Sunday Devotion

Welcome to the Sunday Devotion. In the DC area this week, we have had a huge range of weather. I looked at our outdoor church sign and it made me smile. ”Weather forecast – God Reigns and the Son Shines.” I had to leave it up one more week because it will, no doubt, bring smiles to commuters’ faces as they pass by the church this next week, as well.

God reigns. Jesus, God’s son, shines. This simple statement gives me hope and I believe it can do that for you, as well. The power of God is great. And I need to hang onto that promise of God’s power.

When we dealt with ferocious winds this week, I cowered, afraid of the power of that wind which was accompanied by sizable hail. I prefer to think about the goodness of God’s power, but the wind blowing sideways and the battery of hail against my windows reminded me of Old Testament stories of God’s wrath.

Some people really focus on the wrath of God. And I’d have to agree that God certainly could have a long list of the awful things we human beings have done. But my Christian upbringing has focused on the love of God, his forgiveness, his grace. He is the source of the strength we all need to keep going in the face of the ugly parts of our lives. He is the source of comfort and support we all need when we find ourselves falling into the depths of despair. How could we possibly pull through life’s painful times without our faith to hold us together?

"The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1
"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31
 
And when my faith is hitting empty like my gas tank, I need your faith to keep me going.
We are a community, a faith community. We find additional strength in that. We have a responsibility to one another. Community is life-giving—and essential to following Christ. Scripture says that’s because we’re better together than we are alone. “A body is made up of many parts, and each of them has its own use. That's how it is with us. There are many of us, but we each are part of the body of Christ, as well as part of one another.”Romans 12:4–5.
 
We are stronger as a faith community.
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1
“This is true because if two or three people come together in my name, I am there with them.” Matthew 18:20
 
I am truly thankful for all of you who walk this path of faith. May we call on one another as we navigate through life. May we reach out our hands and draw our circle wider, pulling together, taking a risk in the name of Jesus, to correct the wrongs and set straight the journey.
Amen

Author: Bonnie Barber