Grace for All

When Jesus said, in verse 30, it is finished, every Jewish person who heard him would have immediately  understood their significance. Every year, on the Jewish holiday known as the Day of Atonement, the Jewish High Priest sacrificed an animal to atone for the sins of the nation of Israel, as prescribed in the law of Moses. The sins of the nation were symbolically placed on the animal, and its blood served as  payment for those sins. Immediately after the sacrifice was made, the Priest would come out of the temple and announce, "It is finished." The sins of the nation were covered for another year.

When Jesus used that same phrase - it is finished - he signaled that the need for animal sacrifice was over. In his death, he took the sins of the world on himself and paid for them with his own blood.

The “it” in the sixth utterance of Christ on the cross - it is finished - refers to the whole reason he came  to earth in the first place. He came to take the sin of the world on His shoulders and offer Himself as a sacrifice to His father for it. He came to pay for my sins and yours. He came to give us a new beginning.

That "it" is the reason we all sit here today reconciled to God with the hope that we will live with Him, starting today and for eternity. 

Let’s all remember that as Jesus uttered his last words, He was thinking about you and about me, and how he had just accomplished His mission—the "it" of making all of us God’s children again. 

God, we thank you that you made a way. We thank you that although we live in rebellion, you love us and want a relationship with us. We are thankful that Jesus finished his mission and because of that we can once again and forever call you Father. Amen.

This devotion was written by Cliff McCartney and read by Judy Wilson.

Outro: Sarah Outro General

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Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected].

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Early in our marriage, my wife and I were fortunate to participate in a Bible study that gave some great marriage advice, especially when it came to the subject of conflict in marriage.  One of the thoughts that stuck with me over the years was that when you are in the middle of a marriage conflict, do not get historical.  You might think I meant to say do not get hysterical, that is good advice also, but the point I remembered was not to get historical. This means we should avoid pointing out things like, "remember the time you did that, or you always say that." It is easy to bring up past grievances when we are in conflict because it is hard for us to forget when we have been hurt.

Today's scripture verse indicates that when we ask God for forgiveness, God will not only forgive our sins, but he will not get historical and bring them back up the next time we sin.  Instead, when God forgives our wickedness, God sees Jesus Christ who took on our sins so that we could stand pure and blameless. What a great thought as we go into a new year!

May I pray for us?

Father God, we come to you asking forgiveness for the sins we have committed to you and to those you have called us to love. Thank you for not getting historical, but instead choosing to forget our sins. I pray that we can love you deeper, know you more fully, and extend that love to those in our community. Amen

Today's episode was written and presented by Owen Ragland.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected].

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Robert Emmons is a Ph.D. psychology professor at the University of California at Davis. He has done extensive research on the connection between gratitude and happiness. His major study has shown clearly that people who cultivate a spirit of gratitude are measurably happier.  Nobel Prize winning humanitarian, missionary and theologian, Albert Schweitzer, was correct when he called gratitude, “The secret of life.”

Part of Dr. Emmons landmark study involved two groups.  One group was asked to daily count their blessings, the other group was asked to daily count their burdens.  Both groups recorded their findings and feelings.  The results?  Participants in the gratitude condition were a full 25% happier than the other participants.  They also reported a better sense of health and well-being.

Our scripture verses do this linkage: joy or deep happiness, prayer or constant connection with God, and gratitude, or a spirit of thankfulness. These three (joy, prayer, and gratitude), when practiced regularly, reinforce each other.

But here is the hard part, or so it would seem. The passage from I Thessalonians tells us to be thankful “in all circumstances.” How can we do that? It is easy to be grateful when life is good, but what about difficult times? Here is what I discovered in almost 50 years as a pastor, and Dr. Emmons’s research confirms it. When something or someone important to us is at risk, we discover that gratitude enables us to face the risk with faith and courage.  The single place I have most often heard the word “grateful” is in the hospital.  When there is jeopardy, we turn to our resources—spiritual, relational, and physical—and give thanks.

I’ll bet you would rather be happy than sad, rather be grateful than worried. Well, here’s the secret—today, right now: rejoice, pray, and be thankful regardless of your circumstances.

Dear God, at every moment of my life, I have both burdens and blessings. Turn my heart to my blessings that I may be filled with your joy. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

This devotional was written and recorded by Herb Sadler.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected].

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Listen to a mix of music and Scripture readings from this past week's devotional episodes.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected].

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

The mountains and forests around us are beautifully transformed and made pure each time there is a winter snowfall.  The snow does not conform to the landscape completely, but rather softens the sharp edges and blurs the harsh lines.  

Do you remember your excitement as a child when the first snowflakes were spotted through the window? Only God could have created such amazing beauty and soft quiet joy.

When the world we live in shows harshness and negativity, how do we live as a follower of Christ?  One way is to dedicate ourselves to the transforming, life-giving will of God.  We can let go of the ways we may have chosen that are not renewing us or creating a softer, more loving pathway through life. Another way would be to  to regain our sense of child-like wonder at the natural beauty surrounding us.  As we ask, God can help create in our minds a quiet joy that does not conform to the pressures and patterns of the world.  

Our prayer today:  Loving God, we pray that you bring us the clarity to discern your will, especially when we feel the world’s pressures and worries.  Renew our minds daily to reflect your love and peace.  AMEN.

This devotional was written by Jenny Green and read by Leslie Ragland.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected].

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

This devotional was written by Gary Hensley.

My children are all grown now, but as they faced challenges in their youth I would many times give advice and end it with the quip, “oh well, it builds character.”  

That phrase always elicited a classic teenaged eyeroll. They still joke about “Dad’s advice.” Today when I share a challenge I’m facing, they many times remark “Well, Dad, it builds character.” Whether young or old, life is filled with challenges and troubles. James teaches us that facing those tribulations with perseverance can help shape and strengthen our spiritual life and faith in the Lord. During times of duress, we can lean on God through prayer and ask for his strength to persevere.

As we grow in the Lord from perseverance through adversity, it's important that we share those experiences with others so that they, too, might learn the joy of leaning on God in hard times.

As you go about this day, think about what James is teaching us, and you might embrace challenges in a completely different way.

Also, ask yourself these questions:

• How have past challenges and troubles shaped your character and faith?
• What did you learn about yourself?
• What did you learn about your faith?

Father, knowing that challenges will always be looming before us, help us to remember that we are not alone.

Grant us the courage to face challenges head on, knowing that you have equipped us with the strength to endure.

Remind us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us to find the courage to face adversity with faith and confidence.

Help us to persevere through hard times, recognizing that “bumps in the road” are opportunties for growth and refinement in both character and faith.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected].

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Where you focus your attention makes all the difference,  It is easy to focus on our past.  Those are comforting images, familiar and known, while the future is unknown and often seems scary.  At pivotal moments in our lives to look back often means dwelling on what we have lost.  

In our scripture, the people of Israel were at such a time.  They had been conquered and many were in exile.  They were focusing on their past.  The prophet Isaiah reminds them all those things have happened.  You can’t change them.  He wanted them to let go and turn the other direction, for God is doing a new thing. As we begin a New Year we need to be reminded that the past is past! Our focus must be on what is to come, what new thing God is doing.

Three years ago my wife and I were preparing to move here to Tennessee.  Like the people of Israel, it was easy to look back and see all that we were giving up.  I was retiring after 40 years in ministry, all of our friends were in Washington State, and we were leaving one of our children and her family. To focus on this would have weighed down my spirit.  Instead, I intentionally turned my focus to the new that was coming. I believed God was going to do new and wonderful things in our lives.  We have not been disappointed. We love living in Tennessee, being near another of our children, and our new friends and church.

At this time of year choose where to focus your life. Isaiah reminds us that we need to put the past behind us and to face the future with optimism and joy. If we believe in the promise that God will continue to do new things in our lives we will be amazed at what God can do.

Loving God, of possibility and joy, let us honor our past but not be bound  by it. Instead help us celebrate all the new things you are doing in our life and in the world,  AMEN.

This devotional was written by Bill Green and read by Jim Stovall.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected].

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

In 2022, along with others, I followed a program to read the entire Bible. When we read this selection from Isaiah, some editions subtitled it “False and True Worship.” The jest of the passage is that true worship is a lot more than attending a gathering to sing a few songs, follow a ritual, say a prayer and say the right words. It is also how we think and act and what we say outside those gatherings.

Does this mean that when we serve or deliver food to others that these can be times and acts of worship? Does this mean that if by our circumstances we cannot do any of these activities personally but support them, that this can be an act of worship?

If yes, does it affect the way we approach and go about these activities?

I think that the answer is yes. These can be more than “feel good” activities. If done in a way that is an expression of reverence to God, they are part of true worship. Approached as a part of worship they not only feed the body, but feed the soul, ours and theirs.

Ever present and loving God, forgive us when we fail to honor and reverence you. Help us share what you have given us in a way that pleases you. Amen

This devotional was written by Alvin Jenkins and read by Owen Ragland.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected].

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Paul had reason to forget what was behind. He had persecuted followers of Christ’s way. He had held the coats of those who stoned Stephen. He had even persecuted Christ, as the voice on the road to Damascus called out, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” It took blindness after that vision for Paul to begin to see the truth of Jesus Christ. 

In our lives today, we have all done things that cause us shame. We may have used words that hurt another person; we may have lied to protect our own actions; we may have left the truth unsaid; we may have even committed crimes. Our memories of these events stand in the way of the person we want to be, but we often feel paralyzed to overcome them. 

Paul’s confession to the church in Philippi is relevant today. As he says, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,” Saul becomes Paul and changes the world for Christ. He accepts that he is forgiven and moves on to live a life of faith and obedience to God. 

Following his conversion, Paul never looked back. He spent the rest of his life as an Apostle, traveling thousands of miles, spending years in jails, and writing letters filled with inspiration for the young churches he helped found. His goal was to spend eternity in the presence of Jesus Christ. 

Dear Lord, beginning today, help us to press on toward that same goal of living in the presence of Jesus.

This devotion was written by Laura Derr and read by Donnell King.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected].

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

By this point in the history of the children of Israel, God has shown himself to be both their wise master and their faithful servant. He had delivered them from the Egyptian army, as is described here in the beautiful phrase “on eagles wings.“ It was as if they were soaring above the Earth.

But God had more in store for his people than simply delivering them from danger. He was calling them to keep their part of the covenant that he had made with him. That covenant was to put God first before everything else, to worship and obey his commands.

God was calling Israel to be a special people, to become “a kingdom of  priests, and a holy nation.“

We know the sad history of the failure of the children of Israel. They did not live up to their covenant with God. Countless times throughout the Old Testament, that nation failed in its obedience and its duties. Countless times, God rescued them from danger and delivered them back to a place where they could, in fact, be a nation of priests.

What is God’s calling for us today? What is his vision for us as individuals or as his church? Are the “eagles wings“ with which he bore the children of Israel still available to us?

These questions need our constant and consistent attention. Listening for God’s call and putting him first is the first step of keeping the covenant that God has promised to us all.

Dear God, Help us to be ready to respond to your call. Help us to listen carefully and with discerning ears to the still small voice of your grace. Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Jim Stovall.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected].

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.