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Daily Devotion

A few moments with God

November 2009

Sunday (11/1): "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven"

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12   ¹When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on the side of a mountain and sat down. Jesus' disciples gathered around him, ²and he taught them: ³God blesses those people who depend only on him. They belong to the kingdom of heaven! ⁴God blesses those people who grieve. They will find comfort! ⁵God blesses those people who are humble. The earth will belong to them! ⁶God blesses those people who want to obey him more than to eat or drink. They will be given what they want! ⁷God blesses those people who are merciful. They will be treated with mercy! ⁸God blesses those people whose hearts are pure. They will see him! ⁹God blesses those people who make peace. They will be called his children! ¹⁰God blesses those people who are treated badly for doing right. They belong to the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹God will bless you when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. ¹²Be happy and excited! You will have a great reward in heaven. People did these same things to the prophets who lived long ago.

 Meditation: God reveals to the humble of heart the true source of abundant life and happiness. Jesus promises his disciples that the joys of heaven will more than compensate for the troubles and hardships they can expect in this world. Thomas Aquinas said: "No one can live without joy. That is why a person deprived of spiritual joy goes after carnal pleasures." Do you know the happiness of hungering and thirsting for God alone?

Prayer: "Lord Jesus, increase my hunger for you and show me the way that leads to everlasting peace and happiness. May I desire you above all else and find perfect joy in doing your will."

Psalm 24:1-6 ¹The earth and everything on it belong to the LORD. The world and its people belong to him. ²The LORD placed it all on the oceans and rivers. ³Who may climb the LORD's hill or stand in his holy temple? ⁴Only those who do right for the right reasons, and don't worship idols or tell lies under oath.

Monday (11/2):“Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom”

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 25:31-46  ³¹When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all of his angels, he will sit on his royal throne. ³²The people of all nations will be brought before him, and he will separate them, as shepherds separate their sheep from their goats. ³³He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. ³⁴Then the king will say to those on his right, "My father has blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world was created. ³⁵When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me, ³⁶and when I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me." ³⁷Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, "When did we give you something to eat or drink? ³⁸When did we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear ³⁹or visit you while you were sick or in jail?" ⁴⁰The king will answer, "Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me." ⁴¹Then the king will say to those on his left, "Get away from me! You are under God's curse. Go into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels! ⁴²I was hungry, but you did not give me anything to eat, and I was thirsty, but you did not give me anything to drink. ⁴³I was a stranger, but you did not welcome me, and I was naked, but you did not give me any clothes to wear. I was sick and in jail, but you did not take care of me." ⁴⁴Then the people will ask, "Lord, when did we fail to help you when you were hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in jail?" ⁴⁵The king will say to them, "Whenever you failed to help any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you failed to do it for me." ⁴⁶Then Jesus said, "Those people will be punished forever. But the ones who pleased God will have eternal life."                                                                                Meditation: The scriptures present us with the choice between two kingdoms – the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. The choice is ours. Which kingdom do you serve?  God's kingdom lasts forever because it is built on the foundation of God's love and justice. To accept Jesus as Lord and King is to enter a kingdom that will last forever where righteousness, love, truth, and peace dwell. Is your life submitted to the Lordship of Jesus? Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, you are my King and there is no other.  May your love rule in my heart that I may think and act with charity towards all.”

Psalm 27:1,4,7-9,13-14 ¹You, LORD, are the light that keeps me safe. I am not afraid of anyone. You protect me, and I have no fears.

Tuesday (11/3): "You will be blessed, because they cannot repay you"

Scripture: Luke 14:15-24  ¹⁵After Jesus had finished speaking, one of the guests said, "The greatest blessing of all is to be at the banquet in God's kingdom!" ¹⁶Jesus told him: A man once gave a great banquet and invited a lot of guests. ¹⁷When the banquet was ready, he sent a servant to tell the guests, "Everything is ready! Please come." ¹⁸One guest after another started making excuses. The first one said, "I bought some land, and I've got to look it over. Please excuse me." ¹⁹Another guest said, "I bought five teams of oxen, and I need to try them out. Please excuse me." ²⁰Still another guest said, "I have just gotten married, and I can't be there." ²¹The servant told his master what happened, and the master became so angry that he said, "Go as fast as you can to every street and alley in town! Bring in everyone who is poor or crippled or blind or lame." ²²When the servant returned, he said, "Master, I've done what you told me, and there is still plenty of room for more people." ²³His master then told him, "Go out along the back roads and fence rows and make people come in, so that my house will be full. ²⁴Not one of the guests I first invited will get even a bite of my food!"

Meditation: Jesus probes the reasons why people make excuses to God's great invitation to "eat bread" with him at his banquet table. The first excuse allows the claims of one's personal business or work to take precedence over God's claim. God never meant for our home and relationships to be used selfishly. We serve God best when we invite him into our work, our homes, and our personal lives and when we share our possessions with others. God invites each of us to his banquet that we may share in his joy. Are you ready to feast at the Lord's banquet table?

Prayer: "Lord Jesus, you withhold no good thing from us and you lavish us with the treasures of heaven. Help me to seek your kingdom first and to lay aside anything that might hinder me from doing your will."

Psalm 22:24-31 ²⁴The LORD doesn't hate or despise the helpless in all of their troubles. When I cried out, he listened and did not turn away. ²⁵When your people meet, you will fill my heart with your praises, LORD, and everyone will see me keep my promises to you.

Wednesday (11/4): “..he has cannot be my disciple"

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33  ²⁵Large crowds were walking along with Jesus, when he turned and said: ²⁶You cannot be my disciple, unless you love me more than you love your father and mother, your wife and children, and your brothers and sisters. You cannot come with me unless you love me more than you love your own life. ²⁷You cannot be my disciple unless you carry your own cross and come with me. ²⁸Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. What is the first thing you will do? Won't you sit down and figure out how much it will cost and if you have enough money to pay for it? ²⁹Otherwise, you will start building the tower, but not be able to finish. Then everyone who sees what is happening will laugh at you. ³⁰They will say, "You started building, but could not finish the job." ³¹What will a king do if he has only ten thousand soldiers to defend himself against a king who is about to attack him with twenty thousand soldiers? Before he goes out to battle, won't he first sit down and decide if he can win? ³²If he thinks he won't be able to defend himself, he will send messengers and ask for peace while the other king is still a long way off. ³³So then, you cannot be my disciple unless you give away everything you own.

Meditation: The love of God compels us to choose who or what will be first in our lives. To place any relationship or any possession above God is a form of idolatry. Jesus challenges his disciples to examine who they love first and foremost. Jesus' way to glory and power is opposite the world's way of glory, power, and success. The choice is ours, but the Lord does not leave us alone if we choose to follow him. Does the love of Christ compel you to put God first in all you do (2 Cor. 5)?

Prayer: "Lord Jesus, may your love transform me that I may truly desire nothing more than life with you. May you always be first in my thoughts and intentions, and in my words and actions."

Psalm 112 ¹Shout praises to the LORD! The LORD blesses everyone who worships him and gladly obeys his teachings. ²Their descendants will have great power in the land, because the LORD blesses all who do right.

Thursday (11/5): "Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Jesus"

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10  ¹Tax collectors and sinners were all crowding around to listen to Jesus. ²So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses started grumbling, "This man is friendly with sinners. He even eats with them." ³Then Jesus told them this story: ⁴If any of you has a hundred sheep, and one of them gets lost, what will you do? Won't you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until you find it? ⁵And when you find it, you will be so glad that you will put it on your shoulder ⁶and carry it home. Then you will call in your friends and neighbors and say, "Let's celebrate! I've found my lost sheep." ⁷Jesus said, "In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who don't need to." ⁸Jesus told the people another story: What will a woman do if she has ten silver coins and loses one of them? Won't she light a lamp, sweep the floor, and look carefully until she finds it? ⁹Then she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, "Let's celebrate! I've found the coin I lost." ¹⁰Jesus said, "In the same way God's angels are happy when even one person turns to him."

Meditation: God does not rejoice in the loss of anyone, but desires that all be saved and restored to fellowship with him. That is why the whole community of heaven rejoices when one sinner is found and restored to fellowship with God.  Seekers of the lost are much needed today. Do you persistently pray and seek after those you know who have lost their way to God?

Prayer: "Lord Jesus, let your light dispel the darkness that what is lost may be found and restored. Let your light shine through me that others may see your truth and love and find hope and peace in you. May I never doubt your love nor take for granted the mercy you have shown to me. Fill me with your transforming love that I may be merciful as you are merciful."

Psalm 46:1-5, 10-11 ¹God is our mighty fortress, always ready to help in times of trouble.

Friday (11/6): ".. the children of the light"

Scripture: Luke 16:1-8  ¹Jesus said to his disciples: A rich man once had a manager to take care of his business. But he was told that his manager was wasting money. ²So the rich man called him in and said, "What is this I hear about you? Tell me what you have done! You are no longer going to work for me." ³The manager said to himself, "What shall I do now that my master is going to fire me? I can't dig ditches, and I'm ashamed to beg. ⁴I know what I'll do, so that people will welcome me into their homes after I've lost my job." ⁵Then one by one he called in the people who were in debt to his master. He asked the first one, "How much do you owe my master?" ⁶"A hundred barrels of olive oil," the man answered. So the manager said, "Take your bill and sit down and quickly write `fifty'." <sup>7</sup>The manager asked someone else who was in debt to his master, "How much do you owe?" "A thousand bushels of wheat," the man replied. The manager said, "Take your bill and write `eight hundred'." ⁸The master praised his dishonest manager for looking out for himself so well. That's how it is! The people of this world look out for themselves better than the people who belong to the light.

Meditation: Love of money and wealth crowd out love of God and love of neighbor. Jesus makes clear that our hearts must either be possessed by God's love or our hearts will be possessed by the love of something else. What do you most treasure in your heart?

Prayer: "Lord Jesus, all that I have is a gift from you. May I love you freely and generously with all that I possess. Help me to be a wise and faithful steward of the resources you put at my disposal, including the use of my time, money, and possessions."

Psalm 122:1-5 ¹It made me glad to hear them say, "Let's go to the house of the LORD!" ²Jerusalem, we are standing inside your gates. ³Jerusalem, what a strong and beautiful city you are! ⁴Every tribe of the LORD obeys him and comes to you to praise his name. ⁵David's royal throne is here where justice rules.

Saturday (11/7): "..admirable in human eyes is detestable in the sight of God"

Scripture: Luke 16:9-15  ⁹My disciples, I tell you to use wicked wealth to make friends for yourselves. Then when it is gone, you will be welcomed into an eternal home. ¹⁰Anyone who can be trusted in little matters can also be trusted in important matters. But anyone who is dishonest in little matters will be dishonest in important matters. ¹¹If you cannot be trusted with this wicked wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? ¹²And if you cannot be trusted with what belongs to someone else, who will give you something that will be your own? ¹³You cannot be the slave of two masters. You will like one more than the other or be more loyal to one than to the other. You cannot serve God and money. ¹⁴The Pharisees really loved money. So when they heard what Jesus said, they made fun of him. ¹⁵But Jesus told them: You are always making yourselves look good, but God sees what is in your heart. The things that most people think are important are worthless as far as God is concerned.

Meditation: God loves generosity and he gives generously and liberally to those who share his gifts with others. The Pharisees, however, had no room in their hearts for God. The gospel says they were lovers of money. Love of money and wealth crowd out love of God and love of neighbor. Jesus makes clear that our heart must either be possessed by God's love or our heart will be possessed by the love of something else. What does your heart most treasure?

Prayer: "Lord Jesus, may the fire of your love burn in my heart that I may be wholly devoted to you above all else. Free me from greed and attachment to material things that I may be generous in using the gifts and resources you give me for your glory and for the good of my neighbor."

Psalm 112:1-6 ¹Shout praises to the LORD! The LORD blesses everyone who worships him and gladly obeys his teachings. ²Their descendants will have great power in the land, because the LORD blesses all who do right. ³They will get rich and prosper and will always be remembered for their fairness.