Bread Alone

“He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”

— Deuteronomy 8:3

With everything going on right now, I think it’s understandably easy to forget that we are in the season of Lent, the 40 days of fasting and discipline before Easter. I, myself, accidentally and absent-mindedly ate takeout orange chicken this past Friday even though I had made “No-Meat-Fridays” part of my Lent fast. 

Mea culpa.

Funny enough, even though the days are all blurring together for some of us and causing us to forget what day of the church calendar it is, much of what is going on is still making us experience the true meaning of the Lenten season.

Think about it: what are some of the things we have given up over the past few weeks? Watching sports on TV? Spending gratuitous amounts of money at Starbucks? Heading out to Guitar Center to stare longingly and covetously at all of the musical gear that I can’t afford?

Was that last one just me?

However, think about it this way as well: what are some of the things that we have taken up over the past few weeks? More time with family? Helping those around us with their grocery shopping? Walks and bike-rides outside (with small groups of people, of course)?

A forced (but still beneficial) time of sabbath?

The 40 days of Lent are meant to commemorate Jesus’ time in the desert fasting and confronting Satan (“the tempter”). Matthew 4:1-11 shows us that Christ’s first temptation was to break his fast. Jesus was fully capable of turning stones into bread as his tempter commanded him to, but rather than succumbing to temptation, Jesus quoted and acted on a short section from the book of Deuteronomy: “... man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”

Jesus performed many food-related miracles while on Earth: changing water into wine and turning a small snack into a feast for 5000+ people just to name a few. He could have easily turned that stone into bread, but Christ took comfort in being in the presence of the Lord and following his commandments. He knew that what the Lord had in store for him was better and more beneficial than anything that humankind can dream up.

Present circumstances are inconvenient to say the least, but now more than ever, we as the Church have been called to give up our temptations and idolatries and trust the Lord as Christ did in the desert. We must remember that God’s plans are far and away better than anything we have in mind.

To paraphrase the book of Deuteronomy: “... man does not live on sports or Starbucks or boutique reverb pedals that would totally sound perfect with my Fender Telecaster alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”

To catch our Lent verse of the week, follow @fccbrea on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter:

-Travis Morrill
Communications and Facilities Administrator at Friends Community Church

Salt and Light

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

— Matthew 5:13-16

This morning as I continued in my Rooted study (even though our group is not meeting), I was so gently reminded that God’s people are called to be the salt and light of the world. We are called to show Christ’s love through our daily lives and interactions. This calling has not changed or altered due to our current circumstances. If anything, the call is stronger!

Photo by Lindley Webster

For salt to be effective for its purpose, it must be used. The salt must be rubbed on the food for preservation or placed on a wound for healing. Salt is not effective sitting on the shelf. Similarly, we must be present and active in the lives around us. We must be bold to strike up conversation, share our story in Christ, show compassion to a hurting neighbor and make it evident that Christ’s love is available to an unbelieving family member. Our genuine love, peace and faithfulness through Christ must be evident as we interact with the dear ones around us. We are called to be the salt of the earth.

Light is strategically placed for it to be used to the fullest. Whether placed on a hill or quarantined at home, our placement is ordained by our heavenly Father. Those who have been placed in our lives are there for a purpose. If our light, Christ’s love through us, is shining bright others around us will see it!

So be present in your current situation. The Lord wants to use you to further His kingdom. As Rooted so beautifully states; “As Christians, our purpose is to love those people (those who are placed in our lives) the way Jesus loves them- with generous compassion, scandalous grace, and undeniable truth.” I prayerfully encourage you to be present and invest in the lives that have been placed in your path. Be the salt and the light you have been called to be.

 -Pastor Darcy Webster
Associate Pastor of Operations and Pastoral Care

Reconciliation

*Before reading this devotional, please read Philemon 1:8-21 (a relatively short passage) in your Bibles at home or by clicking here.

Have you ever considered how many times you have ever asked for forgiveness? Just consider your spouse. There are multiple times a day when I have asked Monica to forgive me for something I have done or said. At work there are times when I have to ask a customer to forgive me for something that happened in my store. Maybe our customer service was lacking, but since I am in charge it is my fault.

One of my favorite Bible stories is the prodigal son. Here is a young man who asks his father for his share of his inheritance. In a real sense he is telling his father, “I wish you were dead!" Now give me my money!” Fast forward to the end of the story, the young man comes to his senses and wants to come home. He has an apology prepared.

The message of Philemon is a message about reconciliation, making things right. Asking for forgiveness is tough. We have to admit our failures, our wrongs. We have to admit we hurt someone. And we need to be humble. But how hard is to give forgiveness? Maybe tougher. It’s easier to hold a grudge.

We do not know if Onesimus forgave Philemon. The apology of the prodigal son was never given. As he approached the family home his father comes running and embraces his son. The father forgives the son. How many people do you know that have disowned a family member and are unwilling to forgive?

Prayer: Help me to be like the forgiving father. Help me to reach out to family or friends I have disowned because I was unwilling to forgive.

-Pastor Rick Ellis
Pastor at Friends Community Church

GUIDED REFLECTION: Job 37:1-18

Before beginning this guided reflection activity, we recommend that you read Job 37:1-18 in your Bible at home or by clicking here. Once you have read the passage, you can begin the activity. While reading the verses, pause and think about the questions and commentary written in italics.

Guided Reflection of Job 37:1-18

At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place.
Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice.
To the rumbling that comes from his mouth.

(Pause)
Let your mind and heart pause and take a posture to listen.

He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven
and sends it to the ends of the earth.
After that comes the sound of his roar;
he thunders with his majestic voice.
When his voice resounds,
he holds nothing back.
Absolutely nothing.
God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways.

Do you see it? Do you perceive it? He does great things beyond our understanding. Does that scare you?

He does great things beyond our understanding.

Does your inability to understand his actions frustrate you? He does great things beyond our understanding. Does your lack of understanding somehow bring you peace?

He says to the snow, “Fall on the earth,”
and to the rain shower, “Be a mighty downpour.”
So that everyone he has made may know his work,
he stops all people from their labor.

Think about that. So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labor. Rain showers, snow storms, and downpours that cause our work to cease, are meant to draw our attention to his work. He says to the snow, “Fall on the earth,” and to the rain shower, “Be a mighty downpour.” So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labor.

The animals take cover;
they remain in their dens.
The tempest comes out from its chamber,
the cold from the driving winds.
The breath of God produces ice
and the broad waters become frozen.
He loads the clouds with moisture;
he scatters his lightning through them.
At his direction they swirl around
over the face of the whole earth
to do whatever he commands them.

He is sovereign. He reigns. He is in control of the universe. He does as he pleases. He is wild. He is good. Rain shows his might in its fierceness and his loving care as it waters the earth.

Listen to this, stop and consider God’s wonders.
Imagine a snowy mountain.
Imagine a starry sky. Imagine a rose.
Imagine a fingerprint.
Imagine a giggle of a child.
Imagine your own heart.
Imagine the outstretched arms of Jesus on the cross.
The creator. Submitting to his creation.
As he gives his life to redeem it.

Do you know how God controls the clouds
and makes his lightning flash?
Do you know how the clouds hang poised,
those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?
You who swelter in your clothes
when the land lies hushed under the south wind.
Can you join him in spreading out the skies?

Yet the God who transcends all, chooses to be near.
Like a parent who bends and stoops to their knee to speak with their child.

Pray

-Pastor Tyler Lemen
Associate Pastor of Family Ministries at Friends Community Church

CONTEST: Memorizing John 15:5

John 15:5 lets us know what we can do as the Church when we rely on God for everything.

During yesterday’s online message, Pastor Rick gave us a challenge: memorize John 15:5, take a video of you and/or your family reciting it from memory, and upload it to Facebook or Instagram tagging @fccbrea in the video. If you do not have Facebook or Instagram, you are also welcome to email the video to Pastor Rick directly at rick@fccbrea.org. Please make sure you include your name or family’s name in the body of the email or social media post.

Videos need to be submitted by Wednesday, MAR 25, at 12 PM noon. Everyone who submits a video will be entered into the contest. One individual submission and one family submission will be picked to win prizes during this Wednesday’s 7 PM online family service, so be sure to tune in on Wednesday night!