The Road to Emmaus. A daily devotional for the Forestdale Community Church

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Regina Allen
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1 The Road to Emmaus A daily devotional for the Forestdale Community Church March 27 31, 2017

2 This week in Stillness & Silence David is the ultimate archetype of Jesus. He is the chosen King, who is anointed and filled with the Spirit. God promises that his line will continue on and reign over God s kingdom forever. When Jesus comes along, he is often referred to as the Son of David, by those who see him as the long-awaited Messiah (Anointed One.) David points us to Jesus throughout his life in so many ways. In your times of stillness and silence this week: Sit down and take a few deep breaths. Close your eyes and offer this prayer of David to God, affirming that He is the source of all good things, and inviting Him to meet and bless you today. O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised good things to your servant. (2 Samuel 7:28) After a few minutes, you are ready to begin.

3 Monday: Making the Connection Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-2 After the king was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, he said to Nathan the prophet, Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent. Devotional We have come a long way since last week s story of David and Goliath. David has risen to become the King of Israel. He has unified the nation, conquered their enemies, and expanded their borders. He has seized Jerusalem, made it the Capital City of Israel, and built himself a palace to live in as King. The Lord has now given him a time of peace and rest. And it is while he is resting in his palace one day, that it strikes David that while he dwells in the lap of luxury, the ark of God is still dwelling in a tent (the Tabernacle). He decides he wants to build a house (or temple) for God in Jerusalem. However, God speaks to David through the Prophet Nathan and says an amazing thing. God says in essence, You are not going to build a house for me. I am going to build a house for you. And there is a play on the word house. David wants to build a building for God, but God promises to build a dynasty for David. It is a line of kings descended from David who will sit on the throne of Israel forever. This promise is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus. He is the long awaited Son of David, who sits on the throne of God s kingdom forever. Question: Is your faith focused more on what you are trying to do for God, or on what He has promised to do for you? Prayer: Lord, I give you thanks and praise today for the good news of the gospel: that in Christ You have made me a child of Your household, and prepared a place for me in Your Father s house where I will dwell with You forever. Help me learn to live now as a member of Your family, by the power of Your Spirit. Amen.

4 Tuesday: Prayer Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. Devotional God s plan for redemption takes a step further when He informs David that his family line would be the one through which the Lord would bring the Messiah into the world. One would think that David would be flooded with emotions of honor, joy, excitement, and anticipation. But, what the Bible tells us is that David goes straight to the Lord to pray and his very first words are Who am I? Like David, we may wonder, who are we that God chose to open our hearts and minds to follow Him. Below are some words of the song, Who Am I by Casting Crowns. As we pray today, let s take a moment to read these lyrics. Please click on the link below for the full version of the song. I believe it answers the question of who we are! Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth would care to know my name? Would care to feel my hurt? Who am I, that the bright and morning star would choose to light the way for my ever-wandering heart? Not because of who I am, but because of what You ve done; not because of what I ve done, but because of who You are: I am a flower quickly fading, here today and gone tomorrow. A wave tossed in the ocean, a vapor in the wind. Still You hear me when I m calling. Lord, You catch me when I m falling, and You ve told me who I am, I am Yours. ( Question: How does it make you feel to know God has chosen you? Prayer: Lord, we know You chose us, not for anything we did but because of what You did and because of who You are! There aren t enough ways for us to possibly express the gratitude in our Hearts. We love You, Amen.

5 Wednesday: Rest Scripture: 2 Samuel 7: 8-11 Now then, tell my servant David, This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. Devotional: God is promising David rest. I think this must have been a rare occurrence for David. He must have been a busy king. He had just finished the plans for his palace and now he s thinking about a permanent temple for the Ark of the Covenant. However, God had different plans. He wanted King David to rest in Him and know that He (God) was in charge. Rest. God doesn t want David to work at this time. He wants him to know that his kingly line will extend all the way to Jesus Christ. That s an honor that David cannot make happen on his own, or in his own strength. He just needs to put his hopes and dreams in the coming Son, Jesus Christ. Question: Have you ever made plans without considering what God wants? What would it mean for you to put all your hopes and dreams in Jesus Christ. Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, as David put his hope in you, help me to rest in you, too. Help me to love You more, and be obedient to Your will for my life. O God, You are the Almighty. Thank you for your abundant love and generous gifts. Amen

6 Thursday: Relationships Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:24 You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, O Lord, have become their God. Devotional There is a character in the book, Jane Eyre, who teaches Jane a powerful lesson that there is an eternity extending far beyond this life. I hold another creed, which I seldom mention, but in which I delight and to which I cling, for it extends hope to all; it makes eternity a rest - a mighty home -not a terror and an abyss. Besides with this creed, I can so clearly distinguish between a criminal and his crime. I can so sincerely forgive the first while abhor the last; with this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation never too deeply disgusts me, injustice never crushes me too low; I live in calm, looking to the end. The character s creed is her salvation in Jesus and him reigning as King forever. Therefore she could withstand any affliction and be able to see others in the light of this truth no matter how they treated her. We are made aware that Jesus reign, down from the line of David, is an eternal one. Having this promise we are able to look at others differently. First knowing, like them, that we are offered this underserving gift of eternal life. And secondly, finding comfort in the truth that our momentary troubles are small in comparison to the joy and comfort we will receive in Christ s eternal kingdom. Question: Who is the Lord calling you to love, forgive, and show kindness to today, keeping his eternal kingdom in mind? Prayer: Lord, I confess I often lose sight of your eternal kingdom and get caught up in my momentary troubles. I am quick to judge, to hold grudges, to get angry, and feel hurt. Help me to see those around me with your eyes that they might come to receive you and join in your eternal kingdom. Amen.

7 Friday: Work Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:7, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, Why have you not built me a house of cedar? Who am I, Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign LORD, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant and this decree, Sovereign LORD, is for a mere human! Devotional All through the Old Testament scriptures, we have been learning that God is in charge. Not only is He in charge, but He wants His people to know He is in charge without any uncertainty. In the passage above, God s words sound like a parent s chastisement. Did I ever say to anyone, why haven t you built Me a house of cedar? The house that God would build would not be made of temporal cedar material, but an eternal kingdom that would establish His thrown forever. One commentator explains that having declined David s offer to build Him a house, the Lord counters that He instead will be the One to establish a dynasty for David. Looking forward, His promise to David is that His own Son who will succeed him as King will build a temple for my Name. Question: Is there anything in your life that you need to let go and let God take charge of? Prayer: Gracious God, we join in David s prayer and proclaim, How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no One like you and there is no God but you. Magnify the Lord with me. And let us exalt His name together! Amen.

8 This weeks devotional writers: Monday: Paul McPheeters Tuesday: Christine Bartholomew Wednesday: Chris Redford Thursday: Susan Matos Friday: Nancy McLaughlin

Who is on the throne of your life?

Who is on the throne of your life? Review Give us a King! Saul is anointed as first king Saul fails miserably David is anointed as the second king David kills Goliath Saul s end/david s ascent 2 Samuel: