St. Luke United Methodist Church (Goldsboro, NC)

06/24/2026

Devotion for June 24: Read Matthew 10:26-33.
Repeatedly in the scriptures we find the call, “Do not fear.” These words calm our spirits and soothe our nerves in fearful times. Even in today’s short passage, Jesus reassures his disciples three times to have no fear, at least not of the people or things of this world. Rather, we should fear God – not in the sense of being afraid of God, but in the sense of having an attitude of awe and wonder toward God. For God who created the cosmos and everything therein, cares deeply for even the lowliest sparrow. Because of the amazing love of God for us, Jesus came to live and die and live again for us. As Christians, we can know no greater love than this, and that can cast out all our fears. We can take heart and find refuge in God who loves us so much more than we could ever hope or imagine. Prayer: God of life and love, may I never forget how well you know me and how much you love me. Amen.

06/23/2026

Devotion for June 23: Read Psalm 86:1-10
David is named as the author of this psalm, and in it we find familiar themes from David’s life and writings. David feels his life threatened, he cries out to God, and he is confident the Lord will deliver him. Years later, the Hebrew people found this psalm particularly compelling and comforting when they were living in exile in Babylon. The message of this psalm is timeless because it captures the depth of feeling that accompanies someone whose back is against the wall. In those moments and times, only God can make a difference. Perhaps part of the growth process of discipleship is that faith is strengthened during times of suffering. Glimpses of the light of God become visible in the darkest of nights. Prayer: God of grace and mercy, may my pleas to you lead to affirmation of your steadfast love and grace. Amen.

06/22/2026

Devotion for June 22: Read Genesis 21:8-21.
Sarah becomes furious upon seeing Hagar’s son Ishmael playing with her son Isaac and demands that Abraham banish both Hagar and Ishmael. A confused Abraham, who has shown love for Ishmael, turns to God in despair. After hearing from the Lord, Abraham drives Hagar and her son out into the wilderness to the point of death. This story must tug at our heartstrings. Experiences of being “in” and “out” permeate the narrative. How can Hagar and her son be sent out to the desert with little or no provisions just because of jealousy? A closer reading shows that God’s grace pervades this story. God not only comforts and reassures Abraham, but also comforts and reassures Hagar. Through all the drama of inclusion and exclusion, God remains faithful to God’s promises. God’s love extends even to the outcast and God cares about every precious life. Prayer: Loving God, help me see your grace in my life, and lead me to protect and nurture those who bear the brunt of an unjust world. Amen.

06/21/2026

06/19/2026

Devotion for June 19: Read Psalm 100.
When pressures of life overwhelm us and fill our lives and minds with expectations, busyness, worry and anxiety, we need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. The psalms speak to us, especially in such stressful situations, because they move among those pressures of the human condition. Of all the psalms, Psalm 100 is one of the most hopeful. In it, the psalmist reminds the people to rejoice and sing praises because of God’s faithfulness. The witness of the hundredth psalm leads us to not simply react to what happens to us, but to step back and count the blessings of life. In so doing, we are able to envision a future in which these blessings are shared further and wider. Prayer: Eternal God, may your faithfulness give me a sense of joy and hope for the future. Amen.

06/18/2026

Devotion for June 18: Read Matthew 10:1-8.
Jesus sends out the disciples with words of instructions but also an honest sharing of what they might expect. Their work will be in response to Christ sending them out. Our calling today is no different and often demands a high cost for faithfulness. Following Jesus often stretches us beyond our comfort zones and normal routines. N.T. Wright writes that Jesus’ instructions “were very specific, for a particular situation. But Matthew has recorded them in detail, presumably because he thinks they remain relevant to the church even after Jesus’ death and resurrection.” * As we respond to God’s faithfulness, we do so with a promise to follow, serve and witness to Jesus as we carry forth his ministry in all we say and do. Prayer: Gracious God, help me to put my trust in you so that seeking your will may be my primary interest and intent. Amen.
* – Wright, N.T., Matthew for Everyone, Part One.

06/17/2026

Devotion for June 17: Read Genesis 18:1-15.
Seeking shelter from the midday heat, Abraham is amazed to look up and see three strangers nearby. He runs to greet them and begs them to stay for a while. Abraham does not recognize these three strangers as anyone other than people who must be hungry, thirsty and exhausted. Abraham and Sarah engage busily in normal matters of welcome – food, water to wash up, and a place to rest. In this encounter, like so many others in the stories of Abraham and Sarah, risk leads to blessings. Throughout generations to come, the people of Israel would look at the visit of the three strangers to Abraham and Sarah as confirmation of their identity rooted in radical hospitality and generosity. As Christians and spiritual heirs of Abraham through our faith, we do well to remember that heritage. Prayer: Loving God, may your love and faithfulness inspire me to generosity and graciousness to others. Amen.

06/16/2026

Devotion for June 16: Read Romans 5:6-8.
Living lives that God might declare righteous is central to our calling as followers of Christ. How do we say “Yes!” to God? We do so by placing God at the center of our lives. When we reach out to God in faith, we receive the peace of Christ. The task for us is to put our complete faith and trust in Jesus Christ who challenges us to move beyond our comfort zones. Jesus calls us, like the disciples, to step out on faith and follow him. When we put our faith and trust in Christ, and Christ alone, then we are justified before God. Once we are justified and find peace with God through faith in Christ, we can follow Christ anywhere. That’s both our call and challenge. It is also our source of hope and strength for the journey because God showed his love for us while we were yet sinners. Prayer: Gracious God, I am overwhelmed that Christ died for me, a sinner. In gratitude, may I live my life for you in Jesus’ name. Amen.

06/15/2026

Devotion for June 15: Read Romans 5:1-5.
In the preceding chapters of Romans, Paul has laid out his case that righteousness depends on faith because no one can earn enough merit to deserve eternal life with God. Then, in today’s reading, Paul moves on to state his trust that troubles – when placed in God’s hands – produce endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces a hope that does not disappoint us. The key to this progression toward hope lies in endurance, and endurance is born out of faith. Actively overcoming trials requires seeing opportunity and possibility in times of trouble. When we reach out to God in faith, we receive the peace of Christ and discover a hope that is robust and alive. And we see God at work, doing a new thing. Prayer: Loving God, thank you for this adventure of faith called “life.” Let me find resilience in hope. Amen.