iBelin

Yes, He Prayed for Me

// April 16th, 2011 // 2 Comments » // Lent Devotional

John 17:6-19

In previous lessons we learned one of the reasons Jesus’ prayer is The Greatest Prayer ever prayed is because he prayed for the Disciples. However, that Prayer to the Disciples, was in fact, a prayer for you and me. You know the one, “Our Father, who art in Heaven….” Jesus knew He would soon leave the Disciples to be with the Father. Jesus’ prayer to the Father was to keep the Disciples together, to keep them from evil and to keep them sanctified (Free From Sin.) Jesus knew the Father had chosen the Disciples for Him, and He would also set them apart from the world. Because of this, Jesus knew the Disciples would continue his teachings after he left this world. This is our affirmation that we also belong to God. You see, prior to being chosen, the Disciples were not special people, they were just like you and me. They committed sins, just like us. But after being chosen by God to be the Disciples of Jesus, their lives changed. They were given a Charge to continue the teachings of Jesus.

This passage reminds me of the Church. Is that leader the chosen one by God? Are the workers in the church and the parishioners chosen by God? I think the answer is yes, we are all chosen by God. Through Jesus Christ, we received the same promises of protection as the Disciples. But, have we kept the Charge to continue the teachings of Jesus? I believe we have the ability to continue His Teachings and Spread the Good News of His Saving Grace, not only by word but by good deeds as well. Yes, He Prayed for Me.

Atonya Craft

That Thou May Be Glorified

// April 15th, 2011 // No Comments » // Lent Devotional

The Gospel of Saint John Seventeenth Chapter verses one through five
(Latin Vulgate Translation)

There is an old gospel song that I used to hear my grandmother play on the old kitchen radio. It never failed that most Sunday mornings as I would scramble to get dressed, so that I may have more time to indulge in the morning feast, this song would come on. It was called “Lord I have done done what you told me to do.” Although the title was grammatically incorrect, the message of the song out weighed the awkward structure of the title itself. The Spiritualaires wanted to convey a message in the simplest way they knew how, and that was to say: “Lord I’ve done what was asked.” Here in our text, Jesus is saying the same thing however, he is also making a request. Jesus starts this conversation with his father, by informing him that “I have done what you sent me here to, now glorify me so that I may glorify you.” What is the meaning of this glorify talk? The word glory is a verb, which means it possesses action, and it is used in regards to one having done something that is honorable and recognizable. To glorify an individual is to simply put in action the high level of pride, and pleasure one has found in the person. Christ having completed the task set before him seeks the approval of his father, by means of his praise for the work he’s completed. Above all, his main concern is that he seeks the praise of his father for the work that he has completed as well as seeking the approval of his father. Here is our point of departure, in all that we do for God, regardless of the fact that he is the one who is doing the asking; we must still seek his approval. Never allow yourself to become comfortable in your service to God; there should always be a healthy level of humility towards the things of God. Of course Christ finished his task, its Jesus we are talking about, but in reality he is a son, and the son always seeks the approval of the father. Let us continue our Lenten journey by taking in full perspective the actions of Jesus Christ, that regardless of who we are, we are still someone’s child, and every child seeks to be glorified for the work they’ve done, as well as to glorify the one doing the asking.

Opus Dei: “The Work of God”
Brandon A. A. J. Davis

Not Taken Lightly

// April 14th, 2011 // No Comments » // Lent Devotional

John 16:1-33

“In this world, you will have trouble…” (John 16:33). The Lenten season serves as a reminder that following Jesus takes us through Calvary. Though the crosses we bear are not laden with the weight of the world, carrying them the full length of the journey will not be easy. I decided to take up the cross during the awkward years of adolescence. As a young Christian, the cross felt particularly heavy to me at the times when it caused me to be ostracized from my peers. It was the church that helped me bear this burden by embracing me and encouraging me to stay the course. The same church also interpreted for me what it meant to be a Christian. It told me what to believe, and how to apply those beliefs to my daily life. For years, I did my best to meticulously live out these values without considering that there could be any distinction between how the church had taught me to live and how God was calling me to live. Since then, a few Damascus Road encounters have proven that these are not always one in the same.

The longer I live in the world, the more I come to realize that it is a complex reflection of the God who created it. Things are not as simple as they seemed in childhood Sunday School lessons. While embracing the complexities, and trying to take seriously Jesus’ command to love, I can feel the cross becoming heavy again. In my attempts to be faithful, I sometimes find the very church that nurtured me calling my faith into question.

Jesus warned that when we try to live out our faith with integrity, it can cause us even to be “put out of the synagogues” (John 16:2). Being on the outside isn’t any more fun now than it was in high school, but it is a consequence of discipleship. After all, we are following Jesus; the one who chose to do what was needful, rather than what was easy or popular. When the cross becomes heavy,

let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him…so that you may not grow weary or lose heart (Hebrews 12:1-4).

Chalice Overy
North Carolina
www.communityamor.org/about.html

He Went First

// April 13th, 2011 // No Comments » // Lent Devotional

John 15:18-26

Living life for God is not always easy. In fact, there will be times when it is downright uncomfortable. You feel like you do not fit. You feel like you are not liked. It’s not a feeling. The world will hate you. Take hope. They hated Jesus first and they will hate you for the same reason they hated him. We do not belong to them. We are do not belong to the world.

As Believers we have been chosen by God to be a part of Him. He chose us, we did not choose ourselves. T his is an amazing revelation, but it gets better. In all that we go through, we have the comfort in knowing that Jesus went first. They hate you? They hated Jesus first, without reason I might add. They reject you? They rejected Jesus first. Don’t feel like you fit in or that you are understood? Check, all of that happened to Jesus…and some.

If you are going through right, challenged with the uncertainty of life, be encouraged knowing that Jesus went first. Everywhere we will walk, Jesus has walked. So before you allow yourself to become overwhelmed or distressed; and before you decide you have had enough, remember Jesus went first, leading by example showing us how to be who we are regardless of who says what. So go ahead, make ‘em hate cha, Baby… after all they hated Jesus first and we all know who he turned out to be.

Blessings and Love to you!

Tracey Bowen

Friend, Foe or ‘Frienemy’? You Decide

// April 12th, 2011 // No Comments » // Lent Devotional

John 15:1-17

Jesus said that he has called us his friend. We are not just servants who are expected to do as we are told, without knowing or understanding why. As friends, we have a knowledge and understanding of what Jesus and the Father are doing because they have invited us into covenant fellowship with them. We get excited at the thought of being “friends” with Jesus, like he is one of our homeboys from around the way. We often overlook the directive that comes with being a friend of God. To best explain this concept, I would like to propose that we can participate in one of three types of relationship with God: Friend, Foe or “Frienemy.” I will start by describing the most obvious; a foe.

Foes of God refuse to acknowledge that God exists. They will not obey, will not give him credit for His works, and are content to believe that they alone are in control of their life. Their demeanor is in direct opposition of the cause of Christ and therefore they are considered foes of God/Christ.

The second relationship is a friend of God. John 15 says that we know we are friends of God when we obey His commands and when we love. It is just that simple. Nothing we can earn or labor for unless our labor is pure obedience or loving on another. The two relationships, foe and friend, are quite easily understood. It’s the third one that calls for examination. The Frienemy…

A frienemy is one who on outward appearance or by their own confession loves God, yet their behaviors do not line up with their words. They shout on Sunday and cuss you out on Monday. They frequent unseemly places, hoping to go unnoticed. They nurture pet sins, all the while causing confusion with onlookers as they wonder, “Is that what salvation is all about?” Why are they called frienemies? Because on the surface they appear to be friends of God, however if you dig a little, you find that they are actually enemies of God, not earnestly loving or obeying as commanded. Instead they create confusion among the saved and the lost, repelling others, rather than drawing them.

As we reflect John 15 and the importance of being connected to God, let us also soberly contemplate the question: Are we truly friends of God? Or are unknowingly behaving as frienemies of God by not adhering to the directive to love and obey? Thankfully, because of His grace we have time and opportunity reflect and re-direct our efforts. Will you become a true friend of God today? He is waiting!

Minister Tracey Bowen

The Most Beautifullest Thing In This World…I Get In Ya

// April 11th, 2011 // No Comments » // Lent Devotional

John 14: 15-31

I read the text and got to feeling so good on the inside. How wonderful it is know that we are never alone. And the never being alone is not just about God being with us, but being within us. Jesus makes it clear to the disciples that this promised salvation does not end when his time on earth is over. He leaves the gift that keeps on giving. I have to admit I got all excited right in my kitchen and wanted the musical words that explained how the text made me feel. And instantly, Keith Murray’s hip hop chart topper from 1994 came to mind:

“The Most Beautifullest thing in this world, is just like that!!! I get in ya!”

And what made me sing the chorus so repetitiously, was the fact that the most beautiful thing in the world is the love of God. God loves us so much that he puts everything in place to make sure the road to reconciliation with Him has no road blocks, as long as we love God back. Imagine that. I could see all of this about God in the lyrics of a Keith Murray’s song. That’s what happens when God get’s in you. He shows up in all the most unexpected places.

I used to be a “House Head” (Lover of House Music and dancing to House Music). God showed up one night at a club back in the early 90’s, when the Ten City song “Right Back to you came on”. I knew at that moment it was time to return to my life of regular church worship. One time God showed himself strong when I was sitting in a movie theater watching Toy Story 3. When Woody and the other toys realized that Andy had not forgotten about them, I could not help but to think about how comforting it is to know that even when we feel God is not with us, that we are always loved, and never forgotten. God even showed up when I was reading “Breath, Eyes, Memory” by Edwidge Danticat. God used her story to minister to me, as I grieved the death of my mother last year. That’s the beauty of the Holy Spirit dwelling with in us. God is ever present and ever showing Himself strong. What a wonderful thing. The last line in Keith Murray’s song says it best.

“For eternity, through infinity, I internally, get in ya.” If that ain’t good news, then I don’t know what is.

Rev. Stephanie A. Duzant, Associate Minister
St. Matthew’s Community AME Church of Hollis, Queens NY

Stop Depending on Foreign Oil

// April 10th, 2011 // No Comments » // Lent Devotional

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” John 14:1-14 NIV

Dependence on foreign oil is a hot topic right now. The price of oil is expected to continue to increase, which means that everything else will follow suit. The more money it takes for fuel, the more money we will spend on food, travel, clothes, and just about everything else that we buy as consumers. Sure there are a lot of reasons for the increase in the price of oil. It used to be the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We also could blame Osama bin Laden. More recently, we can blame the political turmoil in Egypt and other foreign countries around the world. It is also possible that we have been placing our dependence in the wrong entity all along.

So it is with our belief in God. I recently found myself having to repent to God for allowing myself to place my needs in someone else’s hands besides God. I placed an unrealistic expectation on people to meet needs that God has already promised to provide. It turns out that I had too much doubt and not enough faith. I had assumed control for something that God already had in control.

Doubt is a deadly disease but faith is the healer of any ailment. I continue to learn that it is not about what you can see, but what you believe in your heart. Believing in God brings us to believe in unlimited possibilities because God encompasses everything. Our dependence on foreign oil must end now. If we believe in God, why not believe in the power of God. Ask in the name of Jesus and watch your every need be met.

LaNicia Williams
Seattle, WA
www.laniciawilliams.com

The Real Killers

// April 9th, 2011 // 1 Comment » // Lent Devotional

John 13:18-38

​I caught a recent episode of “The Daily Show” where host Jon Stewart ran a story on Pope Benedict XVI’s new book saying Jews aren’t to blame for Jesus’ death. In a fine moment of irreverent humor, Stewart quipped, “If the Jews didn’t kill Christ, you know what this means. The real killers are still out there.”

​When I finished laughing at Stewart, I had a pretty intense moment of conviction. The real killers, wow! I know, scripture tells us that no man takes Jesus’ life; that He laid it down voluntarily. Yet if you look at the definition of killing as having responsibility in the matter, our sins make each of us a part of that band of “real killers”. The problem is, we’d sooner take a guess at the culpability of others than a close look at the dark places in our own lives.

John 13:18-38 gives us a glimpse of that side of Simon Peter. In a poignant, sacred moment, Jesus reveals that one of his faithful crew is about to turn on him. His revelation sets the room buzzing with speculation. What?? Which one?? The narrative shows Judas being released to do one betrayal, and Peter setting himself up to pull off another. Wonderfully brash & bold, yet terribly inconsistent, Peter tells Jesus: “I will lay down my life for you.” He was so consumed with watching for how others would betray Jesus, he became blind to how easily he could (and eventually would) do the same.

​On this Lenten journey, let’s work less at finding guilt around us, and be diligent about identifying the guilt within us – that “Real Killer”.

Mark David Ribbins
Evening Star Church
Cleveland, Ohio
Twitter: @Jazzpreacher
Email: Jazzpreacher@gmail.com

Disrobe and Start Washing!

// April 8th, 2011 // No Comments » // Lent Devotional

John 13: 1-17

As his last supper was ending Jesus knew that his hour was drawing near. He disrobed of his outer garment and began to teach his disciples humility and how to serve one another through washing their feet. Ignoring none, Jesus also served his betrayer in which he knew.

The disrobing of Jesus and the washed feet of the disciples in this text teaches us that we should also disrobe and should start washing. Yes, disrobe and start washing! We should take off all those layers of robes that we carry around in our hearts and minds that makes us racist, bitter, envious, selfish and act downright evil towards one another a.k.a. bullying. Not stopping with just our robes we should also wash the dirty straps off the sandals that we wear that allow us not to serve. But, to step over and pass by those that need to be clothed, shoed, fed, educated and medicated. And, ignore our elderly, disabled and those who can’t read, as if they weren’t washed by Jesus.

We like Jesus, are here to serve one another. Even those that we know will betray us. Jesus washed us first and by doing this we became a part of him. He set a clear example of serving through humility and how we should serve one another. Our hour to serve is upon us now!

Jesus said, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them”

Want a miracle, a wonder or a change in your life? Disrobe and start washing!

Felecia Teasley
Nashville, TN

Here Lies the Purpose of Lent!

// April 7th, 2011 // 1 Comment » // Lent Devotional

John 12:20-50

The Gospel of Saint John 12 is one that has many themes, almost five throughout its entire chapter. Though we are only concerned with verses 20 through 50, one can not help but notice how the chapter outlines or rather gives the reader a clear depiction of the major events that took place in Jesus’ life, prior to his death. When we take time to reflect upon the works of Christ, it is needful for us to pay close attention to what he actually did. I believe the words of the hymn “How Great thou art” give us a deeper appreciation for what he did as well as provide the listener with a mental picture of his unselfish act of love. In verse three it says: “and when I think that God, his son not sparing, sent him to die, I scarce can take it in that on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, he bled and died to take away my sin!” There on Golgotha’s hill Christ gave the greatest sacrifice one could ever give to humanity. He died so that we might live, and not just live, but to live and tell of his wondrous works on the cross! As we experience the days of this Lenten season, let us understand that it is not about giving up your favorite food item, or activity, but rather it’s a time for reflection and devotion. In all that Christ did prior to his match with death, he prepared his followers for what would come. It is a natural feeling of emotion that the disciples had for Jesus. After all they were his next of kin, but Christ on a daily basis prepared them for his departure. “I did not come to stay, but to do a specific work, after that I must die, and then the resurrection.” As we continue our Christian journey, let the works of Christ resonate deep within our hearts, a most melodious tune as we echo the words of Charles Wesley: “And can it be that I should gain an interest in the savior’s blood? Died he for me, who caused his pain for me, who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be, that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?”

Opus Dei “The work of God”
Brandon A. A. J. Davis