Daily Devotions, Fall 2010

(Since the preaching text each week is the reading from a Prophet, the Daily Devotions are from the Gospel reading for the Wednesday each week)

Daily Grace Notes for September 6-8, 2010

Monday, September 6

That we might serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness …all our days (Luke 1:73b)

As a school term begins – whether we are incoming students or returning students, one of our priorities is to enter studies with a fear that paralyzes. God is always busy making you “Holy” – (not ‘faultless’ but ‘with a purpose’) and “Righteous” (not better than others, but a better self) so that life here and ‘all our days’ might be good.

Write down a list of your hopes and fears – use them as part of your prayer discipline this week.

Dear God, be with me to give direction and balance. Amen.

Tuesday, September 7

Give knowledge of salvation to God’s people by the forgiveness of their sins. (Luke 1:77)

Knowledge, when you think of it here, on campus, most often has to do with adding something – information, skill, completions and performances. In God’s learning, knowledge begins by taking away the sin (our inward-turn, our failure to see God and Neighbor and ourselves properly) that hides everything else from us. Each day God forgives and gives new life.

What is weighing on your conscience today? Ask God to remove it.

God, teach me to forgive as I have been forgiven, in Christ, amen.

Wednesday, September 8 (Worship at 5:30 followed by “The Biggest Banana Split on Campus!”)

…by the tender mercy of our God (Luke 1:78a)

A popular image of God is our own understanding of “Almighty” means (Big and Tough!). Our understanding of “tender mercy” tends to assume that “meek means weak”. But God doesn’t need to play by our standards. God’s priority is to love and tender mercy is what we need.

How and to whom can you show ‘tender mercy’ this week?

Dear God, help me to enter your tender mercy and show it in my life. Amen.