Rev. Luke Powell Daily Devotions

How do we make it through COVID-19? Nobody knows, but one thing we DO know is this: God will be with us. Let us acknowledge Jesus' presence with us today and say "thank God You're here!"

Let's be reminded today that God has a plan, even if we can't see it. While things look bleak from our side,  we can trust that God has something beautiful up his sleeve.

As COVID-19 continues to spread, what can a Christian do? One thing we must NOT do, is panic. Instead, let's turn our eyes upon Jesus.

God is not a cosmic killjoy! But when the lost ones come home, he throws a party. Yes, God wired us to enjoy good things in life. Maybe our worship would be transformed if we came to church on Sunday to celebrate the lost ones being found!

The Father is excessive in his compassion - laying aside even his dignity, to love his children. Jesus, too, laid aside his dignity to die a shameful death for his loved ones. Know today that you are loved this much by the God of the universe.

The Father climbs over mountains to find the lost ones and bring them home. But we can still reject him! As He stands at your door today, what are you going to say to the Prodigal Father? Will you turn him away? Or will you take his hand and head on home?

God our Father is prodigal in his generosity. What pleasures have you enjoyed in your life? Let Kristofferson's humble words be yours today: "Why me Lord? What have I ever done to deserve even one of the pleasures I've known?"

"Prodigal is a good description of the younger son in Luke 15... and also of the Father. Know today that the Father is excessive in His love for you!

Above all the older prodigal seems to have a grace problem - wanting the rebel to get punished instead of mercy. But this is not the way of the Father! Let's come home and ask the Father to change our hearts to be more like His own. And let's not leave it - we don't know if the older prodigal ever repented, but we can make sure we come home as we repent today.

The older prodigal is so jealous of his brother than he misses out on a great celebration - much like I was once at a Casting Crowns concert! Is jealousy clouding your view? Give it up, and come in to the party.

The older prodigal thinks he is better than his younger brother, because he didn't rebel in a far-off land. This superiority complex is common in the church! Are we following Paul's words and considering others better then ourselves? Be humbled today, and come home.

The older prodigal serves without joy, and that doesn't bring glory to the Father or encourage anyone else to come home. Do we need to reconnect with Jesus, who said that when we live with him, NOTHING can take away our joy? Let's come home and recover the joy that only the Father gives.

If we don't run to a far-off land like the younger prodigal, the enemy will probably convince us to stay close to God but far from God in our hearts! The older prodigal has an anger problem. Are we slow to anger like God? Or do we fly off the handle? Come home and give God your anger today.

Have you rejected the Father's love? Squandered His gifts? Tried to earn back His love and found  that you can't? Come home today.

As the prodigal journeys home he is overwhelmed by the love of a compassionate Father. Not one of us is good enough to earn his love, but not one of us is bad enough to be spurned by Him. Instead, when we turn and come home, He runs to meet us!

The prevailing religious belief is that a person has to earn the acceptance of God. But the prodigal finds out the good news of the gospel - that no good deeds can ever make up for the sin in our lives. We simply need to come home to the Father.

Not only does the prodigal reject the Father, but he takes his undeserved gift and wastes it. We all do the same in various ways... It's time to come home.

Why did the prodigal reject the Father? Was he a rebel with a cause or without a cause? Or was he trying to run away from pain?  We're all prodigals in some way, and we reject our loving Father. Perhaps for you it's time to come home.

Rev. Bill Meaker closes our week, teaching us to take our faith seriously! Lent is a time for us to renew our love for God, taking it seriously, and being a follower rather than a fan.

Bill joins us again to remind us that Lent can be a time to spring-clean our souls - through repentance and giving to the poor. Let's go deeper this Lent, turning from our sins and finding people who can do with our help.

Bill Meaker teaches us on this Ash Wednesday, reminding us what fasting is all about - cleansing the body, mind and soul and bringing us closer to God. What are you fasting this Lent?

Peter reminds the early Christians that the way they respond to the tough times they go through will be a witness to their love for Christ.  The same is true for us! If we withstand our trials with hope and joy, people will wonder what is that gives us such strength - and we'll have an opportunity to witness for Jesus.

How can we be witnesses, when we didn't actually see Jesus die and rise from the dead? We can still testify firsthand about what He has done in our lives. This is our witnessing - telling the truth about how He has changed our hearts.

The good news is that when we serve in God's house, we are not treated like servants, but like loved sons and daughters!

The servant's ultimate role is to point people to his Master's greatness. We must be kind to people in every way - including the ultimate kindness of pointing them to the only One who can save them.