“And you will rejoice before the Lord, your God… in the place that the Lord, your God, will choose, so that His Name will be there.” — Deuteronomy 16:11
Participating in a large-scale event can change us in unexpected ways. After talking to more than 1,200 people during multi-day gatherings in the UK and the US, researcher Daniel Yudkin and his colleagues concluded that large festivals can change our moral orientations and even affect our willingness to share our resources with others. According to the study, 63% of attendees had a “transformational” experience at the festival, which also left them feeling more connected to humanity and wanting to show more generosity to friends, family and even complete strangers.
Gathering with other people to worship God, we get not just a social “transformational” experience, like at a secular festival; we unite with the Lord Himself. God’s people undoubtedly felt this unity when they gathered in Jerusalem in ancient times for annual solemn festivals. The Israelites traveled (without modern conveniences) to be present in the temple three times a year “on the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and on the Feast of Weeks, and on the Feast of Tabernacles” (Deut. 16:16). These gatherings were a time of sacred memories, worship and praise “before the Lord” together with the family, servants and guests (v. 11).
So let’s gather together with other people to worship together, helping each other to rejoice in God and rely on His faithfulness.
What was your sense of union with God when you gathered with others to worship together? How did the presence of other people help you?
God, thank you for calling Your people to worship You together.
Author: Kirsten Holmberg
“Here we are as ambassadors instead of Christ… we beg instead of Christ: be reconciled to God!” — 2 Corinthians 5:20
In the age of the Internet, competition has become especially fierce. Companies are constantly developing new ways to attract customers. Take, for example, Subaru cars. The owners of these cars are known to be particularly loyal to this brand; therefore, the company offered “ardent fans” to become “brand ambassadors”.
The company’s website says: “Subaru Ambassadors are an exceptional group of energetic individuals who are ready to talk about these cars and the future of the brand with passion and enthusiasm.” The company wants Subaru cars to become part of people’s identity; she wants it so much that she can’t help but talk about it.
In the 5th chapter of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul describes another “ambassador” program, the purpose of which is to invite others to follow the Lord Jesus. “Fearing the Lord, we convince people” (v. 11). Then Paul adds: “God… put the word of reconciliation in us. Here we are as ambassadors instead of Christ, as if God is pleading through us, pleading instead of Christ: be reconciled to God!” (19-20 centuries).
Many product manufacturers promise the satisfaction of the deepest needs, a sense of happiness, integrity and significance. However, only one message, the message of reconciliation entrusted to believers, is truly good news. And we are privileged to speak this message to a desperate world.
What do you think about the idea of being an ambassador for Jesus? How to fulfill this calling in practice?
Dear Jesus, thank you for inviting me to be Your ambassador.
Author: Adam Holtz
“One must pray always, and not lose heart.” — Luke 18:1
In 1917, the young dressmaker was very happy when she was accepted to one of the prestigious New York fashion schools. However, when Ann Cohn arrived to register, the school principal said she was not welcome here: “Let’s be honest, Miss Cohn, we didn’t know you were black.” Resolutely refusing to turn back, she whispered a prayer: “Please let me stay here.” Seeing Anne’s persistence, the principal eventually allowed her to stay, but separated her from the rest of the white students and left the classroom door open so Anne “could listen” from the hallway.
Prodigiously talented, Anne graduated six months early and attracted high-profile clients, including former US First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy; it was Ann who designed her wedding dress. Anne actually sewed the dress twice, seeking God’s help, after a pipe burst above her atelier that damaged the first dress.
Perseverance makes a big impact, especially in prayer. Jesus told a parable about a widow who pleaded with an unrighteous judge to help her. At first he refused her, but then he decided: “Because this widow is bothering me, I will defend her” (Lk. 18:5).
“And won’t God defend His chosen ones who cry out to Him day and night?” (v. 7). Yes, He will do it (v. 8). So let us pray persistently and never lose heart.
What helps you to persevere in prayer? With what requests do you still turn to God?
Dear Jesus, thank you for answering my persistent prayers.
Author: Patricia Raybon
“He is not ashamed to call them brothers.” — Hebrews 2:11
Bridger Walker was only six years old when a ferocious dog attacked his younger sister. Bridger instinctively jumped in front of his sister, protecting her from the attack of the angry animal. After Bridger received emergency medical care and received ninety stitches in his face, he explained his actions: “If anyone was going to die, I thought it was me.” Fortunately, plastic surgeons were able to restore the boy’s face. At the same time, his strong brotherly love, reflected in recent photos of him hugging his sister, remains unchanged.
Ideally, family members should watch over us and take care of us. True brothers help us when we are in trouble and are there when we are scared or lonely. At the same time, even the best brothers are imperfect; some of them may even offend us. However, we have one brother who is always on our side; it’s jesus In the Epistle to the Hebrews, it is said that Christ, in the manifestation of humble love, joined the human family, becoming a “partaker of flesh and blood” and “in all things like unto brothers” (Heb. 2:14, 17). Jesus is our truest Brother, who gladly calls us His “brothers” (v. 11).
We call Jesus Savior, Friend, and King, and it is true. At the same time, He is also our Brother, Who has felt all human fears and temptations, all despair and sadness. Our Brother is always with us!
What is your experience with your human brothers? Do you consider Jesus your true Brother?
Dear Jesus, I am fascinated by the thought that You are my Brother. Thank you for loving me, teaching me and showing me Your way.
Author: Wynn Collier
“But the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, and forgot about him.” — Genesis 40:23
Listening to the stories of the prisoners, it becomes clear that isolation and loneliness are probably the most difficult for them. According to the study, the majority of prisoners, regardless of their time behind bars, are visited only twice by friends or relatives. For them, loneliness is a constant reality.
One can only imagine the pain Joseph must have felt sitting in prison because of an unjust accusation of a crime. However, a glimmer of hope appeared for him. God helped Joseph to correctly interpret the dream of the prisoner, who turned out to be Pharaoh’s servant. Joseph said that he would be reinstated and asked that he mention him to Pharaoh so that Joseph could be freed (Genesis 40:14). However, Pharaoh’s servant “did not remember Joseph, and forgot about him” (v. 23). So Joseph had to wait another two years. Yet during the waiting period, with no sign of a change in his circumstances, Joseph was never completely alone because God was with him. Eventually, Pharaoh’s servant remembered his promise, and Joseph was released after correctly interpreting Pharaoh’s dream (Gen. 41:9-14).
Regardless of the circumstances that make us feel forgotten and the sense of loneliness that creeps into our hearts, we can hold on to God’s reassuring promise to His children: “I will not forget you!” (Is. 49:15).
Did you feel the pain of being forgotten? How does being reminded of God’s constant presence bring comfort?
Heavenly Father, help me to turn to You if I feel forgotten and to remember that You are always with me.
Author: Lisa Samra
? 08/13/2023 10:07 AM #broadcast “Daughter of the Oath” has started on the Church of God’s Glory channel | Pastor Oleksandr Koltukov 08/13/2023: https://youtu.be/PMicbf3rHMA
“I was everything to everyone, to save at least some.” — 1 Corinthians 9:22
When Mary Slessor arrived in the African settlement of Calabar in the late 1800s, she was determined to continue the missionary work of the late David Livingstone. Her first assignment was teaching at a local school; at the same time she lived in a missionary community. However, she had a desire to apply a different approach in service. So Mary did something unusual for that region: she settled among the people she served, learned the local language, assimilated their way of life, and ate their food. She even took in dozens of abandoned children. For almost forty years, Mary brought hope and the Gospel to those who needed them.
The Apostle Paul understood how important it is to be truly concerned about the needs of others. In 1 Corinthians 12:4-5, he noted that “there is a difference between the gifts… [however] the Spirit… is the same”; “there is also a difference between services, but the Lord is the same.” So, he served the people in satisfying their needs. For example, “for the weak, as weak, to buy the weak” (1 Cor. 9:22).
One church recently announced the launch of an “all abilities” service, making worship accessible to people with disabilities. This approach reflects Paul’s way of thinking, which conquers hearts and makes possible the flourishing of the Gospel in the community.
So, let’s witness our faith to others with our lives, and may God help us to introduce them to Jesus in a new way.
What unique ministry has God called you to? How will you carry out this ministry?
Dear Heavenly Father, please give me the wisdom to find the right way to help others.
Author: David Brenon
“Because the Lord’s word is sincere, and every act of His is faithful!” — Psalm 32:4
When Xavier was in elementary school, I brought him to school and picked him up after classes. However, one day everything did not go according to plan. I was late. When I got to the school, I ran to his classroom with a desperate prayer in my heart and saw Xavier on the bench next to the teacher. He sat with his knapsack in his arms. “Excuse me, please. Are you all right?” Xavier sighed. “Yes, everything is fine, but I was very angry that you were late.” Can you blame him for anything? I was angry with myself. I loved my son, but I knew that I would disappoint him many more times. I also knew that one day he might feel disillusioned with God. Therefore, she diligently taught him that God never breaks His promises.
Psalm 32 encourages us to joyfully praise God for His faithfulness (vv. 1-3), “for the word of the Lord is sincere, and every act of His is faithful” (v. 4). Speaking about the world created by God, as a visible proof of His power and reliability (vv. 5-7), the psalmist calls “the whole earth” to worship God (v. 8).
When plans fail or people let us down, we tend to become disillusioned with God. However, He is reliable, and we can rely on Him, because His plan “will stand forever” (v. 11). We can praise God even when things go wrong. A loving Creator supports everything and everyone. God is eternally faithful.
Why is it so difficult to glorify God when plans fail and people disappoint? How does God, on the example of the world He created, confirm His unchanging reliability?
Dear God, please remind me of Your faithfulness as I walk forward in faith.
Author: Sosheel Dixon
“God proves His love for us by the fact that Christ died for us while we were still sinners.” — Romans 5:8
Robert Todd Lincoln lived in the shadow of his father, the beloved American president Abraham Lincoln. Many years have passed since Abraham Lincoln’s death, but Robert’s personality is still associated with his father. His close friend Nicholas Murray Butler wrote that Robert often said, “No one wanted to see me as Secretary of War; they wanted to see Abraham Lincoln’s son. No one wanted to see me as the U.S. ambassador to England; they wanted to see Abraham Lincoln’s son. No one wanted to see me as the president of the Pullman Company; they wanted to see Abraham Lincoln’s son.”
This kind of disappointment does not only occur in the children of celebrities. We all know the feeling of not being appreciated for who we are. However, it is in God’s love for us that the depth of our value is revealed.
The Apostle Paul said who we were in our sins, and who we have become in Christ. “Christ, when we were still sick, died for the ungodly” (Rom. 5:6). God loves us just the way we are! “God proves His love for us by the fact that Christ died for us while we were still sinners” (v. 8). The Lord values us so much that He sent His Son to go to the cross in our place.
Who are we? We are God’s beloved children. Can you wish for more?
When have you felt lost in another person’s shadow? How do you feel when you remember that God cares for you?
Heavenly Father, thank you for your forgiveness and for your love, for loving me as I am.
Author: Bill Crowder
“I will be the same until your old age.” — Isaiah 46:4
After the botched operation, the doctor told Joanie that she would have to undergo another operation in five weeks. Time passed, and the excitement only increased. Joana and her husband were already elderly people, and their family lived far away. They had to drive by car to an unfamiliar city and navigate the complex hospital system; besides, a new specialist had to work with them.
Despite the difficult circumstances, God took care of them. During the trip, their navigator broke, but they arrived on time because they still had a paper map. God gave them wisdom. At the hospital, a Christian pastor prayed with them and offered his help. God provided support. And later, Joana received good news: the operation was successful.
Although we do not always experience healing or salvation, God is faithful and always with the vulnerable and disadvantaged, young or infirm. Many centuries earlier, when the Babylonian captivity weakened the Israelites, the prophet Isaiah reminded them that God supported them from birth and will continue to care for them: “I will be the same until your old age, and I will carry you until your gray hair” (Is. 46:4).
God will not leave us, especially when we need Him most. The Lord is concerned about our needs and reminds us that He is with us every moment. He is the God of our life.
How has God strengthened you in times of weakness? How does He want to support others through you?
Dear God, You are trustworthy and good. Help me to rely on You in times of uncertainty.
By Jennifer Benson Schuldt
