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Good morning!
We hope this day finds you and your family well. We invite you to take a few moments to read and reflect upon today’s scripture selection — and to carry these thoughts with you into your day.

Today's Scripture: Deuteronomy 10:17-22 

17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, 18 who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. 19 You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 20 You shall fear the Lord your God; him alone you shall worship; to him you shall hold fast, and by his name you shall swear. 21 He is your praise; he is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things that your own eyes have seen. 22 Your ancestors went down to Egypt seventy persons; and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars in heaven.

Tim’s Devotional Reflection for Today

Today’s reading comes from the recitation of the law in Deuteronomy. However, it’s also important to note that this passage actually begins with these words: “Now in light of all that, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you? Only this: to revere the Lord your God by walking in all his ways, by loving him, by serving the Lord your God with all your heart and being, and by keeping the Lord’s commandments and his regulations that I’m commanding you right now. It’s for your own good!”  (Deuteronomy 10:12-13, CEB)

The book of Genesis says that human beings were “created in the image of God.”  Today’s reading says that we are to treat people as God does: “who doesn’t play favorites and doesn’t take bribes. He enacts justice for orphans and widows, and he loves immigrants, giving them food and clothing.” (Deuteronomy 10:17, CEB)

It goes on to make the tie to what God requires: “That means you must also love immigrants because you were immigrants in Egypt. Revere the Lord your God, serve him, cling to him, swear by his name alone!” (Deuteronomy 10:19, CEB)

All these words speak to people of faith in every generation, including our own. They remind us that idolatry can creep in for all of us; without realizing it we can elevate too highly certain people or things — even to the level of God.  These words also remind us how we are to treat others — and that we must do these things for our own good.

Hymn Suggestion

“A Charge to Keep I Have”

A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify,
A never-dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky.

To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfill;
Oh, may it all my pow'rs engage
To do my Master's will!

Arm me with watchful care
As in Thy sight to live,
And now Thy servant, Lord, prepare
A strict account to give!

Help me to watch and pray,
And still on Thee rely,
Oh, let me not my trust betray,
But press to realms on high.

Thank you for sharing this moment of your day with us, with God, and with these reflections on a portion of scripture. We hope you will carry these with you throughout your day and night. 

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800 W. 5th St., Fort Worth, TX 76102
817-336-7277
 
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fumcfw.org fumcfw.org
Facebook Facebook
Twitter Twitter
YouTube YouTube
SoundCloud Audio SoundCloud Audio
Flickr Photos Flickr Photos
Copyright © First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth. All rights reserved.
800 W. 5th St., Fort Worth, TX 76102
817-336-7277
 
Forward to a friend
View in browser 
Subscription preferences
Unsubscribe from all news