Grace for All

LentThis is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. (Hebrews 8:10)

 

How can I trust you? How can you trust me? How can any of us trust God? People often make promises to each other, but even when we hook our pinky fingers together and say “pinky promise,” human beings often break our promises to each other simply because we are human beings.

Yes, humans are fallible, weak, and sometimes mean, and we break our promises. Sometimes, although we have tried our very best to keep a promise, the fact is that we have changed. 

 

In Hebrews 8:10, God states a covenant, or oath-bound promise, with Israel. The Old Testament tells us of several covenants or solemn promises God made with Israel. There were covenants with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David. How was God able to make these promises and keep them? Each of these men was fallible, weak, and some might even say mean at times. And each of them experienced turning points of change in their lives. So, how could God be expected to keep these covenants?

 

The answer is so simple even little children can understand. God, the creator, knows the complete story. There was one more covenant in the New Testament that God would reveal. His own Son would be the “new covenant,” and God would seal it with Jesus’ blood on the cross. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection fulfilled God’s covenants. Human beings may not be able to trust each other all the time, but we can trust God all the time. God never changes. How do we know? Jesus proved that fact on the cross. God keeps His promises.

Let us pray

Faithful God, we thank you for always keeping your promises, even and especially when we do not keep ours.  Please change our hearts, so that we may become trustworthy like you.  Amen.

Today’s devotional was written by Miranda Brakebill 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/.

Lent“Keep on striving to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will seek to enter in and will not be able to.” (Luke 13:24)

 

Years ago I had a summer internship  in Jackson, Wyoming. I loved being outdoors and the opportunities there to explore were endless. One day some co-workers asked if I wanted to climb The Middle Teton. Not having ever hiked above 10,000 feet, I was a little intimidated by the idea of scaling this 12,806 foot peak. Doing so would require a 13-mile roundtrip with about 6,000 feet of elevation gain (the vertical equivalent of going from the beach to Clingman’s Dome). The route included crossing a snowfield (even in July) and would end in a 1,200 foot scramble up a rock face.

“Oh yeah,” my coworker added, “We’ll have to summit by noon, or the risk of getting caught in an afternoon thunderstorm is too great.” It is hard to hide from lightning on the top of an exposed rock at twelve thousand feet. The trip was an excruciatingly hard hike and climb, but the views and the experience were amazing.

 

When I read Jesus’s words about striving to enter the narrow door, I am reminded that seldom do we gain remarkable things without difficulty and sacrifice. Our human nature is to look for the simplest path, but here Jesus implores us to strive for something greater. I am reminded that my walk in faith will require great effort to cross the many valleys and mountains, but experiencing the true Kingdom will be an event that compares with nothing.  

Let us pray

God of all, you hold back nothing for the sake of your children. May we, too, be willing to strive and to sacrifice, holding back nothing in our pursuit of You.  In Christ’s name we pray, amen.

Today’s devotional was written and read by Justin Hall.

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/.

Lent. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! - Romans 5:15

 

Adam

Jesus Christ

Dust and breathe to dust

The Word incarnate eternal

Sin

Grace

Broken

Unbreakable

Selfish sin

Grace-filled sacrifice and forgiveness

Take and take and take

Freely given in boundless measure

 

The gift given through Jesus Christ is so fundamentally different from any sin committed by Adam or any other person that there is no comparison to be made. No strength I have, no love I share, no forgiveness I offer, no sin I commit, no anger I feel compares with God’s act of love, sacrifice, and forgiveness.

 

Nothing I do—absolutely nothing—good or bad will ever be greater than the love and forgiveness shared through the gift of Jesus Christ.

Friend, if you take one thing today, let it be the grace of God. Take it humbly. Take it with thanksgiving. Take it to share with all you encounter today and become one in the body of Christ.

Let us pray:

Merciful God, whose immeasurable grace always exceeds our greatest trespass, may we receive your gift of grace with joy, that it may, indeed, overflow to many. Amen.

Today’s devotional was written by Jill Pope, 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/.

LentThen Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”Jesus answered, “It is written: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:1-4)

I grew up spending a lot of my time in my dad’s grocery store. It was full of candy and all the things that would entice a child. (I still love candy stores to this day!) Oh, how I wanted those pieces of Hershey Kisses, Sugar Babies, and Bit o’ Honey. That was my first remembrance of being tempted by something I was not supposed to have. When I took that piece of candy, without permission, the guilt overwhelmed the pleasure I thought I would have. As I have grown those temptations are still there but show up in more materialistic desires.  Still, they never fill the void that God can.

My prayer to God is to keep me grounded by worshipping him and not worldly things. Can I discern God’s voice from Satan? Do I pause and wait for his answers vs. short-term happiness?  When I do seek God, I not only have less regret but also a full heart that lets me focus on all the gifts I have been given with gratitude and love. Why can I not remember this and why do I fail time after time? Can I give everything to God... living only as he would have me do….avoiding temptation when I have so much?

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father, I pray today that I can be more like Jesus and learn from his examples, seeking Your will over my own. Amen.

Today’s devotional was written by Laura Burchfield 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/.

LentLet the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

This particular verse from the Psalms is often quoted by pastors before beginning their sermon. As a pastor, I used it often, because it was my prayer that what I was saying that day was acceptable to God, for then it would be good news to those gathered to hear it.

Since retirement I have thought about this passage and realized that I should still be praying this verse many times a day. When I am visiting with family and friends, do I pause to ask if my words are acceptable to God? When I am using email or on social media do I pause and ask if my words are acceptable to God?

James 3:5 says "The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.” It is a reminder that our words can get us into trouble and are not always acceptable to God or to others.

I think of the times I had to mend fences with family and friends because of hastily spoken words. How much better it would have been to pause and pray and reflect on the acceptability of these words, If I had done so, many a word would not have been uttered and many a hurt feeling would have been avoided.

During Lent, we are challenged to practice spiritual disciplines to get our hearts and our lives ready to receive the good news of Easter. For me, I am going to pause often and pray this verse.

Let us pray

Loving God, as we journey through Lent, cleanse our thoughts and our words. May we, in all we say, speak only words that are acceptable to you, knowing then that they will also be a blessing to others. AMEN

Today’s devotional was written by Bill Green, and read by John Cherry.

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/.

Lent

Listen to music and Scriptures from this past week of 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/.

Lent Therefore (Jesus) is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. (Hebrews 7:25)

 

Hebrews 7 has always been one of those baffling parts of scriptures that has eluded my understanding. It tells the story of Melchizedek, king of Salem and “priest of God Most High.” Melchizedek is a mysterious character with no family history and with no record after Abraham gave him 10% of all his plunder.  

Who was he? Why did Abraham regard him so highly? Who designated him as priest? What happened to him after this encounter with Abraham? How does he fit in with the whole tapestry of scriptural context?  

Apparently, he is important because the writer of Hebrews dedicates a good bit of space to rehashing his story. In studying  this passage, I am reminded of what my Daddy used to say, “There are a lot of things I don’t understand. But I will.”  

So, I’ll reserve my ponderings on Melchizedek for another day and focus on what I CAN grasp. Jesus is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because HE ALWAYS LIVES to intercede for them. That is my good news this Easter. 

Prayer

Dear God, help me to focus this Lent on the happy news that Jesus will always live to intercede for me. Amen. 

Today’s devotional was written by Charlie Barton, 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/.

LentBut when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:6 NIV)

My college roommate was required to take a speech class as part of her major. I remember the morning of her first speech. She was crying, got sick to her stomach and spent most of her time trying to decide if going to class was worth it. She nearly fainted before heading out the door to face the dreaded task.

For me, class presentations provoked some anxiety, but my nerves would eventually fall in line. I had friends who lived for such attention—a chance to entertain. Any way you slice it, having an audience evokes some kind of behavioral response. Our focus and motivation shift. It’s human nature, really. The knowledge that eyes are watching and ears are listening, pressures us and influences our behavior.

Some seek praise. Some seek shock and awe. Most of us fall somewhere in between—perhaps hoping to say just enough to stay off of others’ radar and avoid unwanted attention. No matter what, our focus is externalized.

 

Perhaps, this is why Jesus tells us to pray in our closets or a private room. Privacy allows our ego to rest. Now internal, our motivation allows us to communicate our vulnerabilities, needs, hopes and concerns freely. In private we are able to share in a very real way.

 

Jesus says this type of prayer will be rewarded. I do not think this means that all our requests are granted. After all, Jesus is not a genie. Rather, the reward is connection, intimacy and guidance from the one who is able to answer when the space is quiet enough for us to hear.

Prayer

As we spend time alone with You during this season of Lent, I ask… Lord, hear our prayers. 

Today’s devotional was written and read by Edha Brown.

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/.

LentAsh WednesdayA new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34)

 

To love others seems so easy. A statement we hang on our walls or draw into notebooks surrounded with red hearts. However, when God calls us to love, he doesn’t always mean easy love. Love that comes natural to others who look, talk, act and love like us. That’s simple love. That’s not commandment love. That’s not love that even needs to be taught.

 

God is constantly reminding us that he loves every single one of us. The one’s of us that don’t look like us. The one’s that don’t worship or rejoice or mourn like us. That don’t read the same books to their children or live in the same type of homes or spend their money like we do. The one’s whose families make up an entire rainbow. This type of love can be hard work! It calls me and you to love everyone we meet like family. Like they are part of ourselves.

 

It calls us to put down my expectations that I am right and recognize that we are called to something larger. 

Prayer

Lord, I pray that all who hear this message will feel pulled to real love–love for a stranger, love for themselves, and love for You. May You teach each of us to love just like You do, without question or hesitation. Amen.

Today’s devotional was written and read by Wendy Wand.

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/.

New Year. New Beginnings.“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

In the faces of the little children and babies that were taken hostage in the Hamas attack on Oct 7th, I saw pure innocence; precious little ones, unblemished by sin, used so spitefully. Their sweet faces came to mind as I tried to imagine God’s pain as He gave Christ over as a hostage to sin, to pay for our sin! 

When I read today’s Scripture, I pictured the baby Jesus, so recently celebrated during Advent, as one of those helpless young hostages ripped from His Father's arms. In that picture, I found more empathy with what God’s pain might have been, as He made that sacrifice of allowing His beloved Son to become sin for us. God freely handed over Jesus, in exchange for us, so that we could become righteousness of God! 

What an unpayable debt! What an unbelievable gift! What a great LOVE God must have for us! We should fall on our knees and beg God to forgive us that we fail to realize the magnitude of our debt, the magnitude of His sacrifice, and His LOVE! 

We can never thank you sufficiently, God, even if we thank you with our every breath! But perhaps that’s the point! The gift is incomprehensible! It is a gift of such magnitude that no human mind can fully understand! And no human can ever really pay it back! But it is just the kind of gift that Pure Love would give! God is LOVE and LOVE knows no bounds! God gives freely of everything He has and only asks that we love Him and our neighbor in return. 

In this new year of 2024, perhaps we could remind ourselves of this great gift more often and take the time to show our gratitude every day, by offering more LOVE to our neighbors, by offering more of ourselves to God’s service, by sharing more generously, giving more freely, and serving more regularly. Perhaps we could even show some love to our enemies! 

The great debt of this gift was marked “paid in full” at the Cross, but I think God might be very happy if we try to show him a bit of what it means to us. Don’t you? 

Join me in this prayer.

Dear God, help me to remember your gift every day and to do my best to share the LOVE you so freely give. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen

This devotion was written and read by Bernice Howard.

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/.