Avoiding Painful Consequences, by Dr. Russell Morrow

 

Weekly U.M.C. Devotional

 March 1, 2023

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, Genesis 3:6.

 

There are some sacrifices we don't have to suffer when we resist wisdom that contradicts God's wisdom.

Besides unconditional love, one of the first things I learned as a child from my mother was that there would be consequences for my decisions and behavior. When guilty of disobeying my mother, she would quote from the Bible, saying, "obedience is better than sacrifice." Then she would show me what she meant. As I grew up, I learned to value and appreciate my mother's wisdom and the source of her wisdom, God's word.

Adam and Eve were living in the spectacular realm of the Garden of Eden. God gave them dominion over the land and supplied them with everything they needed. They had only one restriction, "… but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die," and they did.

If we are not mindful, like Adam and Eve, we too can easily allow influences counter to the wisdom of God to fill our days with avoidable suffering and misery.

Dear God, thank you for your provision and free will. Please help me discern and resist those things counter to your wisdom, this and every day of my life. Amen.

Dr. Russell M. Morrow, Sr.

Words from the Heart by Elaine Morrow

 

Weekly U.M.C. Devotional

Weekly Devotion - February 22, 2023

Words from the Heart

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in 
Thy sight, oh Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

I've heard this passage of scripture ever since I was a child growing up in the Baptist church. It was usually said right after the preacher would take his text. Although it's pretty appropriate for this particular moment, this prayer should be prayed not just by a preacher before he delivers the Word to God's people but by every believer every day of our lives.

As we all know, words have power. They can create life or be used for judgment, and once words come out of your mouth, you can't take them back. Matthew 15:18 tells us that what comes out of a person's mouth comes from the heart, which can defile you.

Therefore, whatever you say dictates your character. In other words, People can know the kind of person we are by what we say. This is why we should be like David, a man after God's heart, and ask God to clean our hearts. God is the only one who can give us a clean heart and renew the right spirit. Only God, our Redeemer, can wash us with hyssop and make us whiter than snow so that what we say, think, and feel will be pleasing in His sight.

Heavenly Father, help me to be conscious of the word that proceeds from my mouth and the meditations that linger in my heart so that they will be acceptable in your sight. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen. 

Elaine Morrow

A Spirit of Humility, by Camille Bradley

 

Weekly U.M.C. Devotional

Weekly Devotion - February 16, 2023

A Spirit of Humility

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth”  Matthew 5:5 (NRSV) 

I looked up the definition of meek and found it is similar to the word humble. So, I looked up humble and read: “not thinking of yourself as better than other people; mildness; the gentleness of spirit.” As I reflect on humility as a spiritual virtue, I remember serving guests at Manna House. Most of the guests were struggling with poverty and homelessness. It was an authentic learning experience for me about humility. After ten years, I loved volunteering there and came to know and love many regular guests.  

One day, while handing out socks and hygiene products, Larry (not his real name) approached the
counter, and we greeted each other by name. He was wearing a Snuggly, one of those hooded blankets advertised on TV for wearing on the sofa watching TV. I mentioned that I had always wanted a Snuggly, and Larry pulled the Snuggly right off his back and gave it to me! Larry’s gentle and generous spirit humbled me! Here I was “serving him,” and yet Larry showed me that despite our vast differences, I am not above or better than him! We experience a bit of heaven on earth in that holy moment together. 

Thought for the Day: Do I put myself above others who may be poor, homeless, or different from me? 

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the example of Jesus’ teachings. Give me the desire to be humble in spirit so I may never think of myself as more significant than another or You.   

Amen. 

Camille Bradley