Nourish Your Heart

(My grandmother, Anna Daisy Siemens, wrote poetry and prose. This devotion was written and published for Devotions for the Deaf in 1994)

Hebrews 10:14 – For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Translations vary by calling ‘spur’ (NIV) provoke, encourage, arouse, and stir up. All these words suggest that Christians love and do good for others, especially in the church.

A young Israelite girl, captured to be h e his wife’s maid, suggested her master go to Elisha for a cure of his leprosy. (I King 5:2,3 – Solomon sent back this message to Hiram: “You know that because of the wars waged against my father David from all sides, he could not build a temple for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD put his enemies under his feet.) Barnabas, an encourager, led the Jerusalem church to accept Paul as a servant of Christ. (Acts 9:26 – When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.) He knew Paul no longer would persecute the church.

Grace, a provoker in a small group, stirred the church women to sew pajamas for a small orphanage. They made and gave quilts to burned out families and sewed layettes for missions.

We, too, can become provokers for God in our own circles. God bless them.

Prayer: Lord, help me to see and fulfill the needs of others.

(My grandmother, Anna Daisy Siemens, wrote poetry and prose. This devotion was written and published for Devotions for the Deaf in 1994)

John 13:13-15 – You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one anothers feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

Salome asked Jesus to seat her sons, James and John, net to His in his Kingdom. She was ambitious for them. When the other disciples heard about it, they resented it. They began to grumble about the greatest in God’s Kingdom.

Jesus set an example of greatness at the Passover meal for His disciples. He removed his outer garment and stooped to wash the disciples’ dusty feet. His lesson: We became great only in serving others.

Dorcas showed her greatness by doing good and helping the poor. Perhaps it was not always convenient but she served in love until the day she died.

We show our spiritual strength by losing ourselves in service to others. And Paul urges us not to grow weary in doing good to others.

Prayer: God, help me be willing to stoop below what I think is my place and give willing service.

(My grandmother, Anna Daisy Siemens, wrote poetry and prose. This devotion was written and published for Devotions for the Deaf in 1994)

Bible Reading: Acts 2:36-47

Although God revealed to Peter that Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16), he often spoke without thinking. Peter scolded Jesus about any thought of His death. He promised to stand by Him during His trial and crucifixion. But Peter made promises he could not keep in his own strength. Peter denied Jesus three times.

But the Holy Spirit changed his life. This outspoken disciple remained the speaker for the Twelve Apostles, but now he stood in God’s strength, not his own.

The eleven apostles stood beside Peter as he preached his first message about the Good News of a risen Christ. They stood firm, prepared to stand and stay in God’s power as leaders of Christ’s spiritual kingdom on earth. They won their victories in trials and persecutions through the Holy Spirit.

We have that same strength through the power of God’s Holy Spirit in our lives. We stand in His power.

ADS

Acts 2:14 - Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.

Prayer: Dear Father, teach me to stand in your power through any trials that ma come to me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.