Friday Devotion, July 19, 2024

Friday: RECLAIM    

Matthew 3:13-17    Then Jesus came from Galilee to Jordan to be baptized by John.  But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.  And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Read: We have reclaimed this house! It has taken all week and LOTS of hard work, but you have accomplished something huge! Remember the work, time, and effort you (and your site team and homeowner) have put into this home. What have we reclaimed the home for? What is the reclaimed purpose of this family? 

We have looked all week at RE-words. We have REMIXED, REMOVED, RENEWED, REBUILT, REHYDRATED AND RECLAIMED...not only have we looked at the home with new eyes we hope you have looked at yourselves with new eyes, “RE” eyes. With God’s eyes. Eyes that have claimed you from the very beginning. Eyes that have looked at you and said, “This is (insert name), whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Before we even started working- God claimed and affirmed and loved each one of us BEFORE any work was done here. The work is important, but the relationships with one another and God are life-changing. To see your life with “RE” eyes means seeing possibilities everywhere. For today and your remaining time try looking at those around you with “RE” eyes. Reclaim them. 

Check-in or Challenge: Site team, Tonight at worship we have a special service including communion. You will have an opportunity to share a memory from the week if you want (it is not mandatory to speak). We invite you to find a symbol or token from your site to place up front. An object that means something to you from this week. Something you can take home with you to remind you that you belong. Site leaders, remember that goal from Monday? “Learn a task, job or something on the site that they want to tackle or accomplish. Maybe something brave or something that would require persistence when they don’t want to. Hear those things and help them this week to accomplish it.” Have you done it? Have you connected with each member of your team? I hope so! 

Prayer: Dear Lord, Help us to love you, to love one another, and love our neighbors. Remix our hearts to be more aligned with you. Remove, renew, rebuild, rehydrate our souls and reclaim us through your Holy Spirit. May our work, words and action honor you today. Amen.