The Tree Church Daily

Romans 5:6-11 (ESV)

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Explanation:

What powerful Scripture we are given today. “We were still weak.” We ARE still weak today, but His grace changes everything about our story. He chose just the right time to die for us. In our sin, darkness, and rebellion, Jesus chose to die to give us a chance to live. His amazing love for us set a plan in motion to save us from death and eternal separation from God.

Every day, we make mistakes. We fail to meet a standard worthy of grace and mercy. We are sinners. Day after day, we ask God to forgive us for our failures and shortcomings, and day after day, He extends His mercy with open arms and forgives us. His grace knows no bounds, and because of that, we get to experience life. The blood of Jesus blankets the sins and shortcomings of our humanity, and allows us to be seen as “right” in the eyes of God.

As we reflect on this extravagant grace we’ve been given, did we do anything to earn it? Did we do anything to deserve it? The answer is simple—no. Jesus did it all so we didn’t have to. He gave the ultimate sacrifice so we could experience ultimate grace through Jesus. What extravagant grace He continues to show us day after day.

Application:

1. The Greek word for grace is charis, which means “favor.” One popular commentary defines grace as the “act of endowing unmerited favor.” Think about God giving you unmerited, undeserved favor, and what that means to you today.

2. Our response to God’s grace is to continue the good work He has given to us—to make disciples out of others. As you look at your calendar for the upcoming days, think of opportunities you may have to grant grace to others you will interact with. What might change about your “normal” exchange with them? How can you help them see the impact of God’s grace on your life?

Prayer Starter:

Today in your prayer time, take the following steps to respond to God’s grace in your life:

​​1. Acknowledge that you NEED His grace.

​​2. Accept His grace and allow it to free you from your past sins.

​3. Ask Him how you can share His grace with others you encounter.

Devo Plus:

In the Old Testament, there are many examples of how God used imperfect people to accomplish His purpose. Read the story of Rahab in Joshua 2, to see how God’s grace toward Rahab was used for His good.

Romans 3:23-25 (ESV)

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

Explanation:

God’s gift of grace levels the playing field for all of mankind. We all need His grace because all of us have sinned. And because grace is a gift, there is nothing anyone can do to earn it; we can’t receive it by doing enough good things to tip the scale in our favor. Either we accept it or we do without it. Each of us has equal access to the salvation God offers through Christ Jesus.

By His willingness to die in our place, Christ became a propitiation for our sin, i.e., He satisfied God’s judgment by paying the price for our sin. Grace is the hand of God reaching down to us, offering a gift we don’t deserve—salvation through Jesus for all who believe He died in our place. Once we receive the gift we don’t deserve, we can understand the concept of divine forbearance or mercy…God withholding the judgment we do deserve.

Application:

1. God designed His plan of salvation in such a way that no one can claim they have done enough good works to earn it. Did you ever, or do you now, fall into the trap of thinking God’s love is based on how much you do for Him?

2. Grace and mercy are inseparable attributes that show us the extravagance of God’s love. He can’t offer us a gift we don’t deserve without holding back the justice we do deserve. How does this truth affect your response when someone hurts or offends you?

3. Another word for propitiation is atonement. Jesus Christ—who is God in the flesh—atoned, or paid the penalty for, the sins of everyone who confesses by faith that they believe this to be true.

Prayer Starter:

Give thanks to God today for sending His Son, Jesus, to stand in judgment of our sin. Ask God to help you model grace and mercy so others can experience the love of God in action.

Devo Plus:

Read Ephesians 2:4-10 and reflect on the incredible love God exhibited by sending Jesus Christ to die for our sin.

Matthew 18:21-35 (ESV)

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Explanation:

Peter, a disciple of Jesus, asked Jesus the question, “How many times do I have to forgive someone?” I am certain this is a question all of us have wondered at some point in our lives. And Jesus’s response to this question was most likely not what the disciples were expecting. Jesus replies with a number, 77. No, He was not implying that on the seventy-eighth time, you don’t have to forgive. He was saying we need to continually forgive others.

Jesus then proceeds to tell them a parable. A servant was forgiven debt that he owed to his master. He was released and set free of a very large debt. The servant was shown grace and mercy. Unfortunately, this servant did not show the same grace and mercy to another. He found a fellow servant, and demanded this servant pay what was owed. The servant was not able to pay the debt and was thrown into prison. When the master heard this, he become angry. He called out the servant on his actions and throws him into jail.

As we read this story, what we realize is that because of the sacrifice of Christ, our sins are forgiven over and over. We sin every single day, yet when we ask for forgiveness, He always forgives us. We are called to do the same to others…to forgive just as we have been forgiven. How many times should I forgive others? As many times as they need forgiveness.

Application:

1. Why is it often hard to forgive someone, especially if they repeat the offense multiple times?

2. Why do you think Jesus calls us to continually forgive?

3. How does knowing Jesus continually forgives us change your perspective on forgiving others?

Prayer Starter:

God, if we are honest, it is often hard to forgive others. When others wrong us or hurt us, we often want to hold on to it and make them “pay” for what they have done. But we know this is not healthy and we recognize that forgiveness is always the answer. Will You help us? Will You help us to forgive others? Remind us of the grace, mercy, and forgiveness we have received from You. Help us to forgive others the way we have been forgiven. We know that all of this is only possible with Your help and leading. Soften our hearts, and help us be a people who forgive others and show them the same grace we have received. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Devo Plus:

Is there someone in your life you need to forgive? I encourage you this week to seek God and move toward forgiveness.

Luke 7:36-50 (ESV)

One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Explanation:

Have you ever dived in a pool’s deep end, sure you’d taken in enough air to reach the bottom and make it back to the top? But while the surface is still just out of reach, you realize you were wrong. You start to panic, and just when you think you can’t hold back from sucking in water, you burst through the surface and…breathe. That. That is the best way I can explain what forgiveness is to me. As desperate a need as the air I breathe. A life muddled and rocked, churned and frazzled…and then, just when hope seems too far out of reach…Jesus steps in.

What could this rescue possibly bring out of me except worship? Worship from my deepest parts because there’s nothing else I can give in return for what I’ve been given. I cry because I can’t hold it in. I sing because I have to express what’s in my heart. I choose lifting His name high with my choices and my actions, even above my feelings, because what else can I offer that is worth His undefinable grace? Forgiveness, of all things, should draw out our extravagant worship, not just what we can scrape together. The woman in our passage gave everything: every shred of dignity, the fear of being judged, her livelihood, all poured on Jesus’s feet. She worshiped quite literally with everything she had...and He was worth it.

Application:

1. Read Luke 12:48. “To whom much is given, much will be expected.” Meditate on this verse and ask God to show you areas of your life where you have been given much. Ask Him for help to act on that fact accordingly.

2. Read Romans 12:1. ”Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your reasonable act of worship.” Scripture is clear that in light of who God is and what He offers, our reasonable act of worship is to give our whole lives and being to Him. It’s not saying our complete sacrifice is equal to what He offers us. He’s saying it’s a starting point, our reasonable response to what He’s done for us. Pray and ask God to continue to mold your heart with the truth that your whole life, offered in worship, is what He expects.

Prayer Starter:

Jesus, what could we offer You but our whole hearts and our whole lives? May they be full of worship in every way, as You daily stir our hearts to remember the great and complete forgiveness You offer us. In Your beautiful Name, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Devo Plus:

For a comparable story, read John 12:1-3. Note the similarities and differences.

Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11 (ESV)

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Explanation:

Have we come to worship Him? If so, it involves a commitment to authentic worship, as shown by the wise men in this story. They sought after Christ, traveling many miles over many days to be in His presence and worship Him.

Much prophesy is fulfilled in these verses, and no doubt those who made the journey understood the words of the prophets. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with your whole heart.” Clearly, the wise men experienced the truth of these words. They understood authentic worship is accompanied by opening our treasures and offering Him our best (1 Chronicles 29:14), just as God gave us His best offering—Jesus Christ—so that we may have eternal life through Him.

Have we come to worship Him? Finding Christ is the first step. Humbling ourselves before Him prepares the heart. Offering Him our best defines authentic worship that glorifies God.

Application:

1. Is your worship of God authentic? If so, in what ways do you offer God your best? If not, what changes would you need to make for it to be authentic?

2. The wise men fell down as they worshiped Christ. Bowing down before God is a sign of humility and reverence. Have you ever bowed down before you started praying?

3. God is self-sufficient and doesn’t need the material offerings we give Him. Why, then, is giving such a vital part of worship?

Prayer Starter:

Ask God to show you ways in which your worship is not authentic, and commit to making the changes necessary to honor God with your whole heart.

Read Psalm 47 out loud as you pray, then meditate on the words you just read.

Devo Plus:

Read Matthew 2:1-12, and consider how God honored the wise men’s authentic worship.

Psalm 100 (ESV)

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

Serve the Lord with gladness!Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the Lord, he is God!

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the Lord is good;

his steadfast love endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations.

Explanation:

This is song of thanks to God, the Creator of the earth. We are called to “shout for joy” (Psalm 66:1) in the presence of our God. This psalm calls us to be aware of the greatness of our God, and to sing with joy. The ability to worship God is a privilege, but it should also spark joy in our hearts, because when we engage in worship, we are entering His presence. Take a moment and think about that—our worship and songs of praise are a sweet sound to the ear of our Father (Psalm 19:14).

If you’re holding back from worshiping God in the form of song because you don’t feel like you are “good enough” or “can’t sing,” God wants you to know that you couldn’t be more mistaken. Your praise and worship of Him is considered a sweet sound—so release yourself to sing out loud and engage in the knowledge that you are entering into the presence of the King. The King whose love for you is greater than our minds can fathom.

Application:

1. This week, challenge yourself to sing a song of praise to God, and embrace yourself in the words and the song without restraint. Whether it’s in the car, in the shower, or in the middle of the baseball field, allow God to hear the sweet song of your voice and feel His presence surrounding you!

2. Think about what it means to “enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise.” Does this impact your attitude about worship?

Prayer Starter:

Ask God to help you grow deeper in your relationship with Him through worship. Ask Him to give you the courage to sing boldly to Him and engage His presence.

Devo Plus:

Learn more about worship in 1 Chronicles 16:23-31.

Have you ever been to a live sporting event or attended a concert of a band you love? When the team is getting ready to score, the crowd goes wild. They stand up, cheer, yell, and go crazy. They are so excited. The same goes for a concert. When they play your favorite song, you and everyone else stand up and sing it together.

When is the last time you felt these emotions directed toward God during worship? There is a song by Elevation Worship called “What Would You Do?” The beginning lyrics say: “What would you do If He walked into the room? What would you say If He walked into the room? How would you praise If He walked into the room? How would you shout if He walked into the room?” The “He” they are referring to is Jesus. These lyrics get me every time. What would you do if Jesus was standing in front of you? Walking toward you? How would you change your worship if He was physically beside you? You would worship Him differently; you would be so excited and in awe of Him standing there with you. Here is the coolest thing…God has given us the Holy Spirit to be with us now, so our worship can look the same as Jesus walking through the room. When you think of how much He truly loves you and fights for you, that alone should make you want to worship Him.

Worshiping God can be difficult at times, especially when He hasn’t answered your prayers yet, or hasn’t answered them in the way you wanted. That is when you have to fight against your flesh and worship God, no matter what. Give God the feelings you have toward the situations you are going through. Emotions are real, and God gave them to us to react with. Invite God into the middle of your situations, and have Him help you right where you’re at.

There have been situations in my life when I didn’t feel like worshiping because God had not answered my prayers in my timing. I continued to come to Him and give Him my feelings, but then I also thanked Him for being my Father in heaven and taking care of me. I would continue to do this over and over, giving Him my everything in the middle of those difficult times. God wants to hear from His children, so talk to Him during worship as well.

When is the last time you listened to your favorite worship song, belted it out, and raised your hands to worship Him? God is so worthy of our worship and praise. He created everything around us. Have you ever stopped and looked around you? Take this opportunity right now to seek Him, and you will realize how truly blessed we all are.

Psalm 96:1-9 (ESV)

Oh sing to the Lord a new song;

sing to the Lord, all the earth!

Sing to the Lord, bless his name;

tell of his salvation from day to day.

Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous works among all the peoples!

For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;

he is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,

but the Lord made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty are before him;

strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

bring an offering, and come into his courts!

Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;

tremble before him, all the earth!

Explanation:

Mankind was created to worship God! Every one of us brings glory to God when we recognize His holiness and thank Him for His goodness. We are called to sing of His glory, declare His glory, and assign to Him the glory He is due. Although this psalm points to a future time when all the earth will praise Him, the application for Christ followers today is undeniable—our lives should be a reflection of God’s glory that the unsaved world can see and examine for authenticity. This world is calloused to the gospel message, but hypersensitive to the hypocritical messenger. How will this lost and broken world find salvation in Christ if our behavior does not match the praise from our lips?

It is only through genuine obedience that our songs are pleasing to God and powerful against the pull of our declining culture. The more we obey, the closer we draw to God, and the brighter His glory radiates to the very people we are instructed to reach, i.e., those who need salvation.

Application:

1. What are some things you can praise God for today?

2. Our lost friends and family are watching how we live. Does your behavior tell of His salvation day to day?

3. What are some ways you can radiate God’s glory to strangers you meet?

4. Have you built time into your daily schedule to worship God and sing His praises?

Prayer Starter:

Heavenly Father, I know I fall short of Your glory every day, but I truly want my life to be a witness to Your love and mercy. Help me to sing Your praises even when things are not going the way I had planned, so that Your strength and beauty are evident to everyone around me. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

Devo Plus:

Read the remaining verses in Psalm 96, and consider how God’s inanimate creation can bring Him glory.

2 Samuel 12:13-20 (NLT)

Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

Nathan replied, “Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin. Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the word of the Lord by doing this, your child will die.”

After Nathan returned to his home, the Lord sent a deadly illness to the child of David and Uriah’s wife. David begged God to spare the child. He went without food and lay all night on the bare ground. The elders of his household pleaded with him to get up and eat with them, but he refused.

Then on the seventh day the child died. David’s advisers were afraid to tell him. “He wouldn’t listen to reason while the child was ill,” they said. “What drastic thing will he do when we tell him the child is dead?”

When David saw them whispering, he realized what had happened. “Is the child dead?” he asked.

“Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.”

Then David got up from the ground, washed himself, put on lotions, and changed his clothes. He went to the Tabernacle and worshiped the Lord. After that, he returned to the palace and was served food and ate.

Explanation:

David was in a deep, dark hole. He had lost a child as a result of his sin against God. He was experiencing a hurt that cut deeper than any he’d ever felt before. His actions during this time speak to us still today. Instead of following a pattern of retreat and isolation, David somehow was able to find the strength to get himself together and go to the Lord’s house to worship. In his time of incredible loss and hurt, he turned to God in worship.

My natural instinct when I’m hurting is to retreat and keep to myself. David’s response at first may seem confusing, or even contradictory to human nature. He chose worship as a place to take his circumstances, and allowed God to give them His context. When the dark seems like it’s darker than it’s ever been, we are called to trust Him with our pain.

God wants us to dig deep and focus on Him, instead of our pain. In the worst of circumstances, He extends His grace so much further than our pain could ever reach. He will never give up on you. He is waiting for you to bring your hurt to Him in worship. Allow Him to meet you in your pain, and confirm His presence and Fatherly love and compassion for you in that place.

Application:

1. What’s your natural reaction when you feel pain?

2. When you read this passage, what do you think of David’s reaction to his son’s death?

3. What stands out to you in this scripture?

Prayer:

If you are experiencing pain in your life right now, take a moment and immerse yourself in worship. Remind yourself of how amazing God is, and how many lives He’s transformed by trusting in His goodness to pull us through. Give Him thanks for His goodness, grace, and love for us.

Devo Plus:

Read Job 1, to learn how Job turned to worship in his time of pain and loss.

2 Samuel 6:12-16, 20-22 (ESV)

And it was told King David, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing. And when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn.

As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart.

And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” And David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the Lord—and I will celebrate before the Lord. I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.”

Explanation:

Have you ever been so overjoyed you just couldn’t contain yourself? That is exactly how David was feeling in these verses. The time had finally come for the ark to be brought to Jerusalem to establish a centralized place of worship. The ark represented the immediate presence and glory of God. David wanted to put it back in its rightful place. It wasn’t an easy task, but once it was complete, David was so overjoyed He began to worship God through song and dance. He couldn’t help but celebrate what God had done. David went all in and didn’t hold anything back. And even as others watched him in judgment, he didn’t care, because he was worshipping his God. He knew that worshipping God was of highest importance, and God alone deserved the praise.

I think we can learn a lot from David. So often when we have the opportunity to worship, we can be shy about it or not fully express our worship to God. We might be too concerned about what others are thinking. But when God has done something in our lives, our response should be not only to worship, but to do so with everything we have. Lift your hands, bounce up and down, fall to your knees. You may feel foolish or uncomfortable, but it is so important to lift our hands, to praise and worship God in the physical. God deserves our worship and our praise. The next time you have the opportunity, don’t hold back, but give God everything through the way you worship. It may feel strange at first, but something amazing happens when you take that first step to worship God with all you have.

Application:

1. Why is it important to worship in the physical (with a physical response)?

2. Why are we often more concerned with the opinions of others during worship than simply focusing on God?

3. Why are you scared to lift your hands or be more expressive in the way you worship?

4. What do you need to do today to be more passionate in your worship?

Prayer Starter:

God, we want to be like David. We want to celebrate and worship Who You are. Will you help us? Help us learn to be passionate worshippers. Help us not to be concerned about what others think, but to focus on You. You have done so much for us, and our worship is a way to glorify You. Help us today to take that first step toward physically responding in worship. It is in Your holy Name we pray. Amen.

Devo Plus:

I encourage you to put this into action today. Put on some worship music, and make worship about more than singing. If you have never raised your hands, raise your hands. Allow yourself to respond in the physical. At home, alone, is a great place to begin this process.