June 15 | Psalm 23:1-3, 1 Samuel 16:10-13

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DAILY READING

Psalm 23:1-3

1 Samuel 16:10-13

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REFLECTION

He Makes Me Lie Down

By Elaine Pierce

Reading these two passages together helps create a beautiful picture of how David could write Psalm 23. He wasn't just talking in the abstract about raising sheep - he was a shepherd. Psalm 23 is a beloved piece of scripture. David was intimately familiar with green pastures and quiet waters. The images were part of his everyday experience as a young man tending his family's sheep herd.

His father, Jesse, as well as Samuel the prophet, didn't even consider David to be the Lord's anointed. But the Lord was quick to remind Samuel what the important quality was for a king:

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (I Samuel 16:7).

We know from the whole of scripture that David certainly wasn't perfect. But he repented quickly and he loved the Lord. His heart was given over to following the Lord. And in Psalm 23, he reminds us that no matter what our circumstances, the Lord is with us. He's with us in the quiet; he's with us in the valley; he's with us when our enemies surround us. He doesn't promise a life of quiet and ease, but he will be with us no matter what happens.

How is your heart these days? I get a physical every year, and my physician listens to my heart. She always asks me to take several deep breaths as she holds the stethoscope up to my chest. Yes, my heart has a steady beat. But what about my heart towards God, towards those in need, towards those he has called me to serve? As David said, he will guide me in paths of righteousness. Let's ask him to do that today and every day.

PRAYER

Lord, you are the Good Shepherd. You laid down your life for your sheep, and I am one of those unreliable sheep who often goes astray. Help me to walk with you in paths of righteousness. Amen.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ELAINE PIERCE

It is a delight and joy to write Sunday's UALC Blog post. I have been a UALC member for 20+ years and I value our community of believers. I draw strength from God's Word, and it is my hope that you join me in seeking to grow closer to Him as we read, study, and pray together. I've been married to Gene for 47 years, and we have four grown children and nine grandchildren. It is an exciting time to be alive, and I count it all joy to serve him, even in the midst of challenges. To God be the glory, for the great things he is doing!

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June 14 | Acts 6:8-15, 7:54-60

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DAILY READING

Acts 6:8-15, 7:54-60

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REFLECTION

The Price of Freedom

by Carmel Elmer

Can you imagine living in the early days of the forming of the church?  Stephen’s stoning was just one example of the persecution Christians faced in the first few centuries AD.  Imagine facing the threat of imprisonment, torture and even death simply because you profess your belief in Christ and follow the truth of His Word.   

Early Christians faced opposition from many directions and often endured dire consequences for professing their faith.  The Roman government felt threatened by the growth in the movement of “The Way” and those who refused to renounce their faith faced the possibility of imprisonment, torture, and the loss of their legal rights.  Despite this, the message of Christ spread, and the church grew exponentially due to the courageous believers who were willing to stand together and lay down their lives for Christ.

In Acts 7:9 we learn that Stephen faced opposition from members of the Synagogue of Freedmen.  I didn’t know what that was, so I decided to give myself a little history lesson.  I learned that these were Jews who had been enslaved by the Roman government during the first century and had later been freed.  But were they really free?  Through His death and resurrection Jesus granted all who accept and believe, freedom from sin and the opportunity to live in a new way - no longer subject to earning God’s favor by following the laws and customs of the old covenant.  The so called ‘freedmen’ could not accept the wisdom of The Holy Spirit that Stephen professed and ultimately, Stephen gave his life for Christ as a martyr, and those who refused to accept his message remained slaves.

This passage has me wondering if I too would be willing to give my life and stand my ground rather than renounce my belief in Christ.  All I can say is that I am glad I will likely never have to face that choice.  I feel so fortunate to be living in a place and time where I have the right to practice my faith without my life or livelihood being threatened.  Sadly, throughout the world today, there are millions of Christians who still face the real threat of losing their lives for their faith in Jesus.  Entire communities face displacement, imprisonment, discrimination and even genocide for believing in Christ.

So, what can we take from this passage and apply today?  I suppose it’s easy to take our freedom to share our faith, and the sacrifices that were made to grant us that freedom, for granted.   Maybe we should challenge ourselves to look for opportunities to advocate for Christians throughout the world who are not as privileged as we are.  Maybe we can extend the Oasis we are building together here at UALC and be a part of the growth of Christianity across the globe.  Wouldn’t that be amazing?

PRAYER

Lord, thank you for our freedom to worship with our brothers and sisters at UALC and for those who paved the way to win that freedom for us.  We pray today for the safety of Christians throughout the world and for their courageous willingness to lay down their lives for Christ.  We ask for that same courage in our daily walk, that we too are willing to lay down our lives for the freedom that Jesus bought for us with His life.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CARMEL ELMER

I have attended UALC for nearly 25 years, but faith has always been at the center of my life. My mom was an incredible role model, demonstrating a trust in God that surpassed any circumstance. I will always be grateful for her incredible example of faith, and I pray that one day, my children will say the same about me.   

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June 13 | Acts 6:1-7

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DAILY READING

Acts 6:1-7

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REFLECTION

Better Together

By Jennifer Jerrome

If you’re a young adult or had children or grandchildren around 2006, then you’ve probably heard the song, “We’re All in This Together” from the movie High School Musical. For some reason that song popped into my head while preparing this post. It’s likely because the theme we’re discussing is: An Oasis We Build Together.

Almost everything that has occurred throughout history has been because two or more people were involved in making it happen. Though Jesus was the only one who could save us, even he had help from the Father and the Holy Spirit and He knew better than anyone that He couldn’t spread his message alone. He needed help. So, one became twelve and twelve became thousands.

Acts 6 talks specifically about the apostles asking/allowing their followers to select seven holy men who could distribute food so they could turn their attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word (v. 4).

Because the apostles realized early on that the work Jesus charged them with would require more than just twelve men, they gathered the other disciples together and asked them for help. Allowing them to select their own faith-filled men was a strategic move that pleased the whole group (v. 5). Giving people the ability to have a say and be part of the process was crucial to success. The more people who felt invested, the easier it was to become the hands and feet of Jesus and the more his message spread.

We are all needed to do God’s work and no matter what your role, you make a difference. Some people hold doors, while others save seats. Some hand us the body and blood, while those with musical abilities sing praise - and that’s just at church on Sunday! All can contribute.

To quote the lyrics from High School Musical…

Everyone is special in their own way.

We make each other strong.

We’re not the same.

We’re different in a good way.

Together is where we belong.

So, whether you’re distributing bread to widows, praying for others or reading the Word, you matter. You have influence in God’s kingdom.

PRAYER

Father,

Thank you for bringing us together for your good. We know only Jesus saves, but we each play a part in your kingdom. May we feel the hands of the original twelve on us, so that your message of love continues to spread. Amen

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JENNIFER JERROME

I have known I was a child of God from the beginning. I was baptized and raised in the Catholic church and began attending UALC about 18 years ago when my husband I were searching for a place to worship and serve as a family. UALC has helped shape our faith over the years. We have been through several seasons of life and the constant has been our faith and family.

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