ASLC Devotions - Friday

Acts 18:24-25 Now there came to Ephesus a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria. He was an eloquent man, well-versed in the scriptures. He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord; and he spoke with burning enthusiasm and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.

Apollos was one of the earliest Christian evangelists, responsible for spreading the good news about Jesus through lots of the ancient world. He did not write any books or letters which are part of the Bible so we don't know him quite as well. But here is a bit of his story. The important thing that strikes me today is that he did not know Jesus - he had only known the baptism of John. He didn't walk with Jesus or see Jesus. But he had been instructed in the Way of the Lord and so he could speak with burning enthusiasm and teach accurately.

We sometimes think we don't have what it takes to share our faith. Some of us may not have a deep personal experience of knowing Jesus' presence in our lives - and we feel jealous of those who do. We feel inadequate. We feel that we don't have what it takes then to share. Because we can't say "I've seen Jesus." But neither did Apollos. Apollos knew what he had been taught. And it was enough. What God had given him was enough. What God has given you is enough.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship with us Saturday at 5 pm or Sunday at 9 am. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a current newsletter and calendar.

ASLC Devotions - Friday

Acts 18:24-25 Now there came to Ephesus a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria. He was an eloquent man, well-versed in the scriptures. He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord; and he spoke with burning enthusiasm and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.

Apollos was one of the earliest Christian evangelists, responsible for spreading the good news about Jesus through lots of the ancient world. He did not write any books or letters which are part of the Bible so we don't know him quite as well. But here is a bit of his story. The important thing that strikes me today is that he did not know Jesus - he had only known the baptism of John. He didn't walk with Jesus or see Jesus. But he had been instructed in the Way of the Lord and so he could speak with burning enthusiasm and teach accurately.

We sometimes think we don't have what it takes to share our faith. Some of us may not have a deep personal experience of knowing Jesus' presence in our lives - and we feel jealous of those who do. We feel inadequate. We feel that we don't have what it takes then to share. Because we can't say "I've seen Jesus." But neither did Apollos. Apollos knew what he had been taught. And it was enough. What God had given him was enough. What God has given you is enough.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship with us Saturday at 5 pm or Sunday at 9 am. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a current newsletter and calendar.

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

Matthew 15:37 And all of them ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.

Jesus started out with seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. He did his thing and fed 4000 men, plus a unnumbered number of women and children. When the leftovers were gathered, there were seven baskets full.... more than he had started with in the first place before feeding the crowds. The leftovers were more than the raw ingredients.

The kingdom of heaven is like leftovers that are far more than we even knew possible.
The kingdom of heaven is like enough for everyone - and more than enough to spare.
In the kingdom of heaven, God has given so many gifts, that what we think we see is only the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more yet to come!

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship with us and experience a little taste of the kingdom of heaven on Saturday at 5 pm and Sunday at 9 am.

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

Deuteronomy 26:1-2 When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his name.

This chapter lays out all the rules and procedures and justifications for the tithe - for offering to God's service one tenth of all that you have and all that you produce. I love that it calls us to take some of the FIRST of all the fruit of the grand, the FIRST of the harvest... and bring that to the Lord's house. God calls on us to bring what we've come to call the firstfruits.

But what exactly are the firstfruits? I guess it's exactly what it sounds like... the first of your harvest. What does it mean for those of us who aren't really farmers? It means the best. It means that you prioritize giving to God over anything else - including giving to self. It means that when giving to the food pantry, we don't give the leftover can of peas we were never going to eat anyway and we don't remember when we bought them. Instead we give what we prize the most - we give the food we actually wanted. Instead of making giving the thing we do when there's something (or some time) left over... giving is the first thing on our minds. It's simply a way of looking at the world - a way of walking in the world - a way of walking generously.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship with us at 5 pm Saturday or 9 am Sunday. More information about all of our ministries is available at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org

ASLC Devotions - Monday

Deuteronomy 8:6 Therefore keep the commandments of the Lord your God, by walking in his ways and by fearing him.

As part of his big long speech before the people finally enter the promised land after escaping from slavery in Egypt and after wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, Moses summarizes the law for them. Before they settle down to live together as a free people (subject to God), Moses wants to remind them of the ways that God has laid out to make life liveable in community. Moses wants them to understand the boundaries of freedom, the way of life that leads to hope and life. So most of the book of Deuteronomy is a rehash and reinterpretation of these rules and community-life guidelines.

In one way, Moses summarizes all the laws and all the rules with this one simple phrase: "walking in his ways and by fearing him." Walking is a wonderful metaphor for life. How do you walk? Do you walk with your head down afraid to look anyone else in the eye? Do you walk dominating the sidewalk and not letting anyone else have the right of way? Do you walk in front or in back? Do you try to stick somewhere in the middle? How do you walk in the world? Today, focus on your walking. Walk humbly with others, seeing everyone you meet as the face of God. See how it affects your walk.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship with us this weekend at 5 pm Saturday and 9 am Sunday. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information.