DAILY DEVOTION, July 19, 2021

I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever (John 14:16, GNT).

Jesus speaks with His disciples. They are afraid because He is planning to leave them. The day is soon coming when they will no longer see Jesus in the flesh. How can they be faithful to carry on His mission when He is absent? Jesus reassures them by promising another Helper (comforter, advocate) to be given to them. He speaks of the Holy Spirit, who will stay with them forever.

We are also recipients of that promise (see Acts 2:38-39). Those who believe in Jesus receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and He will never leave us. As we learn to live trusting in the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide us, we begin to walk increasingly in the paths of righteousness. Fear tends to dissipate. Love fills our hearts. We find a new desire to live as faithful disciples of Jesus.

What does it mean that this Helper is “another?” It means that the Holy Spirit is just like Jesus. He is another of the same quality. This is one of the verses that prompted the church to affirm that God is a Trinity, One God in three persons. In our verse, we encounter the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is given to be our Helper. Are you relying on His help?

Father, I thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit. I need lots of help in trying to follow Jesus! I thank You the help that has been given. I pray for wisdom to understand more clearly what it means to walk in the Spirit. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen. 

While it seems that covid is still with us we continue to be blessed at the church – – – no cases. Thankfully, most of us have been vaccinated. We continue to take measures to protect our congregation. Marie continues to spray the sanctuary before church, and we continue the new way of doing communion and offering which eliminates the personal touching of trays.

Bible study Wednesday at 3 PM. We will look at lesson 11 which was interrupted last week due to technical difficulties as we continue our wandering through church history. We will be looking at events from 1800 to 1900 which will include the arrival of our own non-denominational Christian Churches.

Sunday’s sermon will be on “The Authority of Jesus.” The following Sunday I will begin a brief series looking at several key themes in the Book of Proverbs.

Someone asked if the Ten Commandment series (manuscript form) might be available. If you would like the entire series please let me know and we will bind them together in some sort of booklet format.

I am very thankful that after all the changes we have seen in the last year we have stayed together as a church. While we are small in numbers we are strong in faith. The God who guided this congregation through the Civil War has also guided us through the pandemic.

May you all have a blessed week.
Pastor Bowman

Our attendance continues to pick up steam. We hope to have everyone back in church soon. Those of us who are vaccinated have nothing to fear from Covid 19. Again, a few of our members have had covid but no one has picked it up at church. And those who caught the virus have all recovered. PTL!

Wednesday Bible study continues at 3 PM. We have a few more lessons on church history and then we will begin a study on the second coming of Jesus.

The sermon for Sunday will be the last in the Ten Commandments series. I will be sharing some concluding thoughts, focusing especially on the contrast between law and grace. On July 25th I will be speaking on The Authority of Jesus. Then begins a series on Proverbs.

I pray for God’s blessings upon all.
Pastor Bowman

DAILY DEVOTION, July 16, 21

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also (John 14:3).

What a blessing we find in these words of Jesus. He is preparing a place for us. If Jesus is preparing a place for His people, we can count on the fact that it will not only be exactly suitable, but glorious. He also promises His people that He will come again to receive us to Himself. What a joy it will be at last to be with Jesus. He wants us to be with Him.

Our homes on this earth may be grand while some live in shacks. It seems like every house I have lived in after renting or buying it, over time, I find something I wish was different. While I thank God for my home on earth there are always things I wish were different. Jesus is preparing a place for us without defects. No improvements are needed. 

And who are the recipients of this grand promise? Jesus not only is preparing a place for us, but He has also done the work needed for us to gain eternal life. He went to the cross to suffer in our place, that our sins might be forgiven. All who trust in Him will one day live in that special place He is preparing for us. Truly with Jesus, there’s no place like home.

Father, I thank You so much for Jesus. My words of thanksgiving seem so inadequate considering all He has done for me. I have destroyed my relationship with You by my own foolish disobedience. Jesus has solved my problem and is now preparing a place for me in eternity. May His glorious name be praised. Amen. 

DAILY DEVOTION, July 14, 2021

But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why are you bothering her and causing trouble? She has done a good and beautiful thing to Me  (Mark 14:6 AMP).

Mary wishes to demonstrate her love for Jesus. She anoints his head with a jar of expensive perfume. Some of the disciples are indignant because they see this as wasteful. The perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor. Jesus puts an end to all the fussing and commands the disciples to “leave her alone.” He informs them that if they are really concerned about the poor, poverty will always be around, and there are ways to help them.

He praises Mary for her act of devotion. She wanted to show the depth of her love for Jesus and does so by anointing Him with this expensive perfume. This episode raises a question. How do we demonstrate our love for Jesus? Since He is no longer with us physically, how do we show how much He means to us? Mary’s example might inspire some to give sacrificially to promote His Gospel. And, of course, we offer our love for Him by seeking to live lives that honor Him. “If you love me, keep my commandments,” He said. When we show our “love” for Him in a halfhearted manner, what does that say about the reality of our faith? Mary showed her love for Jesus lavishly. Do we?

Lord Jesus, forgive me when I hold back on demonstrating my love for you. You are worthy of my best. I pray that my giving and my obedience to You will be lavish. May Your name be praised. Amen.