Devotional Text

Pastor David’s devotional for October 13, 2021

Ephesians 2:8-10
By grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

Matthew 5:13a
13 “You are the salt of the earth.

One of the reasons I chose to be a Methodist is what I call “praxis.” By praxis I mean the emphasis on Personal Holiness and Social Holiness. This does not mean that our faith is a balance of personal holiness and social holiness, as though we need a 50-50 mix of the two to be a balanced Christian. It means we need 100% of both! A personal relationship with Jesus Christ is a relationship that produces good in this world! Being a Christian is more than simply believing in Jesus (when we read through the gospels, we hear that even the demons believed in him), it is believing and following. A true faith is a lively faith—it is lived! Christian faith is believing in, trusting, and surrendering to the one we follow!

Why have you chosen to be a part of a Methodist Church?

Think about this statement: A true faith is a lively faith—it is lived! What does this statement mean to you?

As Wesley preached the gospel of grace, people believed. To help those who were coming to the faith, Wesley organized believer into small groups of 10-12 people who would gather together weekly for support and encouragement. Between these gatherings, the “class” leader would visit members to check in. One of the tools Wesley used to help people live a life of Personal and Social holiness, was his “Three General Rules” for Christians who were choosing to be a part of the Methodist movement: 1. Do no harm, 2. Do as much good as you can, 3. Stay in love with God. Keeping these 3 simple rules in mind impacts how we live our lives.

As I think about “doing no harm” I first remember ways that I have caused some harm to others: a misspoken word, a less than thoughtful action, an opinion defended as if it were fact. The rule to do no harm leads me to confession, and confession provides discerning grace as I become more and more aware of the ways I participate in “harm” which helps me learn how to avoid it.

What does “doing no harm” mean to you? How do you believe keeping this rule will impact your daily life?

In my sermon last Sunday, I said “doing no harm means Christians are not a part of the problem, we are a part of the solution.” Doing no harm naturally leads to “doing good.” When talking about doing good John Wesley said: doing good of every possible sort, and, as far as possible, to all people.

What does “doing good of every possible sort” mean to you? What are some ways you try to practice goodness to “all people”?

Wesley third rule is to stay in love with God. As I think about staying in love with God, two thoughts come to my mind. First, staying in love with God requires keeping my priorities straight! Loving God requires that God be a priority in my life. And for Christians, God is our first priority! Second, keeping my priorities straight means spending time with God. So “staying in love with God” means I attend to worship, communion, prayer, reading the Bible, giving and more (what Wesley call “The Ordinances of God”).

What does the phrase “stay in love with God” mean to you? How do you try to live it out?

A true faith is a lively faith—it shows itself in action. Our actions include acts of personal holiness (worship, prayer, reading the Bible, giving, etc.) and acts of social holiness (feeding the hungry, standing up against injustice, working for equality, finding ways to show kindness, etc.) In Matthew 5:13a Jesus says, “you are the salt of the earth.” In the time of Jesus, there were no refrigerators, so people used salt to preserve their food. As Christians, Jesus tells us to be like salt.

In what ways are you living your life to preserve goodness in this world?”

God bless you, and I will see you in church!
Pastor Dave