Grace for All

As I write this, a good three weeks into January, I am thinking about the Christmas decorations in my neighborhood that have not been taken down, their lights still burning each night.  It’s well past epiphany.  So the other night I was walking my dog, and contemplating the number of people who left their lights up longer than usual this year.  I find it curious, but I don’t blame them, and I certainly don’t mind.  In fact, I said a silent prayer of gratitude. Because I still need a little Christmas.  Still long to welcome the baby Jesus.  Still yearn to see love come down, heaven touch earth, and light pierce darkness.  

When I consider this scripture passage from the gospel of Matthew, I can’t help but think about how God came to us as a little child.  The people expected a king, a powerful ruler who would liberate by force.  Instead, Jesus arrived on the scene as a newborn, wrapped in rags, sleeping in a feed trough–humble, vulnerable, a lowly child who was, in fact, the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  To understand what Christ means when he teaches his disciples that we will never enter the kingdom of heaven unless we change and become like little children, we need to look no further than his origin story.  

As you hear this, I expect that the Christmas lights in my neighborhood—and yours—have finally come down.  But perhaps you and I both still need a little Christmas, still long to see heaven come down, and touch earth.  In this passage from Matthew, Jesus gives us clear instructions on how to usher in the kingdom.  And it is not to fight and force our way to greatness.  No, in fact it is not to become great at all.  It is to become lowly.   

It is not to exalt an earthly king.  It is to welcome a little child.

Lord Jesus, we know your kingdom is not of this world, and yet too often we think we might find you by running after earthly things.  Humble us, that we might have the eyes, the minds and the hearts of children.  May we look for you in the least among us and in welcoming them, may we welcome your kingdom, on earth as it is in heaven.  Amen.

This devotion was written and read by Greta 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/.

Forty-three years ago today, a ring was placed on my finger with the inscription 1 John 4:7.

The verse reads,

Papa, what does Beloved mean?

• Beloved is a very strong or very deep type of love.  I might say I love pizza, but I would not want to eat pizza for every meal.  I think I would get tired of it after a couple of days. 

So, beloved is like the way you love Grandma.

• Exactly, I love her every day and the longer we are together, the more I love and appreciate her.

Forty-three years is a long time to wear the same ring, do you wear it every day?

• Yes, my wedding ring is a reminder of my promise to love Grandma every day and to love God every day.

Why does the verse say love is from God and everyone who loves is born of God?

• When you read the Bible, you begin to realize how much God loves us.  We are just like the people in the Bible, we do things we know we should not do but God loves us and teaches us to be sorry for our sins. 

That is because God loves us and wants us to be better. 

• Exactly, God loves us and wants us to love him like you love your parents.  And your grandparents.

And we are supposed to love other people just like we love our family.

• That is right, God still loves us even though we do bad things sometimes.  We are supposed to love other people and forgive them when they do bad things sometimes.

God loves us so much, he sent us Jesus.

• Yes, Jesus came to teach us how to love God and to love each other.

Papa, how do you remember to love God and people every day?

• Good question.  I do two things every day.  When I wake up every morning, I say this verse before I get out of bed.  Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  After you say it a few times, it is easy to remember. 

What is the second thing?

• I wear my wedding ring every day to remind me of the promise to love Grandma and God and to show that love to other people.

Papa, can I say the prayer?

• Yes, that would be wonderful.

Thank you God for loving us so much.  Thank you for giving us Jesus and family to love us.  Amen

Thank you Levi and Lyla for helping me with the podcast today and Happy Anniversary to a very special Grandma.

I love you.

               I love you more.

I love you the most!

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/.

My family’s world changed on December 23, 1967. Dad and  my 15-year-old brother William  were out  picking corn with our brand new corn picker. The soil was frozen so  the rush was on to get done what could be done before it thawed. That fall had been so rainy that no one could get the crops harvested. But it was Christmas. Mom was cooking, and my sister Mary Beth and I, who nine at the time, were the food tasters. The whole family would be there for Christmas dinner.   

At 11:50 a.m., I heard a loud bang. It was William flying onto the back porch, screaming that Dad had gotten caught in the corn picker. Mom dropped everything  and ran out the door. Out of the window, I saw Dad walking slowly and holding his arm. Mary Beth and I grabbed our coats and ran outside. Dad yelled at us to stay home. Mom yelled directions to Mary Beth to turn off  stoves and ovens. They got into the car and disappeared down the road.  

The house was quiet that whole long afternoon. William just sat and sobbed. My sister and I sat in ominous silence for hours, waiting for the phone to ring. It never did. I tried talking and it became clear that silence was easier. 

Finally, 5 o’clock came. We were on a farm, and the chores had to be done, no matter what. William and  I headed out to the barn and Mary Beth said she was coming along. William milked the 30 cows,  I would feed the bucket calves, feed the hay, spread straw, and my favorite was forking silage  down out of the silo. Mary Beth climbed up the silo chute with me. I remember  sobbing and counting the silage forkfuls as they went down the chute. 

Mary Beth and I do not recall which one of us suggested it, but we decided we needed to pray for Dad. And we knelt down on that stinky silage and prayed for him. When we got done, one of us said that we  thought everything would be alright. Then the crying stopped.

Years later we learned that Dad went into shock that first evening. The head nurse later told Dad they weren’t sure that he would make it through the  first night. Dad had eight major surgeries and was laid up well into the summer. 

The next morning Bob, a neighbor, came and helped us with the chores. He did that  every morning and evening until well into May. He helped me feed the bucket calves,  and then stay and play basketball with me once my chores were done. He always had a stick of Doublemint gum  for me. Bob organized the plowing party that spring and just stood by Mom and us kids until  Dad got back on his feet. Bob never went to church, but he will forever be a saint to me. 

We had Christmas when Dad finally came home in January, and it is one I will never forget. I  am certain that God heard our prayers that terrible day. 

Our dear and loving Father, when we are uncertain and afraid, we turn to you for comfort and peace. May it always be so. Amen.

This devotion was written by Neal Eash 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 this passage, Jesus gives an astonishing gift: the authority to bind and loose. While God’s sovereignty is unshakable, this gift entrusts us with an active role in interpreting and applying His will. It’s not a call to rigidly follow instructions handed down by others but an invitation into partnership with the Holy Spirit to discern and act according to God’s purposes.

This authority reflects a balance between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. When Jesus speaks of binding and loosing, He invites us to wrestle with spiritual questions, seek God’s guidance, and make decisions that align with His heart. It’s a dynamic process that challenges us to move beyond passive faith into a living, breathing relationship with God.

Of course, this isn’t a license for subjectivity, but rather for joining in connection and responsibility. Binding and loosing are grounded in God’s truth, revealed through Scripture and confirmed in prayerful discernment. Our decisions must reflect God’s character, marked by love, justice, and mercy.

I grew up in a tradition that, in retrospect, called for blind obedience that did not tolerate much questioning. “The clear meaning of Scripture” dictated beliefs and practices, something that sounds good on the surface until you realize that someone else got to decide “the clear meaning of Scripture.” With this Scripture and others such as Matthew 18:18 and Romans 14 and 1 Peter 3:15, we see that God through Jesus’s instruction and the guidance of the Holy Spirit wants each of us to study and pray and wrestle with difficult questions.

As we embrace this calling, we discover that binding and loosing isn’t just about authority—it’s about stewardship. God trusts us to engage deeply with His Word, to ask questions, and to act in ways that bring His kingdom to earth.

What decisions or questions in your life are calling for God’s wisdom? How can you lean into the Holy Spirit’s guidance to bind and loose in ways that reflect His love and truth?

Father, in a lot of ways it would be easier if you gave us a checklist religion. In fact, many have tried to turn your Word into that. In a way, that is what the old law was, and the attempt to reduce it to a checklist demonstrated our need for something more—a relationship with you made possible by Jesus. Help us to take your direction seriously, seeking to loosen the chains of sin and bind ourselves more closely to Jesus. In the name of Christ we pray, Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Donn 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/.

Natalie Babbitt's novel Tuck Everlasting is one of my favorite works of literature. I read it for the first time in sixth grade, and it changed the way I think about many things, most notably the notion of eternal life and the concept of immortality. In the book, the titular family gains their immortality through drinking from a spring nestled within the woods in the fictional town of Treegap, New Hampshire.

Throughout the book, which has gone on to gain a Disney movie adaptation and even a Broadway musical adaptation, the protagonist and antagonist, Winnie Foster and the man in the yellow suit, respectively, have differing attitudes towards the discovery of the spring which has allowed the Tucks to live an eternal life on earth. Winnie vows to help the Tucks protect their secret. When asked by one of the sons, Jesse Tuck, if she will drink from the spring upon her seventeenth birthday, she considers the notion but ultimately decides not to as she is warned by the other members of the Tuck family that immortality is not as glamorous as it may seem. As a result, she lives the life the Tucks were unable to.  We can infer that she also discovered the Kingdom of Heaven in the same way they were unable to, as they will never die.

On the other hand, the man in the yellow suit is consumed with finding the spring and profiting off it. He knows that the spring is on Winnie Foster’s family’s property and thus believes that only they know about the spring. He plans to purchase the wood so he can sell the water and allow everyone to live life in the way that the Tucks do, making this his primary aim. In each adaptation, however, the Tucks and Winnie prevent him from being able to profit off the water and allow everyone to become immortal like the Tucks. 

Much like in today’s verse, the spring can be likened to the Kingdom of Heaven located on earth in a small way. While in the eyes of the Tucks, it may not be ideal for them to be living in a situation in which they now know they will never die, being exposed to the clashing ideals of Winnie Foster and the man in the yellow suit have undeniably shown them how they deal with encountering this “treasure” hidden in the woods, either as a wonder that can remain hidden or as something exciting that the world should see and should be sold so everyone can experience the same life they do.

Let us pray: Dear God, may we always remember that our time in Heaven will come as you will it. While we may wish to be immortal and remain in “heaven on Earth” like the Tucks, help us remember that we are on your time. Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Grace Jonas.

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 well-known story of the Tower of Babel ends with people scattered about and unable to communicate with one another.

On one level, it appears to explain the origin of diverse human languages and cultures today.  But a closer look at it shows us that there is much more here than we might get in a children’s Sunday school recounting.

The story is instructive about the consequences from human pride and arrogance that can lead to disobedience to God’s will.  Furthermore, we can see the resulting destruction when we, the people, allow politics and corruption to dominate all institutions, including those of our faith.  We can all fall victim to the pursuits that ignore our true purpose to love the one and righteous God.

The signs noted in this story are all too evident in our society today. We are disoriented, unable to speak the same language or recognize the same truth or facts.  We’re cut off from one another and seek common understanding from secular authorities.

American social psychologist Jonathan Haidt has written that it has been clear for some time that America has evolved into two different countries, both claiming the same territory with two versions of our laws, economics and history.

Today, we can easily see ourselves and our society reflected in the story of Babel and its aftermath. But in the midst of our fragmentation of political institutions, religious orders, and even families, God is there to offer words of comfort and grace.

The Gospel of John 16:33 provides wise counsel:  “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world.”

Our Heavenly Father, help us to hear your comforting words despite the fragmentation and brokenness that surrounds us. Help us to be instruments of your love, peace, and grace. 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/.

“You are listening to Grace for All, 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/.

Mustard. A valued seasoning since ancient times. Throw the seeds in the pot or mix then with salt and vinegar, and we create a pungent and flavorful condiment to compliment our meal.

Mustard does not offer calories, protein, or anything substantial- except flavor. It makes the necessary wonderful. Heaven is like a mustard seed. It makes the mundane divine.

When I look at the realities of life, sometimes I’m frustrated- we all are. At times, we wish we could change the way life works, but there are things that we will not and can not change. There will be disease, and hunger, and poverty. Life will be filled with both the good and the bad as part of the human condition. But we can bring God’s love to all situations. We can season the stew with God’s mercy.

Recently I have chosen a job, or it has chosen me, where I watch people’s lives in some of the hardest of times. I can’t take away the disease. I can’t offer money. I can’t make it easier. But I can be present. I can be patient. I can support and listen and value.

It is all about what we bring to the situation. Mustard is not the meat. It is not the visible or the substantial. But it does flavor every morsel. It is what brings things together by uniting everything and everyone. The tiny mustard seed and what it brings to life is humble yet all-encompassing.

We are the spice. The catalyst of God’s vision, we are not the end, but the means. 

Live. Season. Love.

God, in the world that surrounds us, let us be mustard seeds in your kingdom and pack a punch. Let us provide the zest to make life spicy. Let us flavor the moments of people’s lives to make them better. Continue to show us and help us to love and bring mercy to those around us, Amen. 

Today's devotional was written by Jill Pope 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/.

I have prayed this prayer thousands of times in my lifetime. It is engraved in my brain because of its short phrases and easy rhyme. But how often have I thought of its meaning? What would happen if I lived a life everyday consciously seeking to do God’s will on earth?

Recently Jimmy Carter died at the age of 100. His long life had many phases, and he is being reevaluated now in light of all his actions on earth after his single-term presidency.

In an interview in the 1990s, Carter shared a memory from a sermon that had influenced his life. The minister asked, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” He said that he tried to live his life accordingly.

One of Jimmy and Rosalind Carter’s commitments was Habitat for Humanity, and over the years after his presidency they led work projects in the US and internationally that built over 4300 homes and shone a spotlight on communities devastated by hurricanes and poverty.

Jimmy Carter was also an advocate for peace throughout the world and met with leaders and monitored fair elections. His actions helped maintain peace in the Middle East for many years. Carter also worked to eradicate diseases in poverty-stricken areas. He worked with the World Health organization to wipe out a devastating disease called Guinea worm disease. Because of these efforts, the disease has nearly been wiped out, from 3.5 million cases in the mid-1980s to 25 cases in 2016.

Throughout his life, Carter worked so that God’s will would be done on earth. He was not always successful but he was a beacon for his lifetime. He loved his neighbors all over the world. If Jimmy Carter were tried for being a Christian today, he would be found guilty.

Dear God, help us to work each day to discern your will and bring your kingdom to earth. Thank you for all those who have come before us to demonstrate your love and guide us on our way. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

This podcast is written by Laura Derr and read by Amy Large.

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 scripture for today is the last part of Jesus’s parable of the owner of the vineyard and the hired workers. The owner, in need of hired labor, goes out several times to recruit people.  The last group hired works only one hour before quitting time. As was customary workers were paid at the end of each day.  Those last hired got a full day’s wages.  Imagine their surprise and joy.  The first hired grumble because they got the same wage. 

Through the years, when I have contemplated the meaning of this parable of Jesus I have always seen it as a challenge to not be jealous when others get something that I am not sure they deserve.  I tend to assume I am one of the early hires and need to be gracious to those hired last.  After all, I have been a Christian and a Methodist from birth. Born into a Methodist Parsonage I started going to church at 9 days old.  I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t a part of a church or did not feel the presence of God in my life.  So of course, I would have been one of the first chosen in this parable and I need to be gracious when others, finally repent and turn to God.  

As important as this thought is, it doesn’t really challenge me to live life differently. I believe Jesus used parables to get people to live differently, to live as members of the kingdom of God.  

When I read this parable in the message and hear, “Are you going to get stingy because I am generous,?” I was shocked. Being resentful for the blessings others received, is more than just having feelings of jealousy, it is living a stingy, “Scrooge type” of life. I am acting as if I want all the blessings for myself.  Not a flattering image, is it?

This made me asked myself, “What if I was the landowner?”  After all, to live in the Kingdom of God is to follow the example of Christ. Of course I would choose those who are eager and willing to work, who are there early in the morning,  Or, I could say, I would surround myself with people just like me.  But would I want to reach out beyond my comfort zone towards others who are struggling for a variety of reasons?  Would I accept them as they are, beloved children of God, or would they have to “prove” themselves first.  Would I in the end find it possible to be generous and gracious as God is gracious to me?  Or would I see a bit of Scrooge in my actions?

Living in the kingdom of God is a little about not being jealous but even more I think it might be about acting in a God like way towards all, caring for their needs and not being stingy or making them earn it.  That challenge is the kind of message Jesus would share, I believe.  To live in his kingdom is to live differently than the world. 

God help us to remember that living in your kingdom is more than just not being jealous when good things happen to others.  It is living by your example and having a generous spirit especially towards those who we might think don’t deserve it.  Remind us that they are your beloved children and you love them as fully as you love us. AMEN. 

Today's 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/.