Act of Devotion

Posted on May 4, 2020 by Mark Shields

This day with God will be amazing because we will set out to go the extra mile as we are devoted to the study His word and finding ways to apply it to our life. Reading today in Numbers 6:1-21, there were three main instructions for the person making the Nazarene vow. They must not drink alcohol or even grapes, shave or cut their hair, and not go near a dead body.

Taking the Nazarene vow was an act of devotion as they constantly worked at being sanctified. They were giving it their best shot at getting closer to God and being separated from sin. Samson is one that took this vow that inspired disciplined focus on God rather than on worldly pleasures. The requirements for the Nazarene vow were strict because God is perfect and to offer one’s life without reserve to God requires extreme actions.

The remedy for breaking the oath was a sin offering and burnt offering as atonement. Once the period of dedication had been finished, the procedure was to take to the tabernacle a burnt offering, sin offering, and peace offering. These were also accompanied with a grain offering and drink offering. The mark of a saint is not perfection, but consecration.

Just like the extra given when one took the Nazarene vow, giving a little extra can change our lives today. Think about how one extra hour of daylight changes the temperature on average from 30, 40, 50 degrees in the winter to 80 or 90 degrees in the summer. The difference from a cold winter to the warmth of spring and summer is similar to having Christ is in our life. An extra hour of devotion will warm your heart every day for a brighter future.

This day with You Lord, help us to press on. During dark times, You sent Christ into the darkness to save the day. There are times of challenge but You inspire us to stick it out and persevere. You spur us on with thoughts and ideas like in today’s passage to give You more and less for ourselves. We rely on a power inside that is greater than we could ever imagine as we stay focused on Your Way rather than on worldly pleasures. Amen.

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Worship 5-3-2020

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Mark Shields

Worship online via FUMC at this link https://firstwaco.com/ or Download the free app in the App Store or on Google Play. Look for First Waco.

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Keep Pace with Grace

Posted on May 1, 2020 by Mark Shields

It is after overcoming difficulty that we appreciate what we have and flourish. Like a plant that grows with water, nutrients from the soil, and sunlight, character is grounded in a strong mixture of stuff but we can keep pace with grace.

Mark Shields's avatarStep Ahead

Covering the rough ground
Nothing to hinder
With a charming layer
The first snow of winter.

As though the rough spots
Are covered with grace
To easily run
And finish the race.

Because Jesus Christ
Is our main acquaintance
We run free with our friend
With so much patience.

As we endure
All the distress
Knowing the future
Will be blessed.

Renewed each day
With a clean slate
Covering a dark past
With a future so great.

Poem by Mark Shields – © 03-26-2020
Inspired by “This Day with God Devotional – Leviticus 12”

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Yield to the Voice of Truth

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Mark Shields

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. – Psalm 111:10

As pointed out in the post “Truth is Our Boarding Pass to Paradise”, God’s presence and defilement can’t co-exist. The nature of God is wisdom, peacefulness, and wholesomeness. He wants to make wrongs right and faith in Christ makes a way for that to happen.

This day with God, be inspired by the song Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns. The voice of Truth has a higher view to notice the obstacles in our way. 

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Truth is Our Boarding Pass to Paradise

Posted on April 29, 2020 by Mark Shields

This day with God will be amazing because He thinks you are AWESOME! Use the talents you’ve been given, be happy with who you are, and let God work out the rest. Today, we are reading Numbers 5 and discovering ways to apply God’s principles in our life.

Today’s passage deals with uncleanness and defilement. Since God’s nature is wisdom, peacefulness, and wholesomeness, He cannot co-exist with anything unclean or defiled and they must be removed. There is also instruction on restitution for wrongs either to the offended, to their relatives, or to the priest. When truth is the standard and this standard is not met, there are extreme consequences.

We don’t live in a perfect world. Unfortunately in our current times, truth is not thought of as the standard and we have chaos. We get overcome with things outside our control and laws and government make things even more complicated. The take away for today is that God wants to make wrongs right and faith in Christ makes a way for that to happen.

So fortunately, things have been simplified because of Christ who has dealt with all issues brought out in today’s passage. Our boarding pass to paradise is Truth; simply to confess and follow the way. I’m reminded of a few years ago when my wife and I went to the Titanic display at the Mayborn Museum located on the Baylor University Campus. We received the boarding pass below.

When sailing away on our voyage called life, we need to make sure we get on the ship that is proven, leads us to where you want to go, and has a Captain that can see the obstacles ahead. There are many perils in using the wrong boarding pass so use the one that assures getting us to where we want to go. 

Lord this day with You, help us to gain faith in Your Way. We don’t have all the answers but You do. You care for us more than we care for ourselves. You have a higher view to see the obstacles in our way. We are limited when we rely on our own way so we ask for direction today as we listen to the voice of Truth.

 

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