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Forced Rest
Photograph by Alex Diaz / Unsplash I’m the first to admit that I often don’t practice Read More
Magrey R. deVega | Read Psalm 23:1-6
Tucked amid the tranquil images of Psalm 23, between green pastures, still waters, and an eternal dwelling place, there is this inescapable reality of life: the valley of the shadow of death. We cannot skip past it, because it is in the middle of the psalm. Literally and literarily, it...
God, thank you for journeying with me through life’s highs and lows. Even when I am in my darkest valleys, thank you for being with me. Amen.
Each of the passages this week describe different and complementary aspects of the life of faith. In Acts, we see Christian community in its infancy, when the first Christians gathered to share in the power and wonder of God. In the iconic Psalm 23, we see ourselves as sheep in the fold of God’s provision, receiving care and courage to endure the valleys of life. In 1 Peter, we remember the sacrifice of Jesus, whose woundedness guarantees our healing. And in John’s Gospel, we hear of Jesus as the gate through which we can be in a full and life-giving relationship with God. Taken together, these passages remind us of essential qualities—wonder, care, courage, healing, and salvation—that comprise the abundant life.
Read Acts 2:42-47. Imagine what it was like to be in the first Christian community. What aspects of their activities do you see evident today? How can you recapture a sense of awe and wonder for God?
Read Psalm 23. What memories do you have of reading and hearing this psalm throughout your faith journey? When has it brought you comfort? In what ways do you identify with the various scenes of this psalm now?
Read 1 Peter 2:19-25. What does the cross mean to you? What difference does it make for you to acknowledge and embrace the sacrifice that Jesus made for you?
Read John 10:1-10. How has Jesus been a good shepherd to you? How has he been the door through which you have experienced abundant life?
Respond by posting a prayer.
