Weekly Devotional

8/30/2020
You will need your bibles, and a journal or scratch paper.
The texts for August 24-30 are:

Exodus 3:1-15 

Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c 

Romans 12:9-21

Matthew 16:21-28

We will focus our devotional for today on the reading from Romans but please take the time to
read and reflect on all our readings. Ask yourself how might they connect to each other?

Begin by Reading Psalm 105 silently, and then again out loud.

Reflect on this Psalm. What feelings does it bring about? Take a moment to write about how this
psalm makes you feel.

Pray: You may use your own personal prayer or the one printed.

“Lord bless me as I read your word. Help me to feel the love you have for me as I dwell
in the scripture. Be with me Lord now as I reflect on what you are trying to tell me.
Amen. ”

Read in your head, Romans 12: 1-21

Pastoral Reflection
Sometimes there are passages in the scriptures in which Pastors ought to say very little. So all I will say
about this passage is that I have included last weeks reading from Romans as well as this weeks since
they go so well together. Our reflection this week is to simply read the scripture once in full, and then
reflect as directed below.
12I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies
of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and
acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be
conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what
is good and acceptable and perfect.
 How can we renew our minds so that our focus can be not on
this world but on the will of God?

3
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to
think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think
with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that
God has assigned.  4For as in one body we have many members,
and not all the members have the same function, 5so we, who are
many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one
of another. 6We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to
us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7ministry, in ministering; the
teacher, in teaching; 8the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in
generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in
cheerfulness.
 Reflect on the blessings you see in our Church. Pray for all the
people whose gifts are given to our Church. Give thanks for
the diversity of gifts that help our little body of Christ do the
work of God in our community, and be like family to one
another.
9
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is
good; 10love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another
in showing honor. 11Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the
Lord. 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in
prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to
strangers.
  In a world where we are constantly trying to outdo one
another hold fast to this passage. Consider writing it down and
putting it somewhere you can see it daily.

15
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16Live
in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with
the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17Do not repay
anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight
of all. 18If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably
with all. 19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the
wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,
says the Lord.” 20No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they
are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will
heap burning coals on their heads.” 21Do not be overcome by evil,
but overcome evil with good.
 It is confusing to live in this world while seeking the Kingdom
of God. Remember that Evil shows itself in its attempts to
divide and oppress. Yet when we repay evil for evil we only
make things worse. All of the evil in this world can and will be
overcome – by goodness, love, and the justice of God. Believe
in this and in your daily battles seek only the wellbeing of
whomever you encounter.