Devotional Messages

DEVOTIONAL MESSAGE

Psalm 67:1-2 – May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations.  (NRSV)

Some of you will read those words from the beginning of Psalm 67 and recognize them from a place deep in your soul.  If that’s you, it’s likely that you had the privilege of being present in a meeting of the Deaconesses when they used to meet regularly at VLM, or perhaps you participated in another Disciples women’s group somewhere else.  These verses were the benediction of Disciples women’s groups for decades, and they speak to some of the core values of those ministries over the years.

Disciples women’s groups – whether they were called Deaconesses or Christian Women’s Fellowship or anything else – were historically and consistently focused not on serving just themselves, but serving God’s people all around the world.  They often involved educational components that used materials from our missionaries in various countries.  Our Deaconesses had a regular practice of visiting our homebound members on the Wednesday mornings before their luncheon meetings.

So it makes sense that the benediction these groups of faithful women shared across distance and time invokes God’s blessing, not for our own sake, but so that we might be a blessing to others.  What are you pledging about how you’re going to live your life if God’s blessing on you would illustrate the ways of God to the world?  What are the values we’re committing to act upon if our blessing is to bring salvation to people far away from us?

Part of the Christian life is living beyond ourselves, being part of something bigger than ourselves.  It means that we learn from and take responsibility for neighbors all across the planet, whether in the next town or on the other side of the globe.  We are blessed with a church that gives us many ways to live out that far-flung commitment.  Let us give thanks for the historic witness of Disciples women, calling us to deeper communion with God’s people all around the world.