Devotionals
 

Devotionals are short essays written by GSLC members and staff that explore the ways the Holy Spirit works within our every day lives.  There are several ways we invite you to use these devotionals:

  • Make them a part of a prayer practice - read a devotion and consider the ways that Christ has worked similarly in your life or works in unexpected ways.
  • Make them a part of a journaling practice - read a devotion and journal about what the Holy Spirit is stirring in you as you reflect on the essay.
  • Use them as a reminder that God works in all things, the bad and the good.

With over 400 available devotions, you can use these daily, weekly, or monthly.  It's up to you!  We just hope that by reading these inspiring stories provided by Good Shepherd's flock you are able to better see where Jesus is present in all things!  Thank you to all of our members that have provided devotionals throughout the past couple of years!

 
Daily Devotion
Jen Jarman

Daily Devotion

Remember Jesus OftenLuke 22:8-20

My family is a family that eats together, primarily at our dining room table. However, before we eat, we say grace. We have taught our children (ages 10, 7 and 4) a few of the more traditional table graces, like “Come Lord Jesus …” or “God is Great….”. Sometimes we pray all together or sometimes we ask one of the children to lead the prayer.

The table grace that always causes me to pause, just for a moment, is when my 4-year leads “God is Great”. When he leads this table grace, he says, “God is grace, God is good, let us thank Him for our food.” And every time he says these words aloud, I always think to myself, “Yup. God is grace”. It is as simple as that.

In his book, “The Cost of Discipleship”, Dietrich Bonhoffer, reflects on the cost of grace and explains it this way:

The essence of grace, we suppose, is that the account has been paid in advance; and, because it has been paid, everything can be had for nothing…. Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: “ye were bought at a price,” and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.

Yes, God is grace and it seems so profound to be reminded of this when my family is gathered at our table, just as Jesus had gathered with his disciples for a meal. Jesus knew what the gift of grace would cost him, yet he willingly gave it to us. When we gather together for meals, Jesus wants us to remember his life and his teachings. He even gave us a new meal to do just this very thing!

How can we best imitate Jesus in our ways and our works? How can we best honor the cost of the gift of grace that has already been given to us?

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