Daily Devotional August 20, 2020

Way back at the beginning of time, when I was eleven years old, my father announced that our entire family was going to fast for the day.  The money that would have been spent on food would be given to the poor.

Luckily, my mother had already fed us breakfast and packed our lunches for school.  Somehow Dad had not taken that into consideration. 

Being an eleven year old boy whose primary purpose in life was to eat, I worried all day long about what was going to happen that night.  Would I slowly waste away to nothing?   Would I be able to survive till the next morning’s breakfast?  Would I ever recover from this physical and psychological torture? Should I call Child Protective Services?  Would the police bring us food?

Fortunately, late that night, after my mother heard all her children’s concerns about dying from starvation, she caved in and made peanut butter sandwiches.  It was the best sandwich I have ever eaten.  Also, Dad never asked us to fast again.

Needless to say, I am scarred for life and whenever fasting comes up, I want to run out the door, screaming like a little girl.

But now that I am older, I see fasting a little differently.  It’s nothing more than a religious discipline.  That’s a good thing.

Starting Aug. 27, you are invited to be part of a necessary religious discipline of our church.

In preparation for Reading the Bible in 90 Days (B-90), members of our congregation will take turns reading the Bible aloud, from cover to cover, in the sanctuary.  This will be a continual reading that will begin with Genesis and end with Revelation.  It will be a sacred event where members are given the opportunity to sign up for 30 minutes slots, to sit at a table reading out loud the most important words ever written.  The good news is, while you won’t be allowed to eat in the sanctuary, you will only have to give up food for half an hour.  Even I can do that.

This is a chance for our congregation to completely immerse ourselves in God’s holy word but we cannot make this work if you don’t participate.

King David said, “And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.”  (Psalm 12:6)

Plan on being a part of this fantastic event and experience God’s wonderful words.

Prayer:  Dear Gracious Heavenly God, please bless our congregation as we read your holy word.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

If you are interested in being a part of this spiritual disciple, contact Pastor Brian at (Brian.longley@fumctemple.org) to reserve your slot.

If you participate in this wonderful event, you will be blessed.  Also, I will make you a peanut butter sandwich.  It will be the very best peanut butter sandwich you have ever tasted.  Trust me!

I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins