, November 26
Deuteronomy 8:11-18
A friend once told me that if you see a turtle sitting on a fence post, you know he didn’t get there by himself. To me it sounded like the funniest thing ever! I had this image of walking through a field alongside a split-rail fence and seeing this little turtle sitting on that fence post. I’d scan the plain, only to see no one. I’d entertain the thought that the turtle crawled up there on his own but quickly recognize the absurdity. Of course, the little guy didn’t get there on his own. But who did it?
God tells his people that when they experience his abundance, they can never think they did it themselves. God alone did this. Remember the Lord your God.
James reminds God’s people, “Every good and perfect gift is from above” (1:17, NIV). When you find yourself the recipient of abundant gifts, recognize you didn’t manifest these on your own. God lifted you up onto that fence post.
Father, we are thankful for your blessings, for lifting up little turtles like us. Amen.
Kingdom Lenses
Wednesday, November 27
Matthew 6:25-33
I once saw a sign that read, “Never in the history of calm down has the phrase calm down ever helped anyone calm down.” Never has anyone telling me to calm down produced the intended results. It’s similar being told, “Don’t worry.” Jesus tells us not to worry about our life. Our initial response might be, “What do you mean, ‘Don’t worry’? Can you see my workload? The sheer number of practices and games I’m responsible to get my kids to? My bank account and the price of gas?” These concerns are constantly in front of me, my lens through which I see the world.
Jesus’s intent, I think, is to trade the lens. When circumstances determine our lens, our focus is narrow indeed. Jesus assures that the picture is bigger than our field of vision— as big as God’s kingdom. When God’s faithfulness becomes our lens, we may actually see less to worry about. God’s person and provision is the lens through which to see it all.
Father, thank you for helping us see our circumstances through the lens of your provision. Amen.
Giving Thanks
Thursday, November 28
Psalm 100
People tend to love Thanksgiving or hate it. Those who love it may have fond memories of large family get-togethers, perfectly cooked turkey, and each person at the table saying something they’re thankful for. Those who don’t may have memories of multiple family homes because their family has splintered, disliking turkey, or being forced to say what they’re thankful for. I’m in one of those camps, as I expect are you.
Thanksgiving (the day and the practice) changed when God came into my life. Since that day I’ve grown (more slowly than I care to admit) toward giving thanks in all things, in all times and places, in all manner of mood and emotion, simply because God is God. The singer sings: he made us, we are his, he is good, his steadfast love endures forever!
Wherever you are today—a large family get-together or struggling to hold it together, God is with you. He loves you, from this day and into forever.
Father, hear our joyful noise as we give you thanks for all your love. Amen.
Easy To Forget
Friday, November 29
Luke 17:11-19
Do you pray for people? For circumstances? Missionaries? Finances? Peace in the nation? For your children to love Jesus more every day? For healing?
If you’re someone mindful enough to daily pick up The Covenant Home Altar, you’re likely someone mindful enough to take all you have to God in prayer—a good and right and beautiful thing.
That’s what the ten people with leprosy did in today’s passage. In their pain they saw Jesus, had faith he could heal, and pled to God in the flesh. A desperate prayer in God’s presence. And God, in Christ, answered their prayer. Healed! For nine that was the story’s end. One, though, came back to give thanks and glory to God for the miracle of answered prayer. Just one.
We remember our need for God, then sometimes forget our continued need once the prayer is answered. We forget to thank him once the urgency has passed. It’s easy to forget God’s grace once we have it.
Father, help us to not forget your continued grace, remembering to give you thanks in all our days. Amen.
Reasons Unending
Saturday, November 30
Psalm 65
I love the psalms. As the hymnal of God’s people, the psalms give voice to our deepest longings, hurts, praises, loves, hates, and thanksgivings. Explanations and careful reason only get us so far. Poets and singers elevate words beyond where they fail the rest of us.
If you are at a loss for what to thank God for, Psalm 65 provides reasons unending. “Praise is due to you, O God in Zion, and to you shall vows be performed, O you who answer prayer!” (v. 1).
“When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us, you forgive” (v. 3). “You are the hope of all the ends of the earth” (v. 5). “You visit the earth and water it” (v. 9). “You crown the year with your bounty” (v. 11). Praise God!
There is so much goodness in God, so much he forgives, so much he provides, so much glory within him, there is no end to our thanks and praise.
Father, for more reasons than we can name, we are thankful for you. Amen.
