Love, Faith, And Obedience
Sunday, May 25
John 14:23-27
Sara Papetti
Covenant Congregational Church
North Easton, Massachusetts
In our reading today Jesus tells the people, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. The words you hear are not my own: they belong to the Father who sent me….Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid’” (vv. 23-27, NIV).
When I read this passage I have to remind myself that Jesus is talking to his disciples, who are new Christians. Jesus is offering a new life that is foreign, yet through love, faith, and obedience, peace will be everlasting. This is so different from our human nature, but Jesus reassures his disciples and us that through our love and obedience God will be with us and we do not need to be afraid. We obey not out of fear but because we love Jesus!
Dear Lord, help me to stay on the path of love, faith, and obedience to see a clear vision of everything you have taught me. Amen.
Faith Makes Us Strange
Monday, May 26
Acts 4:11-22
Devyn Chambers Johnson
Covenant Congregational Church
North Easton, Massachusetts
The reading for today starts by reminding us that Jesus was the stone the builders rejected, but he has become the cornerstone. Choosing a rejected stone to hold up a building is a strange choice—even a foolish choice! The rest of the passage describes the religious leaders’ consternation with Peter and John. They were uneducated and unassuming, but they were healing people. “What are we going to do with these [strange] men?” they asked each other (v. 16). The power they displayed did not make sense!
Our God is clearly in the business of taking the ordinary—or even the broken and unassuming—and doing amazing things. And as the people of God, we are a strange people. Our faith causes us to act in unexpected ways. Our faith gives us the power to do amazing things. And our faith should cause others to wonder about us—because faith in a risen Lord makes us a strange people!
Holy God, thank you for using us in all our inadequacies and brokenness. Help us to embrace the strangeness of our faith as we do Christ’s work in the world. Amen.
Jealous Or Threatened?
Tuesday, May 27
Acts 5:12-21
Sara Papetti
Covenant Congregational Church
North Easton, Massachusetts
As I read this text, I have a lot of questions. The apostles are engaging the people by performing “signs and wonders” (v. 12), and many have come and believe. So many come that the sick are brought to the streets in hopes that they will be healed.
With all this activity, were the high priests and associates jealous, or did they feel threatened? Jesus was crucified bringing good news to the people, his believers. Now his apostles continue to spread the good news. They refuse to be deterred! The new life, the new Word, is here to stay.
But not everyone welcomed or appreciated the good news—to some it seemed like bad news!
Dear Lord, thank you for always working through us to spread the good news that your Word is here to stay. May we always recognize your gospel as good news even when it is uncomfortable. Amen.
Hospitality
Wednesday, May 28
Acts 16:9-15
Devyn Chambers Johnson
Covenant Congregational Church
North Easton, Massachusetts
At the heart of this text is a willingness to follow the Spirit’s leading. I see the Spirit leading everyone in this passage toward a spirit of hospitality. Hospitality is essentially the act of making room for others. When the man in the vision requested Paul’s help, Paul made room in his life and his schedule to go to Macedonia. When Lydia heard Paul’s message, the text says, “the Lord opened her heart” (v. 14). And finally, Lydia opened her home to Paul and his companions. She made physical room for them in a traditional sense of hospitality—but only after Paul made room in his schedule and Lydia made room in her heart.
The passage ends with four words: “And she persuaded us” (v. 15). Her hospitality was not passive, but rather the welcome she offered was persuasive and insistent.
Lord, open our hearts and our lives to the movement of your Spirit. May we make room to follow you, to hear your Word, and to welcome others. Amen.
Open Our Minds, Lord
Thursday, May 29
Luke 24:44-53
Debbie Packnick
Covenant Church of Easton
Connecticut
“Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me” (v. 44, NIV).
God’s Word is filled with beautiful promises we can count on. This passage reminds me of two important things: 1) We need Jesus’s help in reading the Bible, and 2) the entire Old Testament points to Jesus.
Do we seek the Holy Spirit, our gift from Jesus, to open our minds so we can understand the Scriptures? I cannot imagine what it must have been like for the disciples in Bethany that day. They had barely had time to grieve the death of their Messiah, and then Jesus shows up in his resurrected body ready to share a meal with them (Luke 4:41). Jesus opens their minds, and everything seems to make more sense.
Lord, please open our minds today so we might understand more fully who you are and what you have done for us. Help us to respond in awe, wonder, praise, and worship! Amen.
That We May Know Him
Friday, May 30
Ephesians 1:15-23
Allison Beth
Trinity Covenant Church
Manchester, Connecticut
“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better” (vv. 15-17, NIV).
This passage reminds me that the same glorious God who raised Christ from the dead and seats Jesus at the right hand of the throne loves us. That God is immeasurable, exceeding in greatness, power, and love, desiring to share that love with us. God longs for us to know God intimately so we can have the hope, understanding, and sure expectation of God’s great love so that we can know him better. God wants us to have all the riches and glory of heaven.
Heavenly Father, as Paul prayed for and thanked the believers, I too pray for my brothers and sisters who love, long for, and desire you. May we help each other grow daily in our walk. In your loving name, Amen.
Your Name Be Praised
Saturday, May 31
Psalm 47
Jenifer Shea
Trinity Covenant Church
Manchester, Connecticut
“Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy” (v. 1, NIV).
This passage reminds me how God reveals himself to us through music. Envisioning the nations clapping and shouting for joy moves me to a place of great joy in the presence of the Holy Spirit.
There is power and movement in singing to the Lord most high, especially when we share that experience with other brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus is greatly praised, and we experience joy through our worship with music.
