TheRoadtoEmmaus

AdailydevotionalfortheForestdaleCommunityChurch

October3–7,2016

ThisWeekinStillnessandSilence“BesilentbeforetheSovereignLord,forthedayoftheLordisnear.”

Zephaniah1:7

• Sitdownandtakeafewdeepbreathestosettleintosilence.• ReadtheScriptureaboveslowlyasyoubreatheinand

breatheout.(Dothis5-10times)• CloseyoureyesandsitquietlyinJesus’presence,allowingHis

willandHislovefullaccesstoyourlife.• Whenyoubecomedistracted,gobacktotheScriptureabove

andreciteitagainasyoubreatheinandout.Aftertwominutesormoreyouarereadytobeginthedevotional.

Monday: MakingtheConnectionBeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)Scripture:Genesis6:9-22;9:8-176:9bNoahwasarighteousman,blamelessamongthepeopleofhistime,andhewalkedwithGod.13SoGodsaidtoNoah,“Iamgoingtoputanendtoallpeople,fortheearthisfilledwithviolencebecauseofthem.Iamsurelygoingtodestroyboththemandtheearth.9:12AndGodsaid,“ThisisthesignofthecovenantIammakingbetweenmeandyouandeverylivingcreaturewithyou,acovenantforallgenerationstocome:13Ihavesetmyrainbowintheclouds,anditwillbethesignofthecovenantbetweenmeandtheearth.Devotional

OurGodisamaker&keeperofcovenants;aGodofperfectjustice&mercy.Therainbowismeanttoremindusofthis.Godusedoneman,Noah,todeliverhumanityfromcompletedestruction.Godmadeanewbeginningformankind&Noahbecamethenew“Adam.”Intime,GodwouldcompletethissalvationprocessbegunwithNoah,byprovidingJesus,theperfect“Adam”andultimateSaviorofhumanity.

FloodwatersweretheinstrumentofGod’swrath.NoahfoundrefugefromtheminthearkGodcommandedhimtobuild.Now,GodmercifullyoffersusrefugefromHisjustice,notinawoodenvessel,butinthebody&bloodofHisSon.Bythewatersofbaptism,weprofessourneedforandacceptanceofHisgraciousoffer:anewcovenant.Question:WhatkindofrefugehaveyoufoundinChrist?BeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)Prayer: “IntotheriverIwillwade.Theremysinsarewashedaway.FromtheheavensmercystreamsoftheSavior’sloveforme.IwillrisefromwatersdeepintothesavingarmsofGod.Iwillsingsalvationsongs.JesusChristhassetmefree.”Amen(R.Morganlyrics)

Tuesday:PrayerBeStillBeforetheLord(2minutes)Scripture:Genesis7:6-7

“Noahwassixhundredyearsoldwhenthefloodwaterscameontheearth.AndNoahandhissonsandhiswifeandhissons’wivesenteredthearktoescapethewatersoftheflood.”

Devotional Noahandhisfamilyenteredthearkthatday,buttherestoftheworldwentabouttheirlivesasthoughitwerejustanotherday.Butthentherainscame,anditrainedfor40days.Andthenthefloodscame,andtheykeptoncomingforanother40days.Thefloodsliftedthearkanditfloatedaway.Everyoneelsewassweptaway. OneofthewayswediscoverJesusintheOldTestamentisbyanalogy.NoahandhisfamilybeinginthearkandfindingrefugefromthejudgmentislikeaChristianbeing‘inChrist’andfindingrefugefromtheultimatejudgment.Thosewhowereinthearkweresavedjustasthosewhoarenow‘inChrist’aresaved.Being‘inChrist’simplymeansapersonhasacceptedJesus’invitationtocometohimformercyandgrace.ItmeanswehaveplacedallofourhopeandtrustinJesusforoursalvation.Whenwedothat,HewelcomesusintoHisKingdomandintoHisfamily.HecallsusHisown.Wearethen‘inChrist,’andsafeandsecureinHim.Question:Isyourprayerlifeatasktobeaccomplishedeachday,orarefugetobeenteredintoandenjoyed?BeStillBeforetheLord(2minutes)Prayer:“Hisoath,Hiscovenant,Hisblood,supportmeinthewhelmingflood;whenallaroundmysoulgivesway,Hethenisallmyhopeandstay.WhenHeshallcomewithtrumpetsound,OmayItheninHimbefound:dressedinHisrighteousalone,faultlesstostandbeforethethrone.OnChrist,thesolidRockIstand,allothergroundissinkingsand.”Amen.(TheSolidRock,byEdwardMote)

Wednesday:RestBeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)Scripture:Genesis6:7“SotheLordsaid,“IwillwipefromthefaceoftheearththehumanraceIhavecreated-andwiththemtheanimals,thebirdsandthecreaturesthatmovealongtheground-forIregretthatIhavemadethem.”

Devotional The“watersofjudgment”isaverytragicstoryoftheBible.Thisstorycontains3messages:thefirstbeinghowwickedthehumanheartis;second,howGod’spatiencerunsoutandhedestroysallunrepentantsinnersinjudgment;andthird,howGoddoesn’tforgetabouthispurposeincreatingmanandhasanotherplan. Attheendoftheflood,“NoahbuiltanaltartotheLordandtookeverycleananimal,everycleanbird,andofferedburntofferingsonthealtar.TheLordsmelledthepleasingaromaandsaidinhisheart,“NeveragainwillIcursethegroundbecauseofhumans,eventhougheveryinclinationofthehumanheartisevilfromchildhood.”(Gen8:20-21)Thewatersofjudgmentdidnoterasesin,andthecovenantofgracedidnotguaranteerighteousness.ButGoddidhaveanotherremedyforsin.“ChristappearedonceforallattheendoftheagetoputawaysinbythesacrificeofHimself.”(Hebrews9:26)WecanrestassuredinknowingthatwewillnotexperienceGod’swrath,butinsteadenjoyalovingrelationshipwithHimbecauseoftheultimatesacrificeofHisSon,JesusChrist.Question:Canwelookdeepintoourhumanhearts,seetheevil,andseehowdesperatelyweneedJesusChristtomakeusholy?BeStillBeforetheLord(2minutes)Prayer:LordJesus,sometimesweareblindtoourownevilhearts.HelpustorestassuredthatwearenolongerjudgedbutareforgiventhroughGod’sgraceandYourultimatesacrifice.Amen.

Thursday:RelationshipsBeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)Scripture:Genesis6:9

Noahwasarighteousman,blamelessinhisgeneration.NoahwalkedwithGod.

Devotional

Ican’timaginewhatlifemusthavebeenlikeforNoah.Exceptforhisfamily,everyonewasagainsthim.Hewasridiculedonadailybasis.Theworldaroundhimwasevil,butNoahwasrighteous.HehadadeeprelationshipwithhisHeavenlyFather.I’msureNoahtalkedwithGodonaregularbasis.Infact,myguessis,NoahjusthadarunningdialoguewithGod,andincludedGodineveryaspectofhislife.NoahknewGod’swordandobeyedhisleading.Heledhisfamilyinthepathofrighteousnessaswell.BecauseNoahwalkedwithGod,hehadthestrengthtobuildahugearkfarfromwater,endurethemockeryofothers,andfulfilltheinstructionsthatGodgavehim.

Isn’tNoah’slifesimilartothatofJesus?Wasn’tJesusridiculedinanevilworld?WearecalledtobeChrist-likeandberighteous,too.Butwecan’tdoitonourown.WeneedtheSaviorwhodiedthatwecanbeforgiven.GodwantsustocommunewithHimdaily,andknowwhatthescripturessay.ButGodalsowantsustoapplywhatweknowtoeverypartofourlives.Godknowsourheartandhedesiresadeeperrelationshipwitheachofus. Question:HowcanyoutakestepstoopenallofwhoyouaretoGod’sgraceandleading?BeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)Prayer: DearGod,helpmetohaveanoverwhelmingdesiretoloveyoumore.Teachmehowtobeafull-timeChristianandopeneveryaspectofmylivetoyou.Iwanttoincludeyouineveryaspectofmylife.Amen

Friday: WorkLifeBeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)Scripture Genesis9:11“Iestablishmycovenantwithyou.Neveragainwillalllifebecutoffbythewatersofaflood;neveragainwilltherebeafloodtodestroytheearth.”DevotionalGodmadeabigpromisetoNoah.Andhegavehimasign.GodtoldNoah,“Whenevertherainbowappearsintheclouds,IwillseeitandremembertheeverlastingcovenantbetweenGodandalllivingcreaturesofeverykindontheearth.”Genesis9:16Godunderstoodhumannature.Heknewwhentheweathergotroughagainthatmanmightpanic.Hegaveasignandindoingsoallowedustothisdaytorestinthatpromise.Thesameistrueofoursalvation.WhenweaccepttheLord,itcanbehumannaturetodoubtthatthegiftofsalvationisrealandlasting,especiallywhenthingsgetrough.WestarttowonderwhatGodreallythinksofus.Butthegiftofeternallife,offeredtothosewhoacceptJesusastheSonofGod,isanotherbigpromise,backedupbyasign.ThatsignisfoundonCommunionSundays.WhenwebreakbreadtogetheranddrinkfromthecupweareremindedofGod’spromisetothosewhobelieve.Luke22:19-20Question:Howwouldyourlifechangeifyourunderstandingofthesignificanceofcommunionweredeepened?BeStillBeforetheLord(2minutes) Prayer:Lord,yourpromiseofsalvationandeternallifeisrightinfrontofmeeachtimeItakecommunion.Deepenmyappreciationofwhatcommunionrepresents.AllowittosparkinmethesameaweIfeelwhenIseearainbowinthesky.Amen.

TheDevotionalWritersthisweek:

Monday:BradEdgerlyTuesday:PaulMcPheeters

Wednesday:ChristineBartholomewThursday:ChrisRedfordFriday:BethGovoni