Devotionals

3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings, that you care for them? 

When in the presence of something truly majestic, do you feel yourself to be small and insignificant? Do you feel unimportant? Has that feeling of smallness made you feel that you are of little importance to God? If so, how wrong you would be! Even in the smallest things, God shows his creative powers in the intricate design of a flower, a snowflake, or in the colors on a butterfly’s wings. Even more beauty can be seen through a microscope. Nothing and no one is too small or unimportant for God’s divine attention. As human beings, we are created in God’s own image. Of course God will be mindful of us!

5 You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.

We tend not to have a good understanding of angels. Are they even real? The Bible mentions them many times, so why do we discount their existence? Some of them even have names in the Bible: Michael, Gabriel, and Lucifer (who became the Satan). Many others appear in the writings of the prophets and in the Book of Revelation. Are the angels tasked with watching over us humans? Many people have experienced times when they truly felt that they had encountered an angel. One thing we need to remember, in my opinion, is that God is love, and love is nothing if it cannot be expressed in relationship with another being. We were made to be in relationship with God, and even though God loves the entire creation, we are set higher than other earthly creatures.

6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: 7 all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, 8 the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

All of creation was made for the benefit of the human race, and we have been given the responsibility of caring for God’s creation. We are the hands and feet that are meant to do God’s good work. And creation gives back to mankind by providing food, shelter, and all we need to flourish. We also have been given unique gifts and talents to use in creation care. We inherited the intelligence to make wise choices, and the creativity to find new ways of doing things.

9 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Yes, God is majestic: worthy of honor, respect, and awe. Nothing on earth is bigger, better, or more powerful than God. When we reflect on the magnificence of God, we should not feel small. We are wonderfully made. We are important, made to be in relationship with God and given unique gifts so that we can take part in God’s good creation.

10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

I know there are people who think they were absent when God was handing out gifts, but that is not possible! Some gifts may be more noticeable, like playing a musical instrument, singing, or making inspirational speeches. We tend to envy those people and their gifts. But as we have talked about in worship recently, all parts of the body are necessary, even the ones that seem shameful, that are kept private. Yet without each part, the body as a whole would not function as it was designed to function. In the church, all people have something to give. It might be cooking a meal for a sick person’s family; it might be greeting a stranger with a smile and a hello. It might be the gift of being able to sit quietly and hold the hand of someone grieving. There is something special that each of us has, and if you pay attention, you may find your gift when something you do just feels right.

I’d like to share a story with you that I found very inspirational. I was on a mission trip in Guatemala. While visiting a hospital there, I met two men. One was blind, the other confined to a wheelchair. Each of those conditions made it quite impossible to navigate the cobbled streets outside the walls of the hospital. These two men shared their unique gifts with the other: the blind man was able to walk and push a wheelchair; the crippled man was able to see and give directions.  They explained to me that God brought them together so that they could share their abilities with one another and not be held back by their disabilities. They explained that God had taken two broken men and made one whole man by putting them together. Everyone can share their gift – with one other person or with many people. It is all part of doing God’s work.

[Jesus] And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Reflection:  For our first verse contemplation we jump out of order and look at verse 27 … a powerful, in-your-face declaration.  Hint … there is more to come! 

Q -  How do you describe someone who possesses a nominal attitude, personality, or philosophy.  Do you enjoy working with, or interacting with individuals who appear to have very low expectations, dedication, or aspirations?   Compare the “nominal” individual with the person who is serious and consequential. 

Q - Have you been in a situation where your heart, your effort, just wasn’t there?  How did you resolve this dilemma?  What options did you contemplate?

25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them Jesus said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, even their own life – such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

Reflection:  Have you finished choking?!  Our Savior is employing some tough language as he outlines the “must have” criteria for the increasing cadre of potential disciples!  It is clear that Jesus is not interested in growth purely for the sake of growing!  But, stop!  Certainly in the time Jesus was physically on this earth, the Jewish family was extremely important and cohesive.  Jesus was aware of this familial devotion, so he introduces some cautionary, hyperbolic, language to instruct his potential disciples …

(we paraphrase) to hate one’s family is not to hate emotionally, instead one must understand the seriousness of following Jesus that calls for undivided loyalty to Him above family. 

In your spare time, and for fun and enlightenment, check out the background of the early disciples, both male and female.  Note the ‘singular’ qualities …potentially, there was [is] a high cost of following Jesus.

Obviously, Jesus’ tough language  would run into some opposition from Jewish families, so Jesus includes two little parables.  Read on!

[Jesus]  28Suppose one of you wants to build a tower.  Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?  29For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule  you,  30saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

Reflection:  First century Jewish society definitely understood the building concept of not starting a project knowing they did not have enough to finish the project.  Oy vey!   

Take his parable and relate it to the concept of nominalism versus dedication.

[Jesus]  31Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king.  Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?  32If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.

Reflection:  Again, relate this parable to nominalism versus dedication.  What is the cost?  Do I have to give “that” up?  Am I afraid of losing control?  What does Jesus really ask of me?

[Jesus]   33In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

Reflection:  Again, some radical words from Jesus.  Hyperbolic language again?  Look at the phrase “giving up everything” and compare with “giving over everything.”   Look  in Acts and Romans as Paul describes his ministry and the generous hospitality shown by fellow believers.  There is indication that Mary of Bethany, a dedicated follower of our Jesus, had considerable holdings which she generously shared with the disciples.  Look at your discipleship as dedicating all that you possess, in some way, to the furtherance of your personal ministry for our gracious Jesus.  Salvation in Jesus Christ is more than a transaction … it is a love relationship; it is a covenant relationship.  What is required in such a relationship?  Answer:  Love, dedication, loyalty, action, and a generous willingness to sacrifice self and possessions for the sanctity of the relationship.

 [Jesus]  34b Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.

Reflection:  Jesus employs some radical language in searching for his disciples.  Jesus wants prospects to understand what could be involved in following, loving, obeying, and actively sharing the Word and Life of Jesus Christ!  Putting Jesus first.  Build your life and personality around the life and teachings of Jesus.  Understand, address, and then live the life of true discipleship.

Jesus said to them all: 

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.  

Luke 9:23