Bible Readings and Devotion for January 24, 25, 26, 27, 2020

Here are the references for the readings.  Please look these up in your print Bible, your smartphone app Bible, or your online Bible.

January 24

Matthew 8:5-13

Hebrews 10:1-10

Psalms 40, 61, 62, 65, 67

Genesis 24

January 25

Matthew 8:14-22

Hebrews 10:11-25*

Psalm 68

Genesis 25

January 26

Matthew 8:23-34

Hebrews 10:26-39

Psalm 69   

Genesis 26

January 27

Matthew 9:1-8   

Malachi 1:1-8

Psalm 66, 70, 72

Genesis 27

Devotion for January 24, 25, 26, 27, 2020

By Pastor David Tinker

Being a follower of Jesus is a team sport.  We do life together. Scripture teaches us that we are one body of believers. We worship together.  We pray together.  We have communion with God and one another.  We are baptized into a community of faith, not just a, “Jesus and me,” relationship. We strive together side by side to love our neighbors as ourselves.  We are lovingly commanded by Jesus to love one another.  We support one another throughout the highs and lows of life.  We gather around those in grief for continued support. As we sing and commune, we are united to the eternal throne room of God and to the body of Christ in every time and place.  We bring our unique gifts, contexts, and experiences into the workings of our life together.  We are the team of the people of Jesus. 

The biggest reason a person of faith in Christ is not gathering with others is due to getting out of the habit.  That is what our reading from Hebrews 10:24-25 is talking about.  The author notes, “And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”  Over time, some people had gotten out of the habit of gathering. 

A habit takes just a short time to form or to fade.  About three weeks is all that is needed.  Missing a week of worship can be painful.  Missing two in a row is hard, but not so hard as the first.  At three weeks a person may start feeling that not attending worship is normal.  The opposite is true for making the positive habit.  Striving to be at worship on three or more successive weeks will make the habit.

I know full well that the COVID19 pandemic has thrown so much of this faithful discipline out the window for so many.  My hope and prayer for all of us is that in the months to come, however many that is, our situation will improve enough for us to return to meeting as would be beneficial to all of us.  Life will get better, and being able to have all generations of our congregation at worship will be one of those better things.

 

Prayer

God of grace, you have given us minds to know you, hearts to love you, and voices to sing your praise. Fill us with your Spirit, that we may celebrate your glory and worship you in spirit and truth, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen

Prayer from Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Copyright © 2021 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.