Devotional
for the week of April 23-29
Day One Created with a Purpose Genesis 1:26-27 and
1.
My daughter
Hannah recently purchased a hamster named Sadie with her own money. I point out that it was done with her money
so I will never share in the blame (or hopefully the responsibility). This hamster lives for two things: 1.) to
sleep all day, 2.) to run on her wheel all night. Now when I say run on her wheel I do not mean
a leisurely jog through the park. She
jumps on that thing as if she is boarding a jet fighter in the midst of an
enemy attack and does not get off until we turn the lights on in the
morning. Her running is done with no
less enthusiasm and vigor. She runs like
there is a cougar on her tail. The thing
that makes this particularly joyful is that her wheel is rather loud and could
possibly wake the dead. Andrea often
nudges me during the night “encouraging” me to go remove the wheel from Sadie’s
cage. What makes this interesting to me
is the question, “What is her purpose in all this running?” I seriously doubt that she has motivations to
be in super shape and become mighty mouse.
I have come to two conclusions: 1.) She is lonely and has nothing else
to do since there are no other hamsters in her cage (do not tell Hannah that I
said this or she will be saving for a second hamster), or, 2.) She has no
purpose, she just runs. Either answer answer brings us to our own creation. God created us for relationship and He
created us with a purpose.
2.
Read Genesis
1:26-27. Why do you think God chose to create humans?
Notice
that as God announces His decision to create humans He does so in His own
relationship as He says, “Let us create….”
What do you think relating is with God?
God
chose to create us in His image. How
does this reveal His desire to relate to us?
3.
As the creation
story continues we see God decide that not only is there a need for us to
relate to Him but also that we need to be able to relate to each other. God chooses to create another for us to
relate to. In most all religious (other
religions) creation accounts we do not see a creation of “woman” but here it is
central. God desires not only that we
relate to Him but also that we can relate to each other. Why do you think this was and is important to
God?
What
emphasis does this place on your own view of relating to others?
Day Two Constructed
for a Purpose Isaiah 53
1.
The cross was
not a surprise to God, or for that matter, to Christ. It was a necessary tool that had to be used
to achieve a glorious purpose. The cross
through the history of time prior to Christ was a symbol of shame and
humiliation. What took place on this
profane cross had shame and humiliation as its goal. However, God uses the profane to
profound. Read Isaiah 53 and see how
Christ fulfilled the prophecy regarding the Messiah.
2.
Now look again
at the prophecy of Isaiah 53 and see how the purpose of the cross was to
fulfill what would happen to and through the Messiah.
3.
How do you see
the cross?
Day Three Present
for Peace Luke 24:36-39
1.
When Christ
appears to the followers in Luke 24:36-39 His first words are “Peace”. His purpose in appearing to them was to
provide peace in the midst of their time of turmoil. How do you think His simple presence could be
a source of peace to them even when the world outside was still confusing and
scary?
2.
As Christ
comforts the followers He encourages them to look at Him and at His reality in
order to calm the doubts in their minds.
He knew that merely by refocusing their minds on Him as opposed to the
recent events of their lives they could have peace. This is still true today, we can keep our
focus on the situation, or we can look back at Christ. We don’t see in this passage that their
situation changed, only that they that their attention was returned to
Christ. Sometimes we make this very
difficult but Christ makes it very simple, He says, “Look at my hands and my
feet.” It really is a very simple
instruction, look at Christ. Why do you
think this simple act can bring us to a place of peace and comfort?
3.
What are you
looking at today rather than looking at Him?
Day Four The Purpose Luke 24:40-49
1.
On the first day
of this week we looked at God’s purpose in creating us. On the second day we looked at His purpose in
creating the cross. In Luke 24:40-49 we
see Christ enlighten His disciples on the purpose of the cross. What did He tell them?
2.
What did He tell
them was their purpose in all of this?
What
did He tell them to do now?