Athens First UMC Devotions

“Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” Mark 9:37

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“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

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Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? 2 Corinthians 13:5

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You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. Matthew 5:13

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“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 

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You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 

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But he said, “He replied, “What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.” Luke 18:27 

The night-blooming cereus is one of the most unusual flowers I have ever seen. My mother-in-law was an avid gardener and kept this plant on her front porch. We were visiting her one summer and she told us that we were especially lucky because we would get to see the night-blooming cereus bloom! She shared a special fact with us about this plant: it only blooms once a year. If you were to see the night-blooming cereus the other 364 days, you’d probably think it didn’t look like much more than a gray stick. Its design involves patiently waiting for the right moment, and just at the right time, the flower opens. God’s creation often reminds me that while it can look like nothing is happening, everything is possible with God.  

Have there been times in your life where it seemed nothing looked promising? Do you wonder if God can handle the impossible stuff you’re dealing with right now? Maybe you have the idea that you or someone you love is a lost cause. In Luke 18, a rich young man misses his moment to surrender his life to Jesus and so everyone who heard about it grew discouraged. They asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus’ response is clear. God can do it!  

What is impossible for human beings is absolutely possible for God. Jesus knew the cross was coming. That one terrible moment is still saving lives and blooming in the most barren heart. God’s love for the world is profound and through his Son, we become part of the “possible” of God. Because of Jesus, our lives now open up with light in the darkness. Don’t be discouraged when things look grim. Be hopeful and patient to plant seeds of God’s love wherever you go, and I promise you something will bloom. 

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Romans 12:4-5

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The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. Proverbs 11:3

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The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap, Psalm 92:12-14

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