This week's devotion is from Pastor Zachary Dean

​

Normally, our weekly devotions are about a particular scripture passage or centered on a person commemorated in the church calendar. Not today though!

 

Today’s devotional is about you—each of you, and your own saintliness in light of being a beloved, baptized child of God.

 

This week, to begin our council meeting, we gathered around the baptismal font and prayed prayers centered on our own call to serve in our ordinary lives. So, Calvary, I commend one of those prayers to you for your use in your daily living. Always remember that whatever you do, your calling is first and foremost through your identity as a baptized saint of God!

 

God our creator, you have given us work to do and call us to use our talents for the good of all. Guide us in our living, and teach us to walk in the Spirit who made us your children, in the love that made us all siblings, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

​

Amen.

​

Previous devotion is from Deacon Bob Lewis, based on Luke 9:18-27

​

18 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”19 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”20 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”21 Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. 22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” 

​

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

​

In this reading we see Jesus asking his disciples who they believe him to be. The disciples tell Him what they have heard the crowds say who He is but He wants the disciples to tell Him who THEY think He is. Peter answers “God’s Messiah”. 

 

Jesus reveals His true identity and tells them that he will suffer and be killed and on the third day “be raised to life”. Jesus then tells the disciples that to be a disciple means to follow Him, to not be ashamed to profess to the world that He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

 

As Christians this is a question we need to ask ourselves daily. Are we willing to take up our crosses and follow Jesus ? Are we willing to put ourselves out there in the situations we sometimes come to in life and follow the path that Jesus wants us to be on? To chance the criticism and being shunned by those who are not believers ? To confess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior even if it means enduring hardships? That’s when we call on the Holy Spirit to empower us to confess that Jesus is Lord and for us to live lives of faith and service.

​

Previous devotion is from Deacon Tanya Behnke, based on Romans 12:9-21 

​

9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not lag in zeal; be ardent in spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; pursue hospitality to strangers.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be arrogant, but associate with the lowly;[b] do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God,[c] for it is written, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 Instead, “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.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

The New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition titles these verses as "Marks of the True Christian".  In a time when we often hear too much hatred coming from people under the name of Christianity, it is refreshing to read Paul's words.  Paul reminds both the christians of his time and us how important love is to our lives as Christians.  Not superficial love or a pretense of love, but a genuine love that helps us to have empathy for those around us.  Daily, we encounter people we share views with but also people that have opposing views, and sometimes even people whose actions are pure hatred.  Sometimes it's a challenge to be nice and Paul even goes as far as to say that we should bless those who persecute us.  We leave the judgement for God, and instead show understanding and grace.  These are the characteristics that define us as Christians.  

 

Instead of closing with a prayer, I leave you with words from the hymn "Goodness is Stronger than Evil"

 

Goodness is stronger than evil; 

love is stronger than hate; 

light is stronger than darkness;

life is stronger than death

​​