Daily Devotions and Podcasts

SCRIPTURE Romans 16:17-20 from The Message One final word of counsel, friends. Keep a sharp eye out for those who take bits and pieces of the teaching that you learned and then use them to make trouble. Give these people a wide berth. They have no intention of living for our Master Christ. They’re only in this for what they can get out of it, and aren’t above using pious sweet talk to dupe unsuspecting innocents. And so while there has never been any question about your honesty in these matters—I couldn’t be more proud of you!—I want you also to be smart, making sure every “good” thing is the real thing. Don’t be gullible in regard to smooth-talking evil. Stay alert like this, and before you know it the God of peace will come down on Satan with both feet, stomping him into the dirt. Enjoy the best of Jesus!  WORDS OF HOPE These words from Paul to the Romans, likely written around 57 A.D., feel like they were written for us today. Particularly as the political season is ramping up, we are being bombarded with statistics, stories, and promises, many of which are deceitful…and many of which are not. As with most things in life, it is up to us to study and be true to what fills our heart and mind and to what our faith teaches us, when we make decisions, decisions of any kind. We don’t want to fall victim to “smooth-talking evil.” The biggest warning in Paul’s message is, “Keep a sharp eye out for those who take bits and pieces of the teaching that you learned and then use them to make trouble.” There are those who will quote bits and pieces of Scripture, usually taken out of context, as if the Bible is a buffet line from which we can pick and choose to consume only what we like whether it tells a well-balanced story or not. Those who do this hope that they can lure us in with a few familiar words but hoping we aren’t listening carefully enough to realize that they are actually working for the good of themselves and not for the God of All. There is no question that words are powerful. We do need to listen carefully; but Jesus tells us that we also need to keep our eyes open and watch what is going on around us. In Matthew 7:15-21, Jesus says, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” The short summary of both the words of Jesus and those of Paul to the Romans…actions speak louder than words. For us that means listen carefully, but watch more closely those around us. The right choices, the right path are there in front of us, but often it is the narrow one, the dimly lit one, the most challenging one. If, however, we choose this one, in the end we will “enjoy the best of Jesus.” PRAYER Dear God, open my ears and my eyes to what is true, and right, and good in your sight. Sharpen my senses such that, with your help, I can discern the true path to You. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Kris Baker Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

SCRIPTURE Psalm 130:5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in God’s word I put my hope. WORDS OF HOPE That Which Remains (A Poem for the International Day of Peace) I’ve been so focused on the future these days. Because we’ve been leaving the old ones behind. And everyone it seems has buried the same loved one– When children weren’t going hungry because Parents could send their kids to school and know That they’d have two meals waiting for them. And when summer was something everyone looked Forward too; when the sun didn’t smite the land or our cheeks. When did the dollar become so important That we’d become savage just to attain it? And when did we decide to just sit back and watch As evil men fought for dominancy over the planet Leaving us to pick up the pieces and bury our countrymen? But I had to wake up This morning And see a beautiful sunrise, The promise of a new flock of baby birds Testing their wings for the first time. Now, they’ll have to discover how to find food. And they know nothing of the world that was before them. There’s something in that, I think– In the beauty and innocence of not knowing. How is it that the birds still know how to Live… Is it because the young are unspoiled by past and future, When today is entirely new and different, Unbeholden to loss when they’re just finding? Shall we, too, become young again If only to find Today… PRAYER Gentle Spirit, May we never forget or take for granted, Holding sacred this most precious life that allows us to live out your love each day. Living not merely for our bread, but the holy Bread of Christ–in water and Spirit and never… To thirst again. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Jonathon McClellan Order of St. Francis and St. Clare