The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States “THE LEAST OF THESE” for Thursday, 11 August 2016 with Scripture: Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all of you who are struggling and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.[Matthew 11:29 Jeremiah 6:16] 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”-------
The LORD says, “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: . . . to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter . . . ?[Isaiah 58:6, 7 (NIV)]
Margarita Barrientos grew up in the mountains, herding goats and living in a humble adobe dwelling with her seven siblings. At mealtime, her mother always placed an extra plate at the table. When asked why, she responded, “It’s for God.” One day a hungry traveler showed up and was invited to their table; they all understood their mother’s teaching.
When she was older, Margarita went to the city to escape poverty, only to land in a charity house — like many others before her. Margarita is now a social activist and does volunteer work in Buenos Aires at one of the charity houses that minister to children and adults living in extreme poverty.
Through all these experiences, Margarita has continued to follow her mother’s example, to live with compassion and do all things for God. The kingdom of God is built by people like Margarita. Following her example, we can pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to mirror the actions of Jesus to serve the “least of these.”
The Author: Hugo N. Urcola (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Thought for the Day: For whom does God call me to be an advocate today?
Prayer: Dear God, give us vision to see your purposes and courage to follow where you lead. In the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Prayer focus: SOCIAL ACTIVISTS-------
The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States “DO SOMETHING” for Wednesday, 10 August 2016 with Scripture: Joshua 1:1-91 After the death of Moshe the servant of Adonai, Adonai said to Y’hoshua the son of Nun, Moshe’s assistant, 2 “Moshe my servant is dead. So now, get up and cross over this Yarden, you and all the people, to the land I am giving to them, the people of Isra’el. 3 I am giving you every place you will step on with the sole of your foot, as I said to Moshe. 4 All the land from the desert and the L’vanon to the great river, the Euphrates River — all the land of the Hitti — and on to the Great Sea in the west will be your territory. 5 No one will be able to withstand you as long as you live. Just as I was with Moshe, so I will be with you. I will neither fail you nor abandon you.
6 “Be strong, be bold; for you will cause this people to inherit the land I swore to their fathers I would give them. 7 Only be strong and very bold in taking care to follow all the Torah which Moshe my servant ordered you to follow; do not turn from it either to the right or to the left; then you will succeed wherever you go. 8 Yes, keep this book of the Torah on your lips, and meditate on it day and night, so that you will take care to act according to everything written in it. Then your undertakings will prosper, and you will succeed. 9 Haven’t I ordered you, ‘Be strong, be bold’? So don’t be afraid or downhearted, because Adonai your God is with you wherever you go.”
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You shall meditate on [the book of the law] day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful.[Joshua 1:8 (NRSV)]
William and I were hospital chaplains. One day we shared our favorite scripture verses. His was Joshua 1:8. As we talked, he asked, “You know why? It’s the first scripture that made me do something. It made me want to memorize more scripture. It made me want to think and study God’s word because I wanted to know more about God’s definition of prosperity and success.”
Initially I thought he was being selfish: prosperity and success in today’s world often equate to having material possessions. But as I got to know William, I learned his life in Christ was rooted in scripture. He was reading the Bible almost every time I saw him and had hundreds of verses memorized. For William, Joshua 1:8 was not about finding worldly prosperity and success. William found God’s prosperity and success in discipleship and devotion to scripture.
The same words from God that inspired my colleague inspired Joshua to lead God’s people across the Jordan to the Promised Land. Memorizing scripture so that we can rely on it day and night helps us to seek God’s prosperity and success through discipleship. God’s words inspire discipleship; they empower us do something.
The Author: Walt Garrett (Arkansas, USA)
Thought for the Day: How will I be a disciple today?
Prayer: O God, awaken us to the joy of discipleship. Empower us through your word to do your work in the world. Amen.
Prayer focus: HOSPITAL CHAPLAINS
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