What Did You Do to Deserve This? Nothing!

Midweek Meditation                 Deuteronomy 7:6,    Ephesians 2:6-10

Someone gives you a gift. Do you say, “I don’t deserve this, why would you choose me?” or “How much do I owe you for this gift?” Hopefully not. Hopefully your response is a simple, sincere “Thank you.”

Deuteronomy 7:6 –…The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession.

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.

You have been given the most extraordinary gift - chosen by God and given His grace, the gift of salvation. You may wonder why…what did you do that was so extraordinary He chose you to be His treasured child? Did your hard work and kind acts earn you enough “points” to receive His grace? Absolutely not! There is nothing you can do to make God choose you and you can’t buy or earn His grace. Grace is a truly free gift.

It’s often hard for us to believe that God would handpick us for such gifts, but He did. Take time to think about that truth – though you did nothing to deserve it, God chose you and gifted you with His grace. Take that in deeply, believe it, own it…then respond to the Sovereign One with gratitude, praise, and joy!

Becki Bork

Exalted Overall

Read 1 Chronicles 29:10-13

In this passage David is praising and blessing God. We have the privilege of doing the same. The realization of who God is and what He has done for us should send us into unending praise and adoration!

All of creation is God’s! He is ruler over all! His power and majesty is unequaled!

There’s a beautiful hymn that says it well:

O God beyond all praising, we worship You today and sing the love amazing that songs cannot repay; for we can only wonder at every gift You send, at blessings without number and mercies without end: we lift our hearts before You and wait upon Your Word, we honor and adore You, our Great and Mighty Lord.

Then hear, O gracious Savior, accept the love we bring, that we who know Your favor may serve You as our King; and whether our tomorrows be filled with good or ill, we’ll triumph through our sorrows and rise to bless You still: to marvel at Your beauty and glory in Your ways, and make a joyful duty our sacrifice of praise.

May we live our lives as the hymn says – praising, blessing, exalting the One worthy of our praise!

QUESTIONS:

1. What does it look like to praise and exalt God in all circumstances? How does praising God grow and deepen your faith?

2. In what ways might you incorporate praising God into your everyday life? Song? Prayer? Sharing with others about who He is?

PRAYER:

O God beyond all praising…our thanks and praise for who You are and all You have done for us. You are worthy of our praise!

Becki Bork

Zechariah's Prayer

Luke 1:5-18

For years Zechariah and Elizabeth had prayed for a child, longing to be parents, but their prayer seemed unanswered. They were “righteous in the sight of God.” They were “good people,” but still Elizabeth was unable to conceive. By this time, any hope of being parents had vanished, as “they were both very old.”

But our God is a God of surprises, of the unexpected. He hears our prayers—no matter how big or small, simple or complex, straightforward or seemingly challenging—each and every prayer. He answers all of them.

God knew the longing of Zechariah's and Elizabeth’s hearts. He knew how much they wanted a child. When they least expected it, an angel appeared. Gabriel told Zechariah news that he never expected to hear: “Your wife Elizabeth will bear a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.”

My guess? Zechariah and Elizabeth never completely gave up; they continued to pray. And in God’s perfect timing, He answered their prayer. And He will answer yours as well.

QUESTIONS:

1. Have you ever prayed for something and it seemed as though God didn’t even hear you? How did you feel? How did you respond?

2. What are you praying for these days? Are you willing to trust God to answer in His perfect timing, In His perfect way?

PRAYER:

God of hope, in this season of wonder and awe, continue to surprise us with Your answers to our prayers, in ways only You could.

Becki Bork

The resurrection exalted Jesus

21 ApriL                          

Read Philippians 2:6-11 and reflect on the passage.

Six short verses move us through quite a story: humble service to gruesome death to magnificent beauty, worship, and praise.

Scene 1: Jesus, the Son of God, comes to earth, becoming fully human, puts aside any right to His glory and power, takes on “the very nature of a servant…” So He lives on earth as a human, like us with earthly limitations—though without sin—and He didn’t do it for himself or with an attitude of seeking glory. He did it to serve others.

Scene 2: “He humbled himself and became obedient to death…” He was willing to die a horrible, excruciating, humiliating death—not for Himself, but to serve others—to serve you and me, to rescue us from our sins, and to give us eternal life.

Scene 3: Then came the resurrection and the most glorious part of the picture! “God exalted Him to the highest place, and gave Him the name that is above every name…” Lord of all, Messiah, Redeemer, Emmanuel! Imagine that day when every knee, not just some, but every knee is bowed, and every tongue is confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord! What a glorious day that will be!

Questions

1. How’s your attitude? Are you willing to set aside your pride, selfishness, etc., and humbly serve those around you and to live as He lived?

2. The day is coming when we will be called to bow at the knee and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Are you ready?

Prayer

Lord, Your love sent Your Son to die for our sins. May we serve others as He served, boldly confessing Him Lord of all. Amen.


—Becki Bork

God is near us

 December 22

Scripture Reading

Read Deuteronomy 4:5-8 and reflect on the passage.

Where are you, God? Have you ever felt as though He wasn’t there? I think most everyone, at one time or another, has felt as though God wasn’t particularly near. Each of us seems to experience that season in life when we’re walking with the Lord, but for a variety of reasons, just can’t seem to hear from Him or sense His presence. We talk to Him, pray, sing, even try to quiet ourselves and simply listen—not an easy thing, especially for extroverts! But nothing. And we wonder where He is.

One Sunday morning, we sang the following words and I was reminded of where He is:

“As I rise…go before, lift me up; As I wake…look upon, be my sight; As I wait…satisfy and sustain; As I hear…lead me on, be my guide; As I go, hand of God…by my side; As I rest, breath of God…bring me peace; Above and below me, before and behind me, in every eye that sees me Christ be all around me.”

That’s where He is: always near us—even when we aren’t able to feel or hear Him; all around us—nearer than we can imagine.

Questions

1.      Have you experienced a time when God felt far away? If so, how did you respond? How did you draw closer to Him?

2.      Have you had an experience when you could feel God’s presence closely and powerfully? What was that like for you and those around you?

  

Prayer

Lord, as we wait and watch for God with us, let our prayer be Christ be all around us, trusting in Your nearness always. Amen.

—Becki Bork

The Lord is our Shepherd

12 December 

Scripture Reading

Read Psalm 23 and reflect on the passage.

The words of Psalm 23—words so well-known, memorized by many—paint a beautiful picture for us. A picture of the shepherd—the one who guards and protects the sheep and knows them by name; a picture of the comfort extended to us; a picture of the One who will always be with us.

The sheep are dependent upon the shepherd for everything—provision, protection, and guidance. They are helpless without the shepherd. 

In the New Testament, Jesus is called the good shepherd, so when we say “The Lord is my shepherd” we are also saying that we are His sheep. And we need nothing else because the Good Shepherd provides for our every need—comforting in times of need, gently turning us when we go astray, guiding us through the valley of the shadow of death. The Good Shepherd knows His sheep by name, He cares for them, comforts them, leads them to places of rest and peace.

The Shepherd never leaves or abandons His sheep, but rather promises that goodness and mercy will follow us…and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever! What a picture and a promise!

Questions

1.      What comes to mind as you think of the Shepherd leading you to green pastures? Quiet waters? Restoring your soul?

2.      How has the Shepherd provided for and comforted you as you faced times of fear, discouragement, or “the valley of the shadow of death?”

  

Prayer

Good Shepherd, I pray to walk in peace and joy knowing that You, my Shepherd, are there to protect, provide for, and guide me. Amen.

—Becki Bork