Lord's Day Devotion - All Things (Romans 8:28 ESV)

 Can loosing your eyesight be good?  It's actually creates a lot of panicky emotions.  It turns your world insideout and upsidedown and ya gotta learn a new way of operating life.  'A new norm,' they call it.

How about loosing your life for other people's benefit?  Is that good?

I leave the question hanging.

And then we arrive at the verse ...

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28 ESV).

This is a verse that guts us, even as believers in Jesus Christ.  What possible good could come from loosing ones eyesight, or a house or a myriad of other things!

About losing ones life ... how about that?

Well, I'll tell you that Jesus Christ lost His life for mankind in order to rescue them from the consequences of sin.  Losing eyesight and more are consequences of sin, in general.  When Adam and Eve sinned, it brought upon all creation, the deterioration and devastation of every part of creation.

Of course, we have our own sin we choose to commit, so can't blame Adam and Eve entirely.  But God's rescue plan was inititated by Him and He gave the ultimate "all things."  His one and only Son lost His life to save us from our sin consequences.

This was according to God's purpose and plan.  In the plans of our lives, salvation is the ultimate good.

How we navigate life with the loss of our body's functions is tough.  I mean, really tough.  It's a huge struggle.

But in the struggles, we can find good.  We can find God's grace and loving care as we put our trust in Him.  The song, "Leaning on Jesus" comes to mind.

"All of these things" is not what we want or ask for.  However, as we submit to our heavenly Father, we learn they can and do work together for our good.

As we ponder on this information, which may seem callous and heartless to some, know that the level to which we trust the Lord through it all, is the level equal to the good and best purpose for our lives that can be revealed in and through us.

This is what happened when Jesus lost His life for us.  We rejoice in our salvation and that He's alive for our good.

This Lord's Day, let's remember this aspect of His death and resurrection.

Praise Him as you reach for, and partake of, the broken bread and drink of the cup of wine in remembrance of Him and all He has done for us, for you.  We can do this often until He comes.

                                                   ~  ERC  October 2026  ~

Based on Romans 8:28 ESV.

Sing, Leaning On the Everlasting Arms, along with Reawaken.

A Silent Message (Philippians 2:2, 3, 5 and 1 Corinthians 13 ESV)

 

Can they hear it?  Does the church communinty you rub shoulders with make joyful noise creating the loudest message through, ironically, a silent message?

A silent message sent out to observers who witness like-mindedness among the members, could be a loud, observed message.  A message that silently says...

"These people are of one mind!  They are of the same mind, they are in one accord, of the same love for Christ and each other." 

And they continue to witness this testimony.  

Would that these expressions of humility germinate, sprout, and the seedlings grow to maturity making a cohesive company of believers all "shouting" their same purpose and goal-likemindedness. "Shouting" so silently loudly, that many folks are led to focus on Christ.

May many come to Him through this loud yet silent message.  May it joyfully ring throughout your community and beyond.

Bye for now ...

                                                ~  ERC September 2026  ~

Based on Philippians 2:2, 3, and 5 and 1 Corinthians 13 ESV.

Sing, What An Awesome God, along with Phil Wickham.

More Abiding Needed

 All the way from Jesse, King David's father, to King David himself, then wading through all the manifold generations of descendants, to Joseph, Jesus' "supposed father," are 28 generations of geneology.  Then came Jesus.

The prophet Isaiah spoke of "the Branch" that would grow up and out of

 "the stump of Jesse" (see Isaiah 11:1 ESV). 

This was prophecy.

And then Jesus did come ...

"Immanuel - God with us" (Matthew 1:23 ESV).

He infers this prophecy to Himself, with a bit of a twist but the essence of truth and the promise are still there.  He told His disciples,

"I am the vine; you are the branches ... apart from Me you can do nothing"              (John 15:5 ESV).

God's faithfulness in keeping His promise down through so many generations shows we can believe Him and trust Him for all else.  Therefore, we do not need to forsake Him.  We need to keep abiding in Him and His love for us.  

Abide in His love (see John 15:7-9 ESV).

Hang on tight to Jesus.

Bye for now ...

                                            ~  ERC  September 2026  ~

Based on Isaiah 11:1-9, Matthew 1 and John 15:5-9 ESV.

Sing, Abide With Me, along with Audrey Assad.

More Love Needed

 More love is always needed, especially God's kind of unconditional love.  The kind of love-in-action described in 1 Corinthians 13, what it does and doesn't do, takes an ever-increasing level of humility to put into action, and then sustain long-term.

"Love never ends" (vs 8 ESV).

Love and charity offered and implemented like a steady, ever-flowing stream is needed.  With our Heavenly Father's sustaining grace and Holy Spirit guidance, our strength is made perfect as we seek our Lord for His help.  When we are weak, we can then remember He is strong (see 2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV).

Let's praise the Lord in one accord, with one mind and heart to love Him and our neighbors, whomever they may be.  Let's practice it.

Bye for now ...

                                            ~  ERC September 2026  ~

Based on 1 Corinthians 12 ESV.

Sing, Here is Love, Vast as the Ocean (Everlasting Praise), along with Robin Mark.

Prayer - More Using of Our Gifts Needed

 "Lord Jesus, thank You for the gifts of grace You have given me and to each of Your individual followers.  Help us to find the opportunities in the church setting, as well as elsewhere, to use them, and in so doing, serve Your people.  May we use these gifts for the good of all who attend gatherings of Your people, so we can all grow in our spiritual lives and relationship with You!  In Your name, Lord Jesus, I ask this.  Amen."

More using of our spiritual gifts as well as other talents and skills are needed.  Let's all use what we've been given, for the glory of God.  It's in Him we trust.

Bye for now ...

                                           ~  ERC  September 2026  ~

Based on 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 ESV.

Sing, Under His Mighty Hand (Humility Before God), along with Prairie Praises.

Praying and Staying (Ephesians 6: especially vs 18 & 23 ESV/KJV)

 Does praying really matter?

You'd think so by the number of times we read about it in the Bible.  Praying means staying.  Staying and abiding in God, under the protective shadow of His wings.

It's like saying, "We need you, Father God!"  It's admitting our limitations.

"Praying always with all prayer ..."  (Ephesians 6:18 KJV).

'Always and all' say something.  It's holding fast to our Heavenly Father, realizing and accepting His care.

It is how we stand firm in our faith.  How we

 "stand against the wiles of the devil" (see Ephesians 6:11 KJV).

It is how we persevere and 

"supplicate for all saints" (vs 18).

There's so much more to be said but the take away from this portion for me is, 

"Praying is staying" 

and this can bring peace, not only for ourselves but to all our brothers and sisters-in-Christ when we regularly engage in talking with the Lord.

May His peace and love surround us, each and every one.  May His grace abound in and through us as we continue to put our faith and trust in God the Father and Jesus Christ, His Son.

He is love and His love is incorruptible.

Let's sincerely stay under His protection as we routinely dialogue with Him.

And for the record, "Yes," I believe praying really matters.

So be it.

                                       ~  ERC  September 2026  ~

Based on Ephesians 6: especially vs 18 & 23 KJV/ESV.

Sing, In His Presence, along with Sandi Patty.

Lord's Day Devotion - First Love (1 John 4:19 ESV)

 "We love [Him] because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19 ESV/KJV).

Our human love stems from God's.  He's The One who started it.

Because of His love, He had His rescue plan.  He sent Jesus, His One and Only Son into this world.  God's love made the way for the atonement and rescue of our human souls.  And ...

 " ... whosoever believes in Him, shall not persih, but have everlasting life"                     (see John 3:16).

This is how we know Christ's love.  He laid down His life for us (see 1 John 3:16).

But how can we know the charateristics of God's love?

And if we want to know the characteristics of God's love that we receive through Jesus, we can read and meditate upon 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.  This is what is often called, 

"God's unconditional love."

As we dwell on this love that rescued us fromthe consequences of our sin:  sickness, death and hell; we can feel the tender-loving care of our heavenly Father.

Jesus certainly ...

 " ... endured all things" for us (see 1 Corinthians 13:7 ESV).  

When we receive the action of His love, then we can love Him back.  Give as we have gotten, back to Him and not to others, for ...

" ... God is love" (1 John 4:8, 16).

This Lord's Day, let's remember God's love that He dared to send His Son to die for us.  Remember that Jesus bought our pardon so that we may be set free.  God's love cost Him everything - costly grace, so we did not and do not have to earn our own salvation.

May all our prayers and praises be to God and Jesus who first loved us.  Take of the broken bread and drink of the cup of wine in remembrance of all He has done for us.

Jesus, we give thanks with a grateful heart.  Thanks so much for loving us first.  We could never have helped ourselves.  We love You back.  In Your name we give You our praise and thanksgiving.  Amen.

                                                      ~  ERC  October 2026  ~

Based on 1 John 4:19 ESV.

Sing, How Deep the Father's Love For us, along with Stuart Townend and The Love of God is Greater Far, along with Reawaken.