Community Devotions

Getting Organized

Numbers 2:1-2 1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 2 “The Israelites are to camp around the tent of meeting some distance from it, each of them under their standard and holding the banners of their family.”

OBSERVATION

New Hope churches have several ministries that make the worship and services possible – Levites, Kupunas, Men’s ministry, etc..  When we are serving God, we should be organized, according to what God has gifted us with – whether hospitality, teaching, serving, leading among others.  Just as the Israelites were commanded to get organized, we need to get organized for our journey through life.  As inimitable Yogi Berra said, “if you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll end up someplace else.”  We do know where we are going and where our destination is.  For that path, we need to get organized to live an intentional living – daily routines, touching and helping others’ lives, serving others, praying for those who need healing, uplifting and more. 

APPLICATION

Review how I go through daily activities to ask if all of my actions are intentional toward God and reaching His kingdom.

 PRAYER

Father God, thank you for your path to salvation in Jesus.  Enable us to live according to your will today and each day thereafter.  Cleanse my heart, Father God, in order that I can discern your voice and your will in small and big things in life.  Help me to live intentionally with your commands in my heart.  Protect and guide Michael, Joshua and Daniel.  May the Holy Spirit prompt them to consider their own path and gladly choose your path.  Bless Christine today and thank you for her faith.  In Jesus holy name I pray.  Amen.

Old Tents, New Patches

Acts 18:3-4

3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

 OBSERVATION

 It is interesting but culturally, it must have made sense for Paul to be possess tent-making skills.  Tents as the Bedouins used them in the Middle East were made of black coarse goat hair.  It was the primary material used to make tents in which all nomads lived, different from burlap material.  It was also the common practice that no new tents were made routinely but old tents were simply repaired, patched up, sections replaced, especially the top portion which will be used as side panels.

Our life and ministry are intertwined where we should not have a demarcation between work, life and ministry but they should all be part of our whole life.  This is the reason why our lives must be consistent whether at home, at work or at church.  We should be no holier at church than at home or at work.  Our lives are an extension of our parents who raised us and our children should be an extension of who we are.  Just as tents were patched up and handed down through generations, our faith must be resilient so that when our children are ready to take ownership of their faith, it is part of the old tent as well as new patches that they will add to the whole tent.

 APPLICATION

 Be extending at work, consistent at home and diligent at church.  Be joyful with the hand-me-down tent because it is part of my heritage and blessings. 

PRAYER

Father God, thank you for your grace and blessings of skills that we have, to honor your name by employing those skills at home, at work and at church.  Cleanse my heart so that my thoughts and my words are pleasing in Your sight.  Guide and protect Michael, especially in his new position in the unit.  Bless Joshua as he strives to improve his grades and fill Daniel with peace and joy as he spends the day at school.  I love you, Lord Jesus and it’s in your name I pray.  Amen.