Daily Devotions
New devotions are posted Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Building a community of faith
Today’s author is Prince of Peace member Steve Sveom.
4 Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and 5 like living stones let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
10 Once you were not a people,
but now you are God’s people;
once you had not received mercy,
but now you have received mercy.
1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10
God is at work to build us into a community of faith with a purpose. It is to honor God, proclaim the light of God to a world of much darkness and to be a people of mercy. This is the mission to which we are called.
We have a boulder wall that is vital to our landscaping and the foundation of our house. We noticed that the drainage was beginning to compromise the wall and that the boulders were beginning to move slightly. Two contractors did work to remedy the situation. One put a new pier into the ground and replaced a pillar that holds up a corner of a four-season porch. The other came with equipment and expertise to do some drainage work in our yard and to reconstruct the boulder wall. The boulders needed to be rebuilt in a more staggered manner, like a brick wall. It was amazing to watch their hard work and excellent know-how.
As they worked, I thought of God’s work building a community of faith. We are the “living stones” built on the cornerstone of Jesus’ grace. We are not responsible for the work that has already been accomplished in Christ, but we are not passive either. We have a purpose and a mission. We are living stones chosen by God to be placed carefully together to be a spiritual house of mercy and love.
Gracious builder: thank you for the cornerstone of your gracious love in Christ. May we let ourselves be built into a spiritual house of mercy. Amen.
Previously…
Friends
Today's author is Prince of Peace member Fred Ogimachi. Today’s assignment was John 15:1-17. A section in John’s Gospel where he is recounting those final intimate details of Jesus with His disciples during the time between the upper room and the garden recorded...
Be a blessing
Today's author is Prince of Peace member Fred Ogimachi. I have three grandchildren. Two granddaughters and one grandson ages 7, 5, and 3. They are my delight! I think of them often and pray for them each day. One of the things that I do when I am with them,...
Reshaped
Today's author is Prince of Peace's Intentional Interim, Pr. Steve Sylvester. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more...
Seeking the Truth
This devotional is from Prince of Peace member Bob Reichman. 2 Timothy 3:14-4:8, 16-18 The writer of 2 Timothy says: Proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage with the utmost patience in teaching....