Trinity Daily Devotion

Call to Contrition
Psalm 51:1-12
Rev. Mosea Harris

When I first read this Psalm for the purpose of writing this devotion, I said to myself, this should be posted in the chambers of Congress, because as a nation, integrity seems to be challenged and truth is under attack. However, as I thought more deeply, I was convicted and realized that this psalm ought to be posted on the chambers of my heart. This is a prayer of deep contrition and to get to this level of contrition, one must be honest.

King David was inspired to write this song after he was deeply convicted when the prophet Nathan held up a mirror so that he could see himself in his “insane mess.” The story is posted in 2 Samuel 11-12. It is about David lusting after the wife of a man who was off fighting for David and the Kingdom. David summoned the beautiful woman and had relations with her. She became pregnant. David attempted a coverup, but it did not work as the husband was so loyal to his men that he would not sleep with his wife while his men were still fighting.

David was on a deep “trip” so he decided to put the husband in a position where he would be killed. David actually murdered the husband by placing him in a position of sure death. David proceeded with his life, but God saw him just as God see us. Nathan then approached David and checked him and told a story that cause David anger against the protagonist of the story, but Nathan flipped the script and let David know that the one he was so angry with because of the callouses injustice was actually himself. It cut David like a knife. He went into a state of deep contrition and pinned the words of Psalm 51, "Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions…"

As we navigate this season of sacrifice and reflection, let us be deep and honest with ourselves. And turn to the one who sacrificed it all and paid the price in order for us for us to reset.

Prayer: Lord, please see me, show me, forgive me and cleanse me. Amen.

Thought for the day: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Faithful Obedience
Genesis 9:8-17
Minister Phyllis Bean Johnson

The biblical narrative of creation states, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good“ (Gen. 1:31). Can you imagine the beauty of God‘s creation when the Earth was filled with a landscaped floor, arrangements, lush greenery, clean water, clear, bright skies, and a peace that blanketed the earth? Yet, the earth became corrupt and was full of violence and God made the decision to start over (Gen. 6:11-13). Only Noah and his household, along with pairs of every clean animal, were instructed to be brought into the ark, and therefore saved.

Noah found favor with God not because he was sinless, but because of his faith and obedience to God. Can you imagine the faith required to build a structure of this magnitude in a dry season while others are going about their daily lives? Scripture states, “For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark“ (Matt. 24:38).

Because of Noah’s faith and obedience, God established a covenant with him, his family and future descendants, along with every living creature on the ark stating, “Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood, never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth” (9:11). In addition, God established a sign of this covenant through the rainbow which God hung in the clouds during creation. God reminds us, “whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it, and remember the everlasting covenant between God, and all living creatures of every kind on the earth” (9:16).

During this Lenten season, as we celebrate God’s promise of a new life in Christ Jesus his death and resurrection, let us remain faithful and obedient, even when God calls us to trust the unseen, and embrace the unknown.

Prayer:
Loving and merciful God, we thank you for bringing us this far by faith. I ask that you keep your hand upon us, that we may emulate you, and through your power become faithful and obedient unto death. Amen.

Thought of the day:
”Only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.”
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Christians as Ambassadors for Christ
2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10
Min. Dyamond Hill

2 Corinthians 4:20b-6:10 is an inspiring passage that recounts the work of reconciliation achieved by God through Jesus Christ. It reminds us about our role as ambassadors for Christ and calls on us to live the message of reconciliation in our lives by being hopeful, even when the situations surrounding us are difficult.

As we go into the Lenten season, we are reminded of God’s work of reconciliation through Jesus Christ. Paul reminds us that Jesus has entrusted us with the message of reconciliation as his ambassadors. Therefore, we need to live the message of reconciliation by being agents of forgiveness, love, and compassion in the world. We are called to be peacemakers who work to bring hope and healing to the people around us.

The message brings us hope and reminds us that though we might have strayed far away from God, we can always come back to God and be forgiven for our sins. The call to ambassadorship for Christ is not easy, it is filled with challenges, as Paul recounts the cruelties plaguing his daily life. The current tough economic situation and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other new diseases and viruses, are some of the challenges we face as ambassadors for Christ today. However, Paul reminds us that Christ makes us complete even in the face of such difficulties. We are not alone in this struggle as God is with us, empowering and strengthening us to abide in God’s Word. This passage is a source of encouragement and comfort for us as we go through obstacles. God is with us; through God, we can overcome all obstacles.

Prayer:
Thank You, Lord, for reconciling Yourself with us through Jesus Christ and making us his ambassadors. Give us the courage and strength to live out this message in our lives. Help us to endure difficult circumstances with hope and joy in the knowledge that You are always with us.

Thought for the Day:
We should reflect on our role as ambassadors of Christ and share his message of love for others. We should remind others that God is always with them to strengthen and encourage them, even in the face of challenges.

A Contrite Heart
Psalm 51:1-17
Min. Dr. Sue B. Ladd

In Psalm 51:1-17, David acknowledges his sin and asks for God’s mercy. He
recognizes that he can only be forgiven by God’s grace. Therefore, even at a time when he is distressed, he thanks God for His mercy and love. Although he has sinned, he recognized that it is important to maintain a heart of purity before the Lord.

As we reflect on this scripture during the Lenten season, we need to examine our hearts and repent with a sincere heart to have our sins forgiven by God. Let us take time to reflect on our lives and ask the Lord to reveal to us any areas we might have gone astray or fallen short. We should express humility before God and seek to lead a life that pleases him. Just like David, we can seek God’s mercy because as the scripture says in 1 John 1:9, "The Lord is faithful and just to forgive us when we confess our sins and turn away from them." May our hearts experience the joy of God’s forgiveness as we come near to him in devotion and repentance during this Lenten season.

Just as David was not discouraged by his sinful state from turning back to God, we should not be discouraged by difficult circumstances such as the pandemic, health issues, or tough economic circumstances. We should always seek the face of the Lord regardless of the situations we find ourselves in. We must remember Proverb 28:13, "He who covereth his sins will not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall find mercy."

Prayer:
Thank you, Lord, for the gift of Your forgiveness. Your love and mercy for us are without limit. Help us to acknowledge our sins and turn back to You in repentance. You have taught us that all have sinned and fallen short of Your glory and that if we repent our sins, You will forgive us. Grant us a contrite heart so we may always acknowledge our sins and repent.

Thought for the Day: We should always acknowledge our sins and turn to God as our Merciful Father to forgive us. God can forgive any sin and accept us back into God’s fold.

Fasting with Purpose:
The True Spirit of Repentance
Isaiah 58:1-12
Rev. Kevin Murphy

Isaiah 58 is a call to true fasting and devotion during the season of Lent. The Prophet speaks to the people of Israel, who are observing religious rituals but failing to live out their faith with justice and compassion for the oppressed. In this passage, God calls the people to a different kind of fasting: to loose the chains of injustice, to let the oppressed go free, to share their bread with the hungry, and to provide the homeless with shelter.

Lent is a time of self-reflection, a time to turn away from our own sin and seek the face of God. But the true fast that God desires is not simply about denying ourselves physical pleasures. Instead, it is about living out our faith in tangible ways, bringing hope and healing to a broken world. This means working for justice, caring for the poor, and showing love to those who are marginalized and oppressed.

As we enter this season of Lent, let us ask God to search our hearts and reveal any areas where we need to repent and turn back to God. Let us also ask for the strength and courage to live out our faith in meaningful ways, making a difference in the lives of those around us. May this season be a time of true fasting, as we seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a world in need.

Prayer:
Gracious God, during this season of Lent, help us to deepen our relationship with You by heeding Your words spoken through the Prophet Isaiah. Teach us to fast in a way that pleases You and to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to help the oppressed, to share with the hungry, and to bring healing to the broken. Let our light shine bright, so that all may see the goodness of Your love.

Thought of the Day:
True worship is not just about religious rituals, but about living a life of justice and compassion for all.

A Call to Return to God
Joel 2:1-2; 12-17
Rev. Regena Glenn-Caldwell

The Prophet Joel teaches us about the power of fasting and praying during a time of difficulty in the time of Israel. The people prayed for God to deliver them from their period of what they considered a natural disaster. We see how God used a devasting plague of locusts to get the attention of the wayward people. Jesus showed the people that the result of sincere repentance would be a blessing to God.

Verses 12-17 invite you to respond to the warning. With every challenge or storm, there is a call to repent. A call to return to God with all your heart. God will be there with a purpose, to give you hope. But God said, “I will restore to you the years the locusts have eaten and devasted."

For three years, we have experienced a pandemic where this country and others have experienced the effects of living a new normal. You name it; people experienced it. God is speaking today. If you repent, a blessing is on the way. The word of God will reign forever, so you and I must read the word of God constantly and live according to the word daily.

To rend your heart shows that God looks for transformation and will only use sincere hearts. In verses 15-17, there is an urgency for restoration. Joel called the nation to assemble and repent.

During this Lenten Season, think about your personal journey with Jesus. What will it take, or what did it take for you to accept and obey God? If you make an effort, God will bless and manifest in ways you won’t be able to comprehend or explain. Move forward in service as you start remembering the word of God during your journey this Lenten Season.

Prayer:
God, we are thankful for restoration and Your steadfast love. We are grateful that You can speak beauty into existence and show us grace when we repent and return to You. Amen.

Thought of the Day:
As you draw closer to God, you will find spiritual strengthening as you repent. Turn your hearts and return to God.

What Was God’s Will?
Luke 22:39-44 NIV
Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., Pastor Emeritus

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives and His disciples followed Him…Jesus withdrew about a stone’s throw from His disciples, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing take this cup from me, yet not my will, but your will be done.” An angel from Heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Luke 22:39-44 NIV

In a quiet moment, I ask you this day to sing this old hymn in the privacy of your home, “Have thine own way, Lord.” That hymn is still one of pivotal songs sung by believers all over this world. Our Sanctuary Choir sings a gospel mix of this hymn, “Have thine own way, dear Lord in me!” This song teaches the lesson that is a difficult lesson to learn and to follow – that is letting God have God’s way in our lives!

Jesus taught us and the disciples to pray in these words, “Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE!” And in the thirty-six years of pastoring that I shared with the Trinity community, I was often asked the question, “Well pastor? What is God’s will?”

For each parishioner the answer to that question was different and I had to pray fervently that God might give me discernment to help them grow through their moment questioning and their moment of discernment as they sought to ask God’s will for their lives in their individual situations.

As I held up the words of the Lord from the Disciples’ Prayer, “Thy will be done” next to the words of Jesus’ last prayer in the presence of His disciples, “Father, if it be thy will, take this cup from me; yet not my will but thine.” Yet not my will, prayed Jesus, but thine be done,” God gave me the meditation for our congregation during this Lenten Season by addressing the question, “What was God’s will?”

After three years of intense ministry, after 33 years of life in the flesh, what was God’s will for Jesus as He knelt in the garden of the Mount of Olives?

If I still had a voice and had the ability to preach, God gave me more than a devotional thought for this Lenten Season. God actually gave me a sermon! What was God’s will?

Holding these two disparate passages of scripture together, the Lord showed me that God’s will was first of all to expunge the sinful records of believers. (EXPUNGE THE SINFUL RECORDS) When one has been convicted of a crime, there is no greater blessing one could receive than having his or her criminal record expunged. To expunge a record means that there is no evidence of any crime ever being committed by the convicted person. That’s what God was getting ready to do on Calvary and that is what God’s will was for Jesus at that moment.

At Lazarus’ grave, God’s will was for those who loved Jesus to see that God had power over death. For the man possessed of an evil spirit in Mark 5, God’s will for Jesus at that point in His ministry was to show how God had power over foreign thinking, foreign acting, foreign behavior and foreign possession of one’s life.

In Luke 22, however, God’s will for Jesus at this point in His life and ministry was to expunge the criminal records of believers. The blood that Jesus shed on Calvary wiped out (expunged!) the record of our sinful deeds. Another hymnologist puts it this way: “What can wash away my sins?” What can expunge my sinful record? “Nothing but the blood of Jesus!” God’s will was to expunge the sinful records of all believers.

Secondly, God’s will for Jesus at this point in his ministry was to expose the inhumanity of the empire. (EXPOSE THE EMPIRE FOR WHAT IT WAS AND WHAT IT IS.)

The empire is evil. The empire cares nothing about the human beings made in God’s image. The empire is selfish. The empire is vicious. The empire puts profits above people. The empire only cares about its power and its power alone. What the empire was going to do to Jesus on the cross of Calvary exposed it and all of its raw brutality. God’s will for Jesus was to expose the empire.

Most importantly, in my opinion, however, God’s will for Jesus at this point in his life and ministry was to show how God’s love is more powerful than “Man’s” hate. (HOLY LOVE IS MORE POWERFUL THAN HUMAN HATE!)

When Nicodemus came unto Jesus at night for a midnight theology class, Jesus told him what was the key to new life in Christ. Remember? Jesus told Nicodemus, “For God so loved the world, that God gave His only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life!”

God did not send God’s Son into the world to condemn the world. Condemnation is the work of the empire. Condemnation is demonstrated by the empire on Calvary! God sent His son to the world that through Him all might be saved! God’s agenda is not condemnation but salvation. God loved us even when we were unlovable.

God still loves us when we are unlovable. God loves us when others hate us. God loves us because we are made in God’s image and believe in His son for deliverance.
Remember! In Hebrew the word “salvation” means deliverance!

David in a prophetic moment used the word “salvation” foretelling the coming of Christ when he said, “The Lord is my light and my SALVATION!”

God’s will for Jesus was to expunge our records, to expose the empire, and to show that God’s love is stronger than human hate.

The first word uttered from the cross by Jesus shows me that Jesus had a positive response to His question as to whose will was more important as He prayed earnestly while sweat drops of blood fell from his brow. Jesus’ first word was, “Father forgive them.” Only a love that is the greatest love of all could utter those words, given the pain He endured in the garden and the pain He was suffering on the cross.

First God addressed Jesus’ painful situation with a divine demonstration! An angel was dispatched from the heavenly courts to demonstrate that God heard, God answered and God was present! When we wrestle with difficult situations in our lives or in our homes, when we fall on our knees like Jesus and as the song says, we earnestly, fervently pray, this text teaches me that God hears and God sends an angel to remind us that God is present.

We might not like the answer to our prayer or the seeming silence in response to our prayers as we wrestle with the question of our human wills and God’s holy will, but know this, my beloved: God hears! And God is present!

The last verse reminds us of what God gives to those who believe: “Pardon our sin” (records expunged!) “and a peace that endureth” (not a transient peace that the empire offers!) “Thine own dear PRESENCE to cheer and to GUIDE”

“Strength for today!” (Luke 22:43 says the angel strengthened Jesus.) “And bright hope for tomorrow; blessings all mine with ten thousand beside!” God is faithful. God hears and God is present! The Biblical hymnodist says God is a very PRESENT help in the time of trouble.

Jesus’s final words on the cross sum it all up in terms of a demonstration of love: “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit.” Jesus put it all in God’s hand because God’s hands are hands of love.

What was God’s will for Jesus? To expunge our sinful records, to expose an evil empire and to show God’s love for all the world.

Closing Prayer:
Almighty God, the maker of and lover of this world, teach us during this Lenten
Season just how great your love has been, is now and continues to be. Teach us to love ourselves and our neighbors as you love us, unconditionally and unequivocally. In the name of Him who came for us, died for us, rose for us and is coming back for us…In the name of Jesus we pray Amen and Ashe.

Closing Hymn:
“Have Thine Own Way in My Life.”

Overlooked no More
Ryann Michelle Dawson
Youth Division 2.0

Romans 16:1-4 NIV
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.

“The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman.”
This quote from Malcolm X describes the all too familiar experience of being a Black woman in America, and truthfully, in the world. As iconic as this quote is, and as much as it rings true to this day. I would like to add another word to describe the feeling of being a Black woman; overlooked. Whether that be in a conference room or a classroom, Black women everywhere can relate to the experience of being overlooked, and overshadowed. Just as we, Black women, can relate to this, so can the biblical Black women as well.

In one of the most popular books of the bible, Romans, strong Black women are at the core of the Christian church. Paul sends a strong woman of color (Phoebe) to the capital of the Roman Empire in order to start a church. That in itself shows the amount of trust and the vital role that Phoebe played. Without her establishing a church in Rome who knows where Christianity would be today?

Paul goes on to note another Black woman, Priscilla, who arrived with her husband Aquilla. Here is a Black woman who Paul says put her life on the line in order to further advance the radical cause, at that time, of Christianity. Now, for many, this may be your first-time hearing of this woman. How could these strong Black women play such a crucial part in forming and developing the early church and yet be so forgotten and overlooked?

We, as Black women in America today, can relate. Our broad strokes being resigned to footnotes, our radical leadership and courage left to fall behind a man’s shadow. The Claudette Conway's, the Ella Bakers, the Ida B. Wells’. Successful, intelligent women who made broad, radical strokes in the pursuit of freedom, who were confined to stay trapped in the pages they helped create. This Black history month let’s shed light on radical black women in the bible, as well as the real world. We must celebrate Miriam and Deborah alongside Harriet and Sojourner.

PRAYER
God, please help me to pursue your love and honor your daughters by remembering and seeking to find their legacy. Please allow me to draw strength from the resilient, powerful Black women in the bible who have come before me. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Are there more overlooked unknown Black women in my community and in my bible that I don’t know of, how can I find them, research, and share them?

I Love Me Too!
Sandra (Sandy) Hall

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
I Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)

During the month of February, many owners of businesses scramble to compete for customers to offer the best Valentine’s Day gifts and deals. People married and/or dating, even children get excited to see how many Valentines they will get and purchase gifts for their parents and others. Oftentimes, the number and type of gifts (jewelry, flowers, chocolate, gift cards, etc.) indicates for the receiver, the level or intensity of love from the gift giver. This Valentines Day, I’d like to offer an alternative: show some love or MORE love to yourself. I’m calling it “I Love Me Too Day” encouraging us all to elevate our level of self-care.

This first book of Corinthians, written by Apostle Paul to the church of Corinth was in response to stories he heard that concerned him; especially divisiveness in the church. Paul also warned against sexual immorality, teaching that the body is the temple for the Holy Spirit. Paul encourages the practice of self-discipline for believers. While chapter 10 is a continuation of a concern raised in chapter 8 and 9, regarding what the Corinthian Christians should think and do regarding meat that had been sacrificed to idols, our specific scripture instructs us and them to consider “EVERYTHING we do should be for the Glory of God.” The Lord wants us to be mindful of the examples we set before others (our children, new babes in Christ and others who look up to us) so we don’t cause others to stumble and be disobedient.

This scripture is certainly relevant today as practicing self-discipline can be done on many levels. I believe enhancing our self-care by making healthier food choices, exercising more, being intentional about getting more sleep, spending more time enjoying nature, honoring how we treat our bodies and/or how we allow others to treat us physically, mentally, or emotionally can all qualify as self-love.

While God wants us to treat our neighbors as ourselves, our focus ought not be about trying to please others with gifts so we can reap benefits of those relationships. Our purpose is simply to glorify God!

PRAYER:
Gracious loving God, we thank you for your love and mercy. Give us the wisdom, knowledge, and courage to honor daily the gifts of our lives and our bodies, to treat them as temples for the Holy Spirit that dwells within us, as your word has called us to do; and to glorify you Lord in WHATEVER we do! Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Every day, not just Valentines Day, creates another opportunity to practice self-love and step up our level of self-care.

Confident in God
Khayyan Wafer
Psalms 46:1 ESV

God is our refuge and strength, a very present[b] help in trouble.

I still cannot believe that my mom passed away 18 months ago and that I am living in Chicago again. During all the changes, I have had to call on God for God’s help more than ever. God has been my help and God has been my refuge. God has given me strength when I was weak and encouraged me to continue this new journey. I understand our ancestors when they said God will never let you down. God is my rock and in these last 18 months my relationship with God has grown in many ways and I give God all the praise for being my help and my refuge in times of trouble.

Many of the other Psalms begin with a description of the psalmist’s crisis, but in Psalms 46:1 the poet begins with God’s provision. The writer of this verse in Psalms looked to God for help in difficult times and found it. He could say these things by experience: God Himself is a place of refuge. God Himself is strength for His people, being strong for them and in them. God alone is refuge and strength, not God and something or someone else. God Himself is help – not from a distance, but a very present help. In this verse we can apply confidence that God is our refuge and strength, God is help to and for God’s people.

We all have fears and trouble and based on this emotion we get weak during bad situations but in this verse, we have a description of God and a wonderful promise based on Gods character that has never let us down. God is a safe place to hide God is always ready to help when we need God in the time of trouble. God is our refuge, our safe place, our retreat, the place we go when we are afraid but remember at the end of the situation no matter what, God is our strength and power.

PRAYER:
Dear Lord, even during tragic circumstances, we thank You for being present, even when it is hard to see, we thank You God for being our refuge and strength.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
God is our shelter and strength always ready to help in the time of trouble.

Easier Said Than Done
Rev. Barbara A. Heard

Col. 3:13 NRSV
“Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

There are many things in life that are easier said than done. When Jesus commands us “to forgive others just as God has forgiven you…,” that’s easier said than done. It’s easier said than done to let go of resentment and bitterness for the wrongs done to you. It’s easier said than done to forgive that family member, co-worker or significant other who has wounded you.

Many of us have been wounded physically, mentally, and emotionally. Situations and circumstances have happened unexpectedly catching us off guard, perhaps blindsiding us and that makes it hurt all the more. Sometimes we didn’t see the assault coming. So when Jesus commands us to forgive, His directive is not always well received. Certainly, our response is anything but enthusiastic.
Yet you must remember that to harbor an unforgiving spirit interferes with your relationship with God. You will wind up blocking your own blessing; you will find yourself in bo***ge locked up in an emotional prison.

Forgiveness is a process and its length of time varies with each individual. It’s a process that is not over until God says so. An unforgiving spirit will hinder the healing process. Forgiveness requires us to let go and let God do what God does best. God’s grace will intervene on your behalf. God’s healing power will move in and enable and empower you to let go of all the anger, resentment, and any feelings of hatred. Any grudges you are still holding onto will finally be released. You will be free at last to move on to fulfill the plans and purpose that God has for your life without the burden of unforgiveness. So let go, let God, and move on!

PRAYER:
Loving and Merciful God,
Look with compassion upon those of us whose inability to forgive hinders our relationship with You. Empower us by your Holy Spirit to let go, let God, and move on knowing that you’ve got it all In your hands. In Jesus’ name, we pray, in faith believing, that it’s already done. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
With God, all things are possible, even forgiveness.