Monday Devotional: February 3, 2025

Bible Reading: Psalm 138:1-8 (NRSVUE)

¹ I give thanks to you with all my heart, Lord. I sing your praise before all other gods. ² I bow toward your holy temple and thank your name for your loyal love and faithfulness because you have made your name and word greater than everything else. ³ On the day I cried out, you answered me. You encouraged me with inner strength. ⁴ Let all the earth’s rulers give thanks to you, Lord, when they hear what you say. ⁵ Let them sing about the Lord’s ways because the Lord’s glory is so great! ⁶ Even though the Lord is high, he can still see the lowly, but God keeps his distance from the arrogant. ⁷ Whenever I am in deep trouble, you make me live again; you send your power against my enemies’ wrath; you save me with your strong hand. ⁸ The Lord will do all this for my sake. Your faithful love lasts forever, Lord! Don’t let go of what your hands have made.

In my coaching of pastors, I primarily focus on two areas. First, I tend to a leader’s walk with God. Are they abiding in Christ? (see John 15:4). Second, I concentrate on a leader’s work for God. Are they abounding in the work of the Lord? (see 1 Corinthians 15:58). One of the tricky parts of this kind of work is that the order matters. My faithfulness to God goes before my fruitfulness to God. My walk with God precedes my work for God. It’s so easy to emphasize the mission and forget the spiritual formation required for the mission. When we get it right, our “being” is a priority from which our “doing” flows. Or as I learned in recovery, “You cannot give what you do not have.”

Psalm 138 is a beautiful poetic song of worship written by David, the shepherd boy turned warrior king. He understands that intimacy with God goes before the laundry list of tasks he does for God. In the dozens of psalms written by David, we discover that his praise was wholehearted. It came from a deep place in his soul. David was not afraid of unbridled adoration and unrestrained lament. But his worship was also full-bodied. He engaged all the senses of sight, sound, touch, and smell. He shouted, bowed, raised his hands, and got quiet before the Almighty. This is what made David a man after God’s own heart (see 1 Samuel 13:14).

As you consider God’s calling on your life this week, do a spiritual examen or self-inventory. Is your walk with God a priority in your life? Does your ministry flow from a deep well of abiding in Christ? Are the wellness containers of your life sufficient for the opportunities and challenges of your life?

Prayer

Lord, teach me the way of heartfelt and whole-body worship. Help me prioritize my walk with you so that my work for you flows from a place of deep intimacy. Amen.

By Jorge Acevedo, The Upper Room Disciplines 2025, page 54.

Bible Study

“Following Jesus” By Laura Wittman

Session Title: Extreme Love
Focal Passage: Matthew 5:38-48
Purpose Statement: To replace vengeance with mercy.

Questions:

• Which of the four kinds of love is easiest for you to demonstrate? Which is the most difficult? Why?
• How has your understanding of love grown as you have matured? What brought about that growing understanding?
• When have you “turned the other cheek”? What were the circumstances, and what were the results?
• When has someone shown you mercy? When have you shown mercy when you wanted to retaliate?
• What if you are the only kind of person who offers a smile to someone today? What if you are the only person who offers grace, mercy, and reconciliation?

Zoom Session

Monday, February 3, 2025, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

(For Zoom Link, send an email to [email protected])

In-Person Session

Wednesday, February 5, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, Conference Room, McGee Building.