January 20 – Devotional

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Key Verses: Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of the prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil. – 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22, NRSV

Your employer just transferred you half way across the country; or, you decide it is time to downsize. Either way, it is time to pack up and move from here to there. How do you decide what to keep and what to let go? That is a process of discernment, of testing. Some decisions are relatively easy. We keep the things we use on a regular basis and those which have extra special meaning. We toss things that are broken, worn out, or stained. We donate or sell items that no longer fit and those we no longer need or use so someone else can use them. Other decisions are more difficult. What about that favorite sweater that you cannot wear until you lose 25 pounds? Then, there is the punch bowl. It has sat on the shelf in your closet for years; you have never used it and doubt you ever will. Your kids definitely do not want it. BUT. . . that punch bowl once belonged to your great-grandmother. Do you keep it or let it go? Just as we need to make decisions about what to keep and what to let go when we experience life changes, we need to make decisions about our church as we move from HERE to THERE. Some things are non-negotiable and must remain unchanged. Other things we must be willing to let go in order to move forward. As we seek God’s will for our church, we must follow Paul’s exhortation to test everything.

Pray:

• • What things about First Houston United Methodist Church are non-negotiable and must remain unchanged as we move forward into God’s best future? What things must we as a church be willing to let go in order to move forward?
  • How does holding tight to “sacred cows” hold our church captive to the past? How do we make the difficult decisions to open our hands and release them in order to free ourselves to receive all God has planned for our church?

Listen: With open eyes, ears, and heart, listen for God to speak to you now and throughout the day.

Share: You can share your thoughts where you feel best. You can share your thoughts in your printed devotional booklet, you can share below in the comments,  you can share a comment on our Facebook page, or you can share a comment on the First Houston United Methodist Church App by following the Daily Devotionals Channel.