Devotions

… for the week of February 23, 2025

Countercultural Love

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus offers us a vision of a different way of living, one rooted in God’s endless mercy. People of God are to love others, do good, and share their possessions—in abundance, in extravagance, to the point that our generosity seems foolish by the world’s standards.

This lavishness is possible only through the power of Jesus, who first heals us and invites us to taste and see God’s mercy for ourselves. We witness this mercy in scripture through stories of God’s profound love and compassion. We experience it as we join in song and prayer in worship, engaging in ancient practices that draw us beyond ourselves and closer to God and neighbor. We remember the mercy we’ve experienced in the waters of baptism and taste Christ’s abundance in holy communion. We practice generosity in our offerings and share God’s peace with our fellow worshipers with whom we are bound together, even though we might never have chosen them as neighbors.

With Christ in us, we are able to practice this abundant love today and tomorrow, in our worship and beyond, returning to the font and table again and again to be reminded of the love that dwells within us and surrounds us, making us bold in our love for others.

To try to practice this kind of countercultural love on our own would likely lead to discouragement. But we are given the gift of community—with one another, those who have come before us, and hope for the ones who will come after us. Together, we form one body in Christ, strengthened by God’s Spirit. Together, we remind one another of God’s promise of unending love and forgiveness and encourage each other to follow Jesus’ example. And together, we focus our minds and hearts to catch glimpses of God’s kingdom among us, even as we wait for the world Jesus envisions to be made complete on earth as it is in heaven.

… How God Loves Us – Devotion

In a world where love often feels conditional and fleeting, God’s love stands apart—unearned, unchanging, and undeserved. This short booklet explores what Scripture teaches about the depth, certainty, and reality of God’s love for sinners.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GtBkKm8DiATB71cEUqyK_ajxL_twqUVM/view?usp=sharing