Anchor - September 25, 2020

Common Courtesy This content is drawn from: Acts 16:13-15 “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 If you observe people in their daily commute, during holiday shopping, or in long grocery store lines, you won’t get a very good glimpse of Jesus’ instructions to put others first or of Paul’s directive to be compassionate. And if you’re honest with yourself, you might admit that you have fallen short yourself at times, forgetting entirely how sweet it is to show common courtesy. Since “common” courtesy seems to be less common these days, we can remind ourselves of what it could look like in our lives. Say “please” and “thank you.” Let others go first. Hold the door open. Say, “I’m sorry,” when you make a mistake. Wave hello to people. Smile. Listen. Acknowledge them. Small acts of kindness can be contagious, and that is good! It ought to be very sobering to think of how Jesus Christ, God’s own Son, did not give us the command to put others first without doing so Himself. The compassion He showed us by bearing our sins on the cross could never be matched. But it motivates us to be courteous, kind, and loving to others. Make an effort to treat people politely today and watch how your small acts of civility change the dispositions of the people around you. Bible Gateway Recommendations Copyright Information The Anchor Devotional. Copyright © 2018 Haven Ministries. All rights reserved.

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Anchor - September 24, 2020

Listening This content is drawn from: Job 2:11-13 “You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry.” Psalm 10:17 There is a woman in my church who has a remarkable effect on people. By the end of the service, there is often a small group of people surrounding her. She’s not a part of our church leadership, does not teach, and holds no authority. Yet people flock to her. In fact, when she audits college classes I teach, she has the same effect on my students, listening intently to them and expressing concern for their well-being. People enjoy being with her because she listens, encourages, and truly cares. The “ministry” of listening—small and unassuming as it is—impacts people a great deal. Of course “ministry” refers to preaching, leading in Bible study, designing worship time, and so on. But being a good listener gives ministry back to us. We may not all be great orators, but we can all listen. In the oldest book of the Bible, Job’s friends came to him at his time of immense suffering. They cried and mourned with him in his grief. They sat and listened, which turned out to be the very best way they could have ministered to him. When you read Psalm 116:2, think of a parent tenderly stooping to hear a child’s voice: “Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath.” Bible Gateway Recommendations Copyright Information The Anchor Devotional. Copyright © 2018 Haven Ministries. All rights reserved.

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Anchor - September 23, 2020

Following Through This content is drawn from: Luke 1:26-38 “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Matthew 5:37 Don’t we all appreciate those in our lives whom we can count on? When they say they will be there or will do something, they mean it. Frustrations arise when we have dealings with unreliable people. We are never quite sure we can take them at their word. It was important to Jesus that His followers use honesty and integrity in all of their speech. They would need to be people of their word, people who could be counted on. Though there was much swearing of oaths in Jesus’ day, He let people know that impressive-sounding promises—even swearing by someone or something—would mean nothing if the promise was not kept. We might put it this way: Mean what you say and say what you mean. A half century later, James, quoting his older brother, wrote, “Let your ‘Yes’ be yes, and your ‘No’ be no, or you will be condemned” (5:12). Try as we might to be true to our word, we still falter. Look to Jesus for strength to carry this out and for forgiveness when you fail. We have a perfect Savior whose Word never has and never will fail. When you ask the Lord to help you be a person of your word, remember that His Word stands forever. Bible Gateway Recommendations Copyright Information The Anchor Devotional. Copyright © 2018 Haven Ministries. All rights reserved.

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Anchor - September 22, 2020

With All Your Heart This content is drawn from: Exodus 36:8-38 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord…. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24 We have spent this month considering ways that we “find God in the little things” of life. Perhaps you have begun to observe God’s goodness and awe reflected in your own everyday situations and experiences. Most recently, I have noticed individuals who perform in their jobs in a way that I think Paul himself would have described as “working at it with all your heart.” From the barista who makes my coffee, to the landscaper who cares for our church grounds, to the friendly server at a restaurant, I see people working competently and cheerfully. There surely are plenty of work scenarios that are unpleasant. Sometimes even the tasks before us at home feel overwhelming. But we can approach these as Paul urges us to—doing our work for the glory of God. We can seek to be the very best we can be at our jobs, remembering that we serve the God of all creation who is far greater than our earthly masters. When you let Jesus shine in your work, your winsome ways and competent performance speak plainly that you serve a mighty King. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) Bible Gateway Recommendations Copyright Information The Anchor Devotional. Copyright © 2018 Haven Ministries. All rights reserved.

 

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Anchor - September 21, 2020

Hospitality This content is drawn from: Genesis 18:1-15 “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2 Changing times have had an effect on hospitality in our lives. People keep to themselves a lot, work long hours, and often cringe at just the thought of saying hello to a neighbor. Can you recall the last time you asked someone to join you in your home for dinner, for dessert, or to enjoy each other’s company? If we keep relationships at the surface and know fewer people well, we miss out. There are opportunities for us to bless and be blessed when we invite people into our homes. The writer of Hebrews wrote to encourage early Christians to practice hospitality and may have been thinking of the story we find in Genesis 18. That account tells of when Abraham invited three strangers into his home to rest and be refreshed. He was unaware at the time that he was, indeed, entertaining among the visitors the pre-incarnate Lord Himself! Show hospitality to someone. Do so expecting nothing in return, but be assured that a good measure will be given to you, “pressed down, shaken together and running over” (Luke 6:38). “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7, ESV) Bible Gateway Recommendations Copyright Information The Anchor Devotional. Copyright © 2018 Haven Ministries. All rights reserved.

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