For Such A Time as This June 29, 2020 – Bethany Hoffer

 

To the Good Folk of the Palmyra Church of the Brethren,

Joys and Concerns

If you have a joy or concern you would like us to share and pray about, please call, text or email it to me.  If you would like it included in our Sunday Worship sharing and prayer time, please share it with me that week by Friday morning.

Prayers for:

·  Naomi Jones, on the death of her husband Norman Jones this past Thursday evening.  For those who know the Weaver family, Naomi is a daughter to the late Harold and Grace Weaver, and the sister of the late Glen and Bruce Weaver.  Her surviving siblings are Harold and Dale Weaver and Mary Zellers.  A graveside service, with military honors, officiated by Pastor Cave, is scheduled for 1:00 PM Monday, July 6, 2020 at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville.

Thank You: 

To all who call others to check in on them and share our emails and devotions.

Today’s Devotion:

I am thankful to Bethany Hoffer for providing today’s devotion.  If you have not yet watched or listened to Bethany’s sermon from yesterday, I encourage you to do so.  Today’s devotion is Bethany’s paraphrase of yesterday’s sermon scripture, Romans 12:9-21, which Bethany shared at the end of her sermon.  If you wish to respond to Bethany directly, her email address is bhoffer@palmyracob.org.     

Shalom, Dennis

Scripture:

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. – Romans 12:10

Paraphrase of Romans 12:9-21

Love genuinely, as Jesus loved, as God loves.

Despise what is immoral, sinful, and wicked.

Hate bigotry, racism, and prejudice.

Detest dishonesty, corruption, and collusion.

Abhor violence, aggression, and brutality.

But hold tight to what is wonderful – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Commit to love one another, all of God’s children, no matter their skin color, belief system, or political party. Treat everyone else better than you treat yourself.

Don’t be discouraged or lose your enthusiasm, but cling to your passionate faith, doing everything in the name of Jesus.

Be joyful in hope, patient in your suffering, faithful in prayer.

Do all that you are able to help lift the burden of those who are in need of nourishment, shelter, physical care, rest, compassion, mercy, or just a listening ear. Practice love of stranger.

Bless those who bother you, harass you, discriminate against you.

Bless them.

Do not wish the worst on them or misfortune against them but instead pray that they be protected and know kindness and compassion.

Express joy for those who are celebrating;

lament with those who are grieving.

Live in harmony with one another. Don’t think so highly of yourself. No one person deserves more than another.

Be willing to socialize with people who are different than you – people of different economic classes, different cultures, different political thoughts, different races and ethnicities, and different world views. Don’t be stuck up, arrogant, or self-absorbed.

Do not seek revenge when someone commits a wrong against you.

Do what is honest, right, and honorable.

If it is possible, knowing that you have no control on how others will act but that you do have control over how you will act, live at peace with everyone.

That means don’t intentionally provoke or instigate. Don’t negate the opinions and thoughts of others without seeking first to understand. Try to live peaceably with everyone.

Do not seek to “pay back” those who hurt you, your property, or that of those you love.

But instead, dear friends, leave it in God’s hands, for it is written, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 

On the contrary:

If your enemies are hungry, feed them;

If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.

Your generosity will be a shocking surprise. 

Do not be overcome by hate, but overcome hate with love.

Do not be overcome by bigotry, but overcome bigotry with an open mind.

Do not be overcome by violence, but overcome violence with compassion.

Do not be overcome by dishonesty, but overcome dishonesty with sincerity.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Prayer:

Loving God,

Challenge and inspire us. Give us a desire for deep reflection. Help us to live more deeply in the ways of Jesus. May we embrace your call to another way of living in our communities and this world.

Amen.