Grace for All

Picture something with me. Imagine you're stirring a pot of soup on the stove. You're not just mindlessly moving that spoon around - you're being intentional, making sure nothing sticks to the bottom, bringing up the flavors from the depths. That word "provoke" in our verse? In the original Greek, it's paroxysmos - it's where we get our word "paroxysm." It means to stir up, to incite, to sharpen like iron sharpening iron. 

The writer of Hebrews is addressing a community that's getting tired. They're facing persecution, some have stopped gathering together, and their initial enthusiasm for following Jesus is waning. The author isn't giving them a gentle pat on the head - he's calling them to actively, intentionally stir each other up toward love and good works. 

This verse sits right in the heart of one of the most encouraging passages in all of Scripture. Just before this, the writer reminds them that they have the confidence to enter God's presence through Christ. Just after, he urges them not to neglect meeting together. It's all connected - our relationship with God, our responsibility to each other, and our witness to the world. 

John Wesley understood this deeply. He organized early Methodists into small groups called "classes," where they would meet weekly to ask each other the hard questions: "How is it with your soul? Where have you seen God this week? How can we help you grow?" Wesley knew that faith grows best in community, where we're lovingly challenged and supported. 

But here's the thing - this isn't about criticism or judgment. The goal isn't to provoke each other to guilt or shame. It's to stir up love and good deeds. We're called to see the potential in each other, to fan the flames of compassion and service that God has already placed in our hearts. 

Do you know anyone who needs some stirring? Maybe it's a friend who has lost their way, a family member who has forgotten their gifts, or a fellow believer who has grown complacent. How might God use you to lovingly provoke them toward the love and good works they were created for? 

And remember - this stirring goes both ways. While we consider how to encourage others, we need to remain open to being stirred ourselves. Sometimes God uses the most unlikely people to remind us of our calling, to challenge us when we've settled into comfortable routines, or to inspire us when our own fire is burning low. 

The early Methodist movement spread like wildfire because ordinary people took seriously this call to stir one another up. They didn't wait for the perfect moment or the right credentials. They simply asked each other honest questions, shared their struggles, celebrated their victories, and held each other accountable with grace and love. 

Remember, we're not just individuals trying to make it on our own. We're part of something bigger - a community called to lift each other up and point each other toward Christ. In a world that often feels divided and disconnected, what a powerful witness it is when people see Christians genuinely caring for each other's spiritual growth. 

Father, stir our hearts today and help us see those around us through your eyes. Use us to kindle love and good works in others, and keep us open to being stirred by your Spirit. Amen. 

This devotional was written and read by Cliff McCartney.

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/.

When I read this verse, I immediately think about my grandmother, who was a master at using Southern phrases to get a point across. “ Stirring the pot” was one of her favorites and it took me a while as a child to figure out exactly what she meant when she said it. When you Google this phrase, it says in a social context it refers to intentionally creating or escalating conflict, drama, or tension, often to achieve a specific goal or out of malicious intent. The psychology behind it involves various motivations, including a desire for control, a need to displace anger or resentment, or manipulative tactics for self-promotion or gaining an advantage. It can also stem from boredom, insecurity, or a lack of empathy. 

I’ve known some pot-stirrers in my time. And I bet you have too. In fact, I may have actually “stirred the pot” on occasion myself. But I felt I was justified when I did it to bring attention to a perceived injustice. In my opinion, most folks who stir up conflict find pleasure in other people's misfortune and sadness. There’s definitely something missing in their lives, and they’re resentful and jealous of anything good happening to someone else. Others like to sit back and enjoy the chaos they’ve created. 

Patience really can diffuse a lot of escalating situations. In the Bible, it is presented as a virtue stemming from God’s character and empowered by the Holy Spirit. It’s not about waiting passively, but trusting in God’s timing and plan. God’s patience with us encourages us to extend Grace and be patient with others. While it can be difficult to be patient in times of trial or discord, we are reminded through Christ that patience is a virtue and a fruit of the Spirit. 

The next time I’m in a stressful conflict, I’m going to remember this verse and hopefully bring the dispute to a manageable discussion. 

This devotion was written by Virginia Hardwick Kerr and read by Sally 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/. 

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the people of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee.

This is Scripture Saturday, a time when we pause and reflect on the scriptures we have read throughout the week. If you missed any of our devotionals on these passages, you can find them on our website at 1stChurch.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Now, we invite you to listen and receive Grace. Welcome and thank you for joining us.

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/. 

Well, well……. Patience is an interesting concept. It is about how we handle adversity, delays, unpleasant circumstances, and trouble.

Our first thought, at least mine, is how often I am caught in traffic and am irritated with the slow or distracted driver in front of me. That driver is keeping me from my destination for no obvious reason. In the end, I might be delayed by one or two minutes, but the frustration I feel and anger I feel are just not examples of patience at all. I am the only one affected by that childish outburst. 

As I was thinking about this scripture, I realized that frustration and impatience often go hand in hand and might even be confused. Frustration is more about the inability to cope with situations, much like a child learning a new skill who throws a tantrum when their early eIorts are not successful. Impatience, on the other hand, is about an unwillingness to wait for something. We often tap our foot, honk our horn, drum our fingers or pour out those great big sighs. 

Our scripture today tells us to be patient with each other, making allowances for each other. I must say my mother lived this to the fullest. No matter the circumstances, she always rallied with the most kind reason someone might behave in a manner that annoyed the rest of us. With these kind words, she reminded us that we should remember to love others and accept their faults, behaviors, attitudes (whatever the situation) with grace and love. After all, God still loves us even when we are not well behaved. 

She hoped that her example of patience would grow in us and we would learn that getting angry or upset out of a lack of patience would diminish over time. She strongly wanted our capacity to overlook and accept these situations without responding negatively, complaining, or getting riled up. She expected us to love first and to live in harmony with others. 

Patience is something that has grown in me over time. I have learned that some situations that challenge my patience are simply out of my control, and I must turn them over to God and quit trying to fix them on my own. I must be patient with others and myself. Recently, a situation with a family member was resolved after several years. At first, I tried my way to make things better, and then I gave it to God. Out of the blue, with patience, love and persistent prayer, the relationship was renewed. The peace that follows is abundant.

I think The Message says it well,

So, we must learn to be and be willing to be patient, to seek harmony, and to love even when we don’t understand, even when we are delayed and our plans are turned upside down. 

Patience allows us to work through conflicts and misunderstandings so that we might have harmony and peace in our lives and relationships with others. 

Gracious and loving God, be with us as we grow in our ability and desire to be patient. Allow us to be quick to listen and understand, to see that just as you are patient with our shortcomings, we too should recognize the differences of our fellow travelers and truly seek to live in harmony. You call us to love others and to be patient with them. Guide us as we grow in our love and service with you. In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. 

This devotional is written and read by Lisa Blackwood.

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/. 

I have, unfortunately, heard this verse quoted by well-meaning people as they apologize for their tears at the loss of one they loved. They will say, “I know I shouldn’t grieve, for the joy of the Lord is my strength.” When you understand the setting in which Nehemiah spoke these words, you come to understand that it is saying nothing about what we should feel at such moments in our lives. 

The people of Israel had returned from exile in Babylon. Ezra and Nehemiah are engaged with the people in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.  Nehemiah brings the people together to hear the words of Moses. He wants them to remember all that God had done for them, why they were a special, called-apart people, and what God required from them.  

As Ezrah reads and explains Moses’ words, some began to weep because they realized that they were not following God’s word. Nehemiah says, “Do not weep, this day is Holy to the Lord. Eat, send food to those who do not have any. Don’t be sad because the joy from the Lord is your strength.” They're coming to an awareness of their failings and with it the resolve to do better should be a time of joy, not sadness.  

This reminds me of when our children were small. They had committed some infraction.  We would sit down and talk about what they had done, why it was wrong, and the consequences of their actions.  Usually, after some tears, but more importantly, requests for forgiveness and pledges to do better, we would hug and in that moment they felt reassured and went away, not in sorrow, but in joy.  

This warm hug is what God offers to each of us.  When we confess, we are not to dwell on our mistakes with tears and grief, but instead to hear the words of forgiveness and love.  And, like my children, we are to turn to the future filled with joy. Through God’s forgiveness, we are strengthened to face the future and, like the people of Israel, we are encouraged to share this joy with others.

Loving God, we are so grateful that you love us, forgive us, and teach us.  Remind us when we fail that you are with us and in your presence, and we find strength and joy. AMEN. 

This devotional was written by Bill Green and read by Joey Smith.

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/.

Have you ever thought about how much God loves us? I do think about His love often, especially since my husband passed away and I no longer have his support and have to make all decisions myself. This verse of scripture was a comfort to me, knowing God would be walking beside me, holding my hand and leading me. God does lead us when we feel alone, when we have lost a loved one, or when we feel we cannot face another day, too weary to go on. He is always ready to take our hand and lead us.

How many times have we reached out to other sources: a friend self-help book or sometimes a stranger? These are all good, but God is ready to take us by the hand and help us. Do we take Jesus‘ love and compassion for granted? When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and give our heart to him, He is ready to help us in every situation. Have you ever had someone come to you so burdened and did not know what to do? That is when we ask them if they prayed about this and asked God to help them.

God loves us so much. He knows everything about us--good and bad--but He loves us anyway! He even gathers our tears and stores them in a bottle. He even prays for us. If Jesus loves us so much, should we not love Him more? As a child of our Lord we should strive to love as He does and let our actions reflect His love in our daily lives, in how we worship Him, in how we serve Him, and how we treat others. Jesus has offered us his hand. It is up to us to take it. He is a loving and amazing God.

Would you pray with me? Oh Lord, thank you for always being near to me to hold my hand and lead me in the right way. Help me to love and serve you every day. Amen.

Today’s devotion was written by Ralphine Hood 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/. 

The Boy Scout motto is "Be Prepared," and their slogan is "Do A Good Deed Daily."

I was a Boy Scout for many years, and I tried to honor both of those, but in all honesty, I wasn't always successful. 

The apostle Peter was no Boy Scout. This is the guy who cut off a soldier's ear when they came to arrest Jesus, then denied knowing him three times before the rooster crowed. He’s the impulsive fisherman who sank trying to walk on water because his faith wavered. Yet here he is, decades later, seemingly adopting the Boy Scout motto "Be Prepared" but applying it to something far more important than camping, first aid, or merit badges. 

Peter wrote this letter to Christians scattered across Asia Minor who were facing persecution. These weren't people living comfortable lives where everyone respected their beliefs. They were dealing with slander and hostility because of their faith. In that context, Peter's words carry real weight. He's talking about real people facing real opposition. 

The phrase "always being prepared" comes from a Greek word meaning "ready for action," much like a soldier prepared for battle. But notice what kind of battle this is. We're not preparing to attack anyone. We're preparing to give a reason for our hope. In a world full of cynicism and despair, people notice when someone has genuine hope, and they want to know where it comes from. 

The hope Peter talks about isn't wishful thinking or a positive attitude. This is a confident expectation that God is good, that Jesus really did rise from the dead, and that our lives have purpose beyond what we can see. It's hope that comes from the Holy Spirit working in us— another fruit of the Spirit. 

But here's what I love most: the way we're supposed to share this hope. Peter says to do it "with gentleness and respect." Coming from the guy who once grabbed a sword and started swinging, that's significant. We don't bludgeon people with truth or shame them into belief. We share our hope gently, with respect for their dignity as human beings made in God's image. 

Peter knows people are watching how we live more than listening to what we say. When our lives don't match our words, it gives ammunition to critics. But when we live with integrity, when our hope shows up in how we handle hard circumstances, it creates questions that only the gospel can answer.

Maybe you're thinking, "I'm not ready to give an answer about anything." But Peter isn't asking you to become a theologian. He's asking you to be ready to share your story—what God has done in your life, why you have hope when others don't. That's something only you can tell, and it's more powerful than any argument. 

So be prepared. 

Father, help us honor Christ in our hearts and be ready to share the hope we have in him. Give us gentleness and respect when we speak, and help our lives reflect your love. Amen. 

This devotional was written and read by Cliff McCartney.

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/.

We often hear that God doesn’t wait for us to come to Him but meets us where we are. Throughout Jesus’ ministry, he didn’t wait for people to come to him; he met them where they were. He didn’t wait for them to come to the synagogue or temple. He met them at the lakeshore, on the road, on the mountain, in their homes, wherever they were. God continues to meet us today where we are, physically, mentally, emotionally, and in every other way. He will meet us in our chosen place of worship, but he doesn’t wait for us to come there.

But there is a but! 

Isn’t there always! 

In reading a daily devotional recently, I was reminded of the rest of the story. While God meets us where we are, He doesn’t leave us there. In our scripture today, Jesus met Zacchaeus on the road. Zacchaeus changed not only the way he saw himself and the things he had done, but he also made a change in his life. Matthew left the table where he was collecting taxes. Several of the apostles left their fishing nets. He met Saul on the road to Damascus. There are many more examples both in the Bible and in the world around us.

So, having met God, where is He leading each one of us today? What is He asking each of us to do today? No matter how big or small it seems, if God is asking, it is important. If we don’t respond, who will?

Dear God, help me today to take time to feel your presence and to listen to what you have to say and then to respond in the way that pleases you.

This devotion was written by Alvin Jenkins and read by Cliff McCartney.

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/.

There is a popular quote, and I hope you’ll forgive me if the way I report it is not exactly how you have heard it. And I hope you’ll forgive me, too, if you know it to be from a particular source. You see, it’s actually attributed to many people — a quick Google search revealed attribution to everyone from Buddha to Saint Augustine to Christian author Joanna Weaver to Irish actor Malachy McCourt. In any case, the quote goes something like this: “Holding on to hatred is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” 

That seems to be closely akin to the message the author of Proverbs is trying to convey. When we are kind to others, we are in turn helping ourselves. And when we are hurtful toward others, we are actually hurting ourselves, or drinking the poison, as it may be. 

But to be clear, I really don’t think the point the author of Proverbs is making is to be kind to others in order to be kind to one’s self. Helping ourselves should be a by-product, not a goal. 

One of my favorite podcasts (after Grace for All, of course!) is Hidden Brain. This is an exploration of the world through the lens of the social sciences. Host Shankar Vedantam invites incredibly intelligent people to his show to discuss, well, being human in this complex world. I highly recommend that you check out this podcast.

In April 2023, Shankar hosted psychologist Amit Kumar on an episode discussing why we are reluctant to be kind to one another. While the whole episode is worth your time, a few of the takeaways include that people often worry about getting the details of their particular kindness just right, but recipients seem to care much more about the effort than the act.

Further, small acts of kindness that might be inconsequential to the giver can be monumental to the recipient. When we share a kind word or make a small expression of warmth, we often are actually helping others more than we realize. And this chasm between how the giver and the recipient perceive the act creates what Kumar refers to as the Prosociality Paradox.

In this paradox, even though the act of kindness is good for both us and others, we are reluctant to behave in this way since givers of kindness worry about the details and minimize the effect. But it even goes further: this phenomenon also causes us to be reluctant to ask others for kindness that they could provide, even though studies show that we are more than happy to help others when we are able to do so, and we want to feel helpful. 

As followers of Christ who are trying to demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit, we must be ever more intentional about sharing that kindness, no matter how great or small it may be. We must not worry so much about getting every detail right, as much as getting our intentions right. In short, we must overcome any obstacles from our efforts to make the world kinder. The podcast goes on to describe the pay-it-forward effect, which documents examples of how one act of kindness spurs another. Friends, let us make this society kinder and kinder still, and may nothing, least of all ourselves, get in our way. 

Holy Spirit of God, you are the source of kindness. Let us channel that in our lives to all who need it, no matter how great or small the need. Help us to not worry so much about how to do so, but help us feel strengthened in you to not be reluctant to do so. We pray this in Christ’s name, amen.

This devotion was written and read by Dwight Dockery

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/.

Welcome to the Saturday episode of the Grace for All podcast.

Thank you for joining us today. Saturday is a special time when we take a few moments to review the scriptures that we have cited in the episodes this week.

If you missed any of those episodes, you might want to consider listening to them today. And even if you heard them all, there may be one that you might want to listen to again.

We hope that each of these scriptures and podcasts will bring you a full measure of joy, peace, and love.

Now, let's listen to the scriptures that have been on our hearts this week.

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/.