Sunday (5/8) Mother’s Day

The prophetic words of the scriptures of the Israelites that pointed towards the coming Messiah and suffering servant of the Lord were fulfilled in and through Christ. As the apostles were interacting with their resurrected Savior in the days after the first Easter Sunday, Jesus “opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45 NIV). We too are searching and studying the Hebrew scriptures of the Old Testament in 2022. May the Spirit of Christ open our minds so that we understand and then respond to them in a way that pleases our Lord.

 

Since January we have been reading Old Testament books as part of this Your Faith Journey devotional. This week we will conclude our journey through the Torah, which is also known as “the Law of Moses” (Luke 24:44). If you did not read the books of Genesis and Exodus, nor parts of Leviticus and Numbers, before today, you are encouraged to watch the Bible Project video about the Old Testament. The video is a summary of the Hebrew scriptures. It is available on YouTube.

TaNaK/Old Testament by the Bible Project:

 

Below are some suggestions and questions to help you as you read scripture this week:

1. Approach scripture with humility. Seek to receive what the Bible reveals without trying to make it say what you want it to say.

2. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak a message to you through the verses you read.

3. What do these verses reveal about God?

4. What do these verses reveal about humanity?

5. What do these verses teach me about myself?

6. How do you see yourself in the story when reading biblical narratives?

Which of these characters would I be?

In what ways is their story similar to my story?

7. Read, study, and discuss scripture with a small group or another person.

8. Are you using a Study Bible?

A Study Bible is a very helpful tool for understanding each book of the Bible. They include information shared by scholars about historical and cultural realities during the time depicted or the era of the document, the author, when the book might have been written, the intended audience of the document, themes and messages within a book or letter, and more.

The NIV, NRSV, ESV, and NLT Study Bibles are worth considering if you do not own one. There are a few available from the AUMC Library in the back of the Chapel. You can also purchase a Study Bible from ChristianBook.com, Cokesbury.com, or Amazon.com.

 

*If you do not have a Bible, consider downloading the YouVersion Bible App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play for your smartphone or tablet. You can also use www.BibleGateway.com to look up and read various translations of Bible verses online for free.

 

 

Monday (5/9)

Read the verses below from Deuteronomy 6 to focus on the Lord during this devotional time:

Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. – Deuteronomy 6:4-5 NLT

 

If you have not watched it already, you are encouraged to watch the Bible Project video about The Book of Deuteronomy to understand it more clearly. The video is available on YouTube: The Book of Deuteronomy by the Bible Project

 

Read Deuteronomy 29. Which word, phrase, or verse is God using to speak to you today from what you read?

 

Pray however the Spirit of the Lord and Bible verses prompt and guide you to pray.

 

 

Tuesday (5/10)

Read Deuteronomy 6:4-5 to focus your heart and mind upon the Lord.

 

Be silent for a few minutes to turn your heart and mind towards the Lord. You may find it helpful to sit, lay down with your face towards the ground, kneel, or walk during this time of being with the LORD your God.

 

Read Deuteronomy 30. You are encouraged to use the suggestions and questions on the list from the Sunday portion of this devotional during your study time.

 

Pray for:

• Those closest to you (family members & friends)
• Those who point others towards God (pastors, teachers, mentors, authors, musicians, etc.)
• Leaders (locally, nationally, and globally)
• People in need throughout the world (the hungry, thirsty, homeless, sick, imprisoned, neglected, abused, lost, etc.)

• Yourself (share your needs and invite the Lord to guide you)

 

 

Wednesday (5/11)

Read Deuteronomy 6:4-5 as a reminder that we are supposed to love God with all that we are and all that we have.

 

Read Deuteronomy 31:1-8. Which word, phrase, or verse is God using to speak to you today from what you read?

 

Pray through your day, including for the people you will be with, or have been with, as well as what you will do, or what you have done.

 

 

Thursday (5/12)

Read Deuteronomy 6:4-5 to focus upon the Lord during this devotional time.

 

Just as God spoke to Moses when he was on top of a mountain, spend a few minutes in silence imagining being with God on a mountain. Invite the Holy Spirit to enable you to hear the whisper of God’s message. Knowing that you are in the presence of the Almighty, leave your thoughts and desires of normal life behind to simply be present with the Lord. Place your body in a position that helps you to have a humble heart as you sit, lay down with your face towards the ground, or kneel during this time with God Almighty, our rescuer, redeemer, and creator.

 

Look at the descriptions of the sections of scripture in Deuteronomy 31 through 33, then read all of the verses from Deuteronomy 34. If you haven’t yet, choose a question or two from the Sunday list of this devotional to wrestle with as part of your study time.

 

Pray in response to God using the ACTS acronym as a guide:

Adoration (praise the Lord)

Confession

Thanksgiving

Supplication (share your needs & the needs of others)

 

 

Friday (5/13)

Read Deuteronomy 6:4-5 to center yourself on the LORD our God.

 

Before you begin reading and studying the next book of the Bible, you are encouraged to watch the Overview: Joshua video by the Bible Project that is available on Youtube: Overview: Joshua by the Bible Project

 

Read Joshua 1:1-18. You are encouraged to use the suggestions and questions on the list from the Sunday portion of this devotional during your study time.

 

Pray that the Lord helps you and our congregation to faithfully follow Jesus, the one who is with us always (Joshua 1:5 and Matthew 28:20). Invite the Spirit of God to guide and empower us to live the AUMC virtues revealed in Jesus, which includes humility, compassion, forgiveness, and love (Luke 6:27-40).

 

 

Saturday (5/14)

How are you going to remember and observe the Sabbath this weekend? The sabbath is a day each week that is set apart from the others to worship God, rest, and enjoy life-giving recreation to experience restoration. You may need to begin by setting aside an hour on Saturday or Sunday to develop a new habit of observing the Sabbath. It might be helpful for you to incrementally observe the Sabbath by setting aside an increasing portion of a day each weekend until you are eventually able to worship, rest, and engage in living-giving recreation for an entire day each week.

 

Read part of the lyrics from Moses’ song from Deuteronomy 32:3-4. You may find it beneficial to return to these verses throughout the day as a reminder to continually worship and praise the Lord.

 

Solitude and Silence. You are encouraged to find a place where you can quietly be alone for at least ten, twenty, or up to thirty minutes. During your time of solitude and silence with God, you may want to lay down, sit on a comfortable chair, couch, or swing, or go for a walk. During the solitude, silently listen for the internal whisper of the Holy Spirit. Try to shut out the thoughts of to-do-lists, plans for the day, etc. Simply be with God. Afterwards, read the Bible verse listed below.

 

Read Joshua 2:1-24. Who are some of the people God has worked through to help you during your lifetime? How did God bless, protect, or guide you through them?

 

The spies in Joshua 2 were convinced that God was going to give the Promised Land to the Israelites. What has the Lord given you? Consider writing your answers in a journal or spend some time talking to your spouse, another family member, or friend about your answers to these questions.

 

Pray in response to the LORD our God.