Grace for All

Do Not Fear

(Our Theme for June)

Philippians 12b-14 (NIV) “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it, but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

As a pastor, I found myself spending much of my time working with people who were struggling with destructive baggage from their past. They were continuing to allow the past to unduly influence their present and future. We all are tempted to spend our time and energy on done deals.

I think of the poem by Louise Fletcher Tarkington:

I wish there were some wonderful place Called the land of beginning again. Where all our mistakes and all our heartaches And all our poor selfish grief Could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door And never put on again.

Wouldn’t that be wonderful? A place where all of my mistakes and failures and sins are erased. A place where heartaches no longer hurt. Where the burden of grief is lifted. Where my selfishness has ended and I can start over as a good and decent and caring person.

The good news is that Jesus is not just Lord of today and tomorrow, he is Lord of our yesterdays. For many years I had a rock on my desk on which was written: Don’t stumble over something behind you. It’s easy to do. A lost relationship. A word spoken in anger. Sins. What someone did to us. What we did to ourselves.

In our scripture passage the apostle Paul describes life as the running of a race. He says that in order to win the prize it is necessary to forget what is behind. Is there some weight from your past you are still carrying? Drop it like a shabby old coat at the door. Give God your yesterdays so that you can give Him today and tomorrow and forever.

Dear Lord Jesus, I release to you my past: failures, successes, joys, sorrows. I will no longer stumble over what is gone. In the name of the one who nailed my sins to the tree. Amen.

Today’s 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/.

Do Not Fear

(Our Theme for June)

Luke 12: 32: Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

 

Years ago, I remember my wise pastor at that time suggested something I thought was quite profound.  He had a theory about the reason time seems to pass more quickly as we get older.  He said, “When we’re young, we are changing so much faster than the world around us, but when we’re old, the world around us is changing so much faster than we are.”

 

I am not certain that the children of today are changing faster than the world they are growing up in.  Perhaps that is one of the many reasons anxiety is on the rise in childhood and adolescence.  Change and uncertainty breeds fear and angst.  Most of us, even as adults, respond to rapid change in the world around us with anxiety.   When things are unfamiliar, we cannot process threats as effectively as when we have our bearings, and we respond by being constantly alert and on guard.  Anticipating scarcity, we hold on to things tightly.  We cling to what we need—or to what we think we need.

 

In this passage from Luke, Jesus makes a difference between the nations of the world and God’s kingdom.  He says the nations of the world strive after and worry over daily needs, but we should strive after God’s kingdom, and God—who knows our daily needs—will supply them. 

 

And then, in the very next sentence, Jesus calls us his “little flock,” and tells us not to be afraid, that it is God’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom.  How comforting it is to be counted among Jesus’ “little flock.”

 

No matter how fast the world is changing, or how much angst and grief it is causing us, it is God’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom.  God continues to give God’s kingdom to those who strive after it.  That is unchanging.

 

Today I witnessed God’s kingdom in a welcome Spring rain.  I felt it in the sunbeams that followed, heard it in the timeless songs of birds, experienced it in a warm embrace and conversation with a dear friend, saw it in the smile of a stranger and in a little girl skipping happily across her yard.  Out of God’s good pleasure, God gives me the kingdom each day if I will but look for and receive it.  And when I am striving after the kingdom, anxiety tends to fade away.

 

Lord Jesus, thank you for counting us among your little flock. In your good pleasure, show us all how to strive after your kingdom, that it may come, on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

This devotional 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/.

Do Not Fear

(Our Theme for June)

Galatians 5:22“The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

Many people use the refrigerator door for more than keeping cold stuff in. They put messages there. And lists. And reminders. And pictures! And, sometimes, inspirational words.

On our refrigerator door there are pictures of our grandkids. And a small cross. For a few years now we have had a list. Not a grocery or to-do list, but a list of words. These words—there are 30 of them—came from a sermon given by our pastor at the time. She told us of research that revealed that some words are slowly disappearing from usage. They have been in decline for the past 50 years. All of these words had been common in the first half of the 20th Century and well into the second half, but they are now in significant decline in regular conversations and discourse. They all, these 30 words, are virtues or values. Here are some of them: patience, kindness, sincerity, generosity, humility, faith, love, perseverance, courtesy, modesty, gratitude.

The concern, of course, is not primarily with the lessening of the use of the words themselves, but with the corresponding lessening of the presence of the virtues. The less we champion these qualities the less they are part of the world we live in.

Did you notice that this list corresponds closely with the list Paul gives us in Galatians of the qualities of one who has God’s Spirit within him or her. We who belong to Jesus Christ are to demonstrate these virtues, making our lives and our world better. Let’s reclaim these words by living them. And in the process, make our society a kinder, gentler place.

Dear God, Post on the door of our hearts your to-do list for us. Amen.

This devotional was written and read 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/.

Do Not Fear

(Our Theme for June)

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. (Matthew 28:5)

You walk up and find an angel.  The angel says, “do not be afraid.” Would you be afraid? 

We have all experienced fear. The increased heart rate. The desire to fight or to flee. When something unexpected happens, there is a moment when we react to the unknown. In that moment, the best and the worst things happen. There is only a moment. A moment that is often so quick we don’t think. We react.

How long does it take us to not be afraid? How long does it take us to see the risen Jesus? How long? 

How long does it take me to trust? How long does it take me to react in love and not fear? How long? On my best day, I see the risen Jesus in the people I interact with. On my worst day I don’t look. I am blind.

As the women turn away to leave the empty tomb, they see Jesus and worship at his feet. I wonder what I would have done if I had been at the open tomb. Would I have run in fear? Would I have listened? I have no idea. I will never know. But, in the moments of my life when I am faced with the unexpected, my faith is that Jesus will be with me, and I will not be blind. My hope is that I will react in love and not fear. My prayer is that I will listen and understand because then the unknown becomes the understood. And isn’t that what we all want to be? Understood?

Today and every day I pray for understanding. Pray with me that we may stay. Stay to see. Stay to listen. I pray that we stay calm, stay and listen, stay and help. Turn and worship at the feet of the risen Christ and do not be afraid.

Peace be with you, and Christ be with you and all of those you encounter today.

This devotional was written by Jill Pope 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/.

Do Not Fear

(Our Theme for June)

 

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.  Matthew 6:34, NIV

 

I tend to worry a lot.  I tend to worry about things that haven’t even happened.  I worry about how I am going to play in my next baseball game, for example, or about what people will think of me, even people I haven’t met yet! 

 

We don’t need to worry about that stuff, because tomorrow is not promised.  All we can count on is today. That makes me think of another verse, Galatians 6:9:  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Basically, this means that we have to be patient and not worry about what is happening in the future. Instead, we must rely on God, and keep doing the right thing in the present.  If the thing we want doesn’t happen, it’s either not the right thing or not the right time.  The Lord will create a path for each of us, and sometimes failing is part of the plan that will make you who you are supposed to be. 

 

Sometimes things don’t work out the way you wanted them to.  When that happens, it’s hard to understand, and easy to worry.  Two years ago, I didn’t make my middle school baseball team, and then I got cut from the team I was on.   Even though that was really hard at the time, now I can look back and see how it helped me become the player I am today—a better player.  It taught me to keep working and not give up.  It taught me to have faith in God, who helped me through. 

 

And faith is better than worry any day. 

 

Prayer:

Dear Lord, please help me to not worry about tomorrow, and instead live in the present, and trust in You.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

 

This devotional was written and read by Ryan 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/.

Do Not Fear

(Our Theme for June)

Proverbs 9:10 (NIV)The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

This season of our podcasts has examined some of the verses that tell us to “Fear not.” We are not to fear others who oppose us. We are not to fear dangerous situations. We are not to fear the future. We are to put our trust in God.

And so we should. But these passages of scripture do not mean that we should put aside the emotion of fear completely. A positive side of fear is that it makes us pay attention and to focus on what is in front of us and important to us.

That is what the writer of Proverbs is getting at in this verse.

In some translations of this passage, we see the word “fear” substituted with words like “respect” or “reverence.” These are legitimate meanings, but for me they fall short of the depths that the word “fear.” The power and might of God are awesome things to behold. They should engender in us some level of fear.

We should not stop with just fear. That fear should lead us somewhere. It should lead us to an understanding of the Almighty. It is, in the words of the proverbist, “the beginning of wisdom.” While I will never in this life understand the enormity of God’s love, power and grace, I want to come as close to that understanding as possible.

The fear of the Lord is where I must begin that journey.

Our Father, my prayer each day is to increase my understanding of the depths of your love and grace, Amen.

This devotion 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/.

Do Not Fear

Our Theme for June

Thank you for joining us for today's Grace for All podcast. On Saturdays, we pause for a few moments to look back on our week and to review the scriptures that we have used in our podcast. We encourage you, after listening to this episode, to go back and listen to the episodes you missed, or to review the ones that were particularly meaningful for you.

We trust that the thoughts that we have shared with you this week have provided a full portion of the joy, peace, and love of Jesus Christ. Now, let's hear this week's scriptures.

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/.

Do Not Fear

Our Theme for June

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.  1 John 4:18

 

This Grace for All podcast gets its name from a famous quote by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism in his sermon entitled, Free Grace.  In that sermon, Wesley proclaims, “The grace of God, whence cometh our salvation, is free in all and free for all.” 

 

Grace—God’s favor, freely given in and for all of God’s creation—lies at the heart of John Wesley’s (and therefore Methodism’s) understanding of the very nature of God. Because of his belief that all is grace, Wesley also believed that Christian perfection was possible for believers in this lifetime.  Wesley believed this because he always saw God as the primary actor in relation to God’s creation.  You and I can seek God through prayer, study, and Christian action, but we are not truly transformed by these things.  These actions simply create more opportunity for us to experience God’s grace.  And it is God’s grace alone—unmerited favor freely given by God as a gift to us—that transforms.  For Wesley, to believe that humans could not be made perfect in this lifetime would be to deny the transformative power of God’s grace. 

 

The writer of 1 John is also pointing out the transformative power of God’s grace in this passage, when he writes that perfect love casts out all fear, and conversely that continuing to fear is the evidence that we have not been perfected in love.  I am paraphrasing here, but Wesley said it this way—if love reigns in our hearts, we can no longer be slaves to fear.  

 

Now I don’t think this means that God wants us to feel guilt or shame when we are afraid, thinking that fear represents some deficit of faith or love on our part.  That would suggest that the answer to fear is to try harder, to love God more.  That’s backwards.  Instead, I think it means that the answer to fear is to allow God to love us more, to receive more of God’s love, to ask for more of God’s grace, to accept the love of God not because we have earned it, but because God has given it.  When we let go of the selfish things we hold on to, especially our stubborn self-reliance, and make more and more space for the love of God to enter into our hearts and souls and minds, there is no room for fear. 

 

Would you join me in prayer? 

God of love, come into my heart and fill it.  When I am tempted to rely on myself and to lean on my own understanding, help me let go, and instead receive your perfect love which casts out all fear.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

 

Today’s devotional 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/.

Do Not Fear

Our Theme for June

Isaiah 44:2 - This is what the Lord says— he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.

As a professional church musician, it’s no secret that I often hear God’s voice the loudest through music. Several weeks ago, I was working on an anthem with the Chancel Choir entitled “Do Not Be Afraid.” The structure of this piece is one in which a common refrain keeps returning between verses of alternate text and musical material. The text of that common refrain is “Do not be afraid, do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name; you are mine, you are mine.”

The first time I did this piece here at 1st Church a couple of years ago, I had the Youth Choir and the Chancel Choir combine to sing it. This was an incredibly moving experience! But with extra elements, there are extra distractions, and it isn’t always possible for me to be completely present in the moment, as I am trying to make sure so many things are happening. When I returned to this piece with just the Chancel Choir a few weeks ago, though, I was able to allow it to envelop me to a greater degree, and I was able to contemplate it more deeply.

Repeating a section of music can be done for many reasons. It can be that, whatever happens between the repeated sections alters how we hear that repeated section. It could be that hearing the repeated section again simply reminds us of the earlier part of the music. In this case, though, largely because of the text, I couldn’t help but think of it in the context of hearing something until it sinks in.

“Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name; you are mine. You are mine.” 

I’m sure many of us have been there at some point, with our parents or our partners or our coworkers or whomever else, when we just don’t fully hear something the first…or second…time. We need to have them say it again or again and again and again before it really becomes something we understand. Well, I know that I’ve been there, and in this moment, I was there once more. But this time, I was hearing God say to me: 

“Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name; you are mine. You are mine.” 

How could we be afraid? God has called us by name. God has redeemed us. God has claimed us. The God who created galaxies formed us in the womb. The God who was with Moses and Elijah and Jesus is with us, too. What could we possibly have to fear?

“Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name; you are mine. You are mine.” 

Let us pray.

God, we thank you for your presence throughout our lives. We are grateful that, when we don’t hear you the first time, you keep reminding us who we are and whose we are. Help us to be people who do not fear, secure in the knowledge that you are with us. We pray this in the name of Christ Jesus, 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/.

Do Not Fear

Our Theme for June

"Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” (Matthew 14:22-27)

 

I am reminded of a story I once heard about a young girl who was awakened in the middle of the night by a thunderstorm. She ran into her parents room and jumped into the bed between them. Her mother asked her, "what's the matter, honey?" The girl immediately answered, "the storm, mommy, the storm!" Her mother replied "It's ok, honey, you know that God will protect us." The girl, sheepishly answered, "I know, mommy, and I believe it, but right now I need God with skin on."

 

God with skin on. I understand that. I think God does too.

God created people to live in communion with other people. He demonstrated that by making himself, through His son Jesus, to be Emmanuel  - God with us - and if I may say so - God with skin on.

 

Jesus lived on this earth with us. He healed us. He taught us. He loved us. And he died for us.

 

When He left this world Jesus promised us that His spirit would come, and that if that spirit lives in us then He would always be with us. He said that the Spirit would teach us and give us the capability and the motivation to be His representatives on Earth.

 

If you read further in today's scripture, you will see that Peter walked on the water to meet Jesus, but he faltered. Jesus, Emmanuel, God With Skin On reached out and saved him. Later, filled with God's spirit, Peter went on to be the hands and feet of Jesus for all the world.

 

That same spirit lives in you and me. We have the privilege and blessing to be God With Skin On to those people we meet who are need to know and experience the hope of the good news of Jesus Christ. May we all do so.

 

Father, thank you for living in us through your spirit. May we always be receptive to that spirit, and may we never tire of being your representative for those you put in our lives. 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/.