Pastor Tim Patoka
Road Trip Route 3:16
July 24, 2022
Devotion #1: God Saves John 3:16 The Grand Canyon. It’s called that for a reason because it is the one of the largest canyons in the world. While you get different views of its grandness depending on where you are, let’s look at just the area by the North Rim and South Rim visitor centers. It’s about a mile deep from rim to river and, as the crow flies, 10 miles to the other side. Suppose you wanted to get to the other side of those 10 miles. How would you do that? You could walk it by hiking the 20+ mile Rim-to-Rim trail, but you better be in excellent shape to do that! Rather, you’ll have to drive the 4-hour, 200+ miles that goes around it via Route 89. Simply put, the Grand Canyon is so grand that it’s not easy to get from one visitor center to the other. Whether you’ve been to the Grand Canyon, you’re already familiar with a different kind of grand canyon – the grand canyon between us and God before of our sin. As it says in Isaiah 59(:2 NIV) “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” We don’t want this canyon to be there. So we try to bridge the distance. We do the best we can and hope that it’ll be enough. We redefine what sin is so that we lower the bar and make it easier to live supposedly good lives. Yet no matter what we do to bridge this sinful canyon, it’s no more successful than an Olympic track and field athlete doing a running long jump at the Grand Canyon’s Visitor Center – falling far short and falling down to their inescapable doom. So how do we bridge the canyon between God and us when there’s no Rim-to-Rim hiking trail or Route 89? For one, we don’t do anything. Rather, it’s God saves us. As the children learned on Monday from John 3:16 (NIV), “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Because of God’s unconditional love for sinners like you and me, he sent his one and only Son Jesus Christ into this world to be our Savior. He lived the perfect life we cannot so that he could die the substitutionary death we need. His death paid the price for our sins and closed the canyon between God and humans through the forgiveness of sins. When you feel the weight of your sins bearing down on you, remember that God sent his Son for you to save you from your sins. When you consider the punishment that you deserve for the sins you have done, remember that you will not perish in them for you have eternal life. When you consider the grand canyon between you and God, remember the one who alone bridges the distance, Jesus Christ, so that you may be living proof that God indeed saves. Amen.
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Pastor Tim Patoka
Road Trip Route 3:16
July 24, 2022
Devotion #2: God’s Power Mark 10:27 On October 28, 1965, construction finished on the St. Louis Gateway Arch to commemorate Thomas Jefferson’s vision and St. Louis’ role in America’s westward expansion in the 1800s. But it is also an impressive building in and of itself. As tall as it is wide, it measures 630 feet – 63 stories – and is the tallest monument in our country. As if its dimensions and design wasn’t enough to impress you, there is also a one-of-kind tram ride to the top that was custom-made for the Arch’s unique constraints. The St. Louis Arch wasn’t the first building that was designed to impress people. Every architecture style has its poster child and history is replete with impressive structures that still astound us today. But you know what is even more impressive than buildings that stand the test of time? It’s the power that our God has and the miracles that our Savior performs. On Tuesday this past week, our children heard how Jesus raised Jairus’ dead daughter back to life. There was no question that she had passed away. Neither was there when they saw her alive again. It was from this miracle that the children learned that “all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27 NIV) Not even death can stop our Lord. It’s one thing to say that, it’s another to actually believe it. Do you act as if all things are possible with God? When you feel your anxiety rising because of things outside your control, do you let it escalate because you dwell on it rather than let the Lord handle it? Are you feeling extra stress from our current set of problems like historic inflation, continual conflict overseas, and polarized opinions at home? Do you wonder if these problems are too much for our Lord to handle? Don’t think such things. That’s because all things are possible for our all-powerful God who continues to impress us today. Look to the globe on which we live and all its diverse landscapes. View the latest pictures from NASA’s James Webb telescope. Do you know what you see? It’s God’s artistic fingerprints in the universe he created by his Word alone in 6, 24-hour days. What an impressive God we have! Review the miracles that your Savior performed while he walked in this world like raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead. Nothing is too difficult for our impressive God! Look to yourself and how God has provided, protected, and preserved you despite all our current problems and your anxious concerns. As he has, so he will continue to do so. So when you have problems or concerns in life, who will you go to for help? It’s God we go to. And so let’s do that and remember who he is – our all-powerful Savior who has the power to do anything. Amen.
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Pastor Tim Patoka
Road Trip Route 3:16
July 24, 2022
Devotion #3: God First Deuteronomy 6:5 What would you put aside so you could go on your dream vacation? For children wishing to go to a theme park with its water rides and roller coasters like you see in your worship folder, they’re willing to put a lot aside! A percentage of their allowance so they can their favorite souvenirs…time with friends so they can go to the theme park. If you dream vacation requires some lifestyle changes (like getting in better shape), you’re probably okay doing so. What would you put aside so that God can be first in your life? We hear this command in Deuteronomy chapter 6(:5 NIV), “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” To love God with all our heart, soul, and strength means to put him first at every time and in every place. On Wednesday, the children heard how one man struggled to do that because of the vast wealth he had. To show him how God was not first in his life, Jesus told him to sell everything he had and give it to the poor. Yet he was not willing. Instead, he went away very sad with a heart, soul, and strength that loved material blessings more than God. As a fellow sinner, our question is not “Do I struggle to put God first?” but “How often?” We too have riches and the comforts they buy that we are reluctant to depart with as did the rich man. We too have fun experiences at theme parks and dream vacations we’d rather put first. We too have friends and family who do not support or understand our walk of faith in Jesus. And if we were to examine our busy lives, we would see how often we put God anywhere but first. Yes, it’s true that God’s blessings can distract us from putting him first. But that doesn’t mean we have to get rid of them. For it’s not an either/or situation. Rather, it’s a first/second situation. God’s blessings to us fall second to him who is first in our lives. And that’s because God has put us first. It was us whom God made the crown of his creation who alone was created in his righteous and holy image. It was for our sake alone that Jesus came to this world to live, suffer, die, and rise. It is within us alone that the Holy Spirit creates and strengthens our grip to God’s promises so that we may live in heaven one day. And to put us first, God put everything else second, third, and fourth. In light of God who put us first, how can we not put him first in our life? To love him with all our heart, soul, and strength? That’s what we have opportunity to do so everyday with the blessings that God has given us – our riches, our fun experiences, our friends and family, and our everything else. For it’s not an either/or situation. It’s a God first and everything else second, third, and fourth situation. Amen.
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Pastor Tim Patoka
Road Trip Route 3:16
July 24, 2022
Devotion #4: God’s Love 1 Corinthians 16:14 Why do you do what you do? I’ve found that question to be very helpful in getting to the bottom of things so you can best understand it. Let’s take our road trip destination – the Statue of Liberty – as a case study of this. Why has America showcased this oxidized copper statue since it was assembled in 1885? For one, it displays our historic friendship and shared democratic ideals with France who gave the Statue to us. In recognition of America’s abolition of slavery during the Civil War, there is a broken chain at the feet of Lady Liberty. On a bronze plaque in the pedestal is inscribed the famous words of Emma Lazarus’ poem (named The New Colossus), “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” It’s for all these reasons why continue to uphold the Statue of Liberty as a testament to the kindness, love, and freedom we value as Americans. It can even be said that Lady Liberty illustrates our Bible verse for this devotion – Do everything in love. (1 Corinthians 16:14 NIV) Why do you do what all you do? Is it done in love? We certainly do some things in love! This past Wednesday was my wife’s and my anniversary. (Thanks for all the anniversary wishes by the way.) While our schedules didn’t allow us to celebrate on the day itself, I did a little something with some flowers and chocolates. Why did I do this? Because it was in love. When I think of all those who helped out with Summer Bible Camp this past week, we see love for God and love for sharing Jesus with young children as the reason why. Yet not everything we do is done in love. When you apologize for something, is it with a loving heart that seeks to reconcile things? Or is it with a reluctant heart that begrudgingly says “I’m sorry”? When you’re kind to another person, is it done to simply help them or to benefit from it by making you feel good about yourself or to hopefully receive such paid forward kindness yourself? There is one who does everything in love. And that’s our God who has done everything for us in love for us. He has compassion on sinners who cannot and will not ever earn it. He forgives our sins despite our adding to them day after day. He blesses us so that we far better than we deserve. He punished his own Son and sent him to die on the cross so that you can be his through faith. Everything God did for you, he did in love. Out of such love from God, we love him by doing everything in love with the people God has placed around us and in our lives. Not only does this include the easy application of loving our neighbor as ourselves, but also sharing with them the one who loves them in everything – God himself. If you’re wondering how to do that, simply point them to the Bible and read God’s own Word with them. For who better to speak of God’s love than God himself? As we immerse ourselves in God’s love for us, may we be living examples of God’s love as the Statue of Liberty exemplifies the kindness, love, and freedom we value as Americans. Amen.
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Pastor Tim Patoka
Road Trip Route 3:16
July 24, 2022
Devotion #5: God’s Promise Luke 10:20 Snow-capped peaks overlooking rugged terrain. Trees that dot the landscape until the elevation is too high for them. There’s a certain allure that mountains have over us, especially if they’re the world famous Rocky Mountains. But we also find it with our own mountains that surround us here in Tucson, especially if you take the time to drive to the top of Mt. Lemmon. It’s probably safe to say that many of us would enjoy a trip to the mountains, especially in these hot days, where there is the promise of cooler weather and majestic views. There’s another place filled with promise that we look forward to, and it’s far better than any trip to the mountains. It’s to a place called heaven. Scripture speaks about heaven’s joys in a number of ways. In the final chapters of Revelation, heaven is described with comparisons drawn from a mighty city, precious stones, rare metals, and a luscious garden that combined can’t do it justice. We’re told that heaven will be great in another way as we’ll be with our God and free from sin and its every consequence. This would be like taking the best day you’ve ever had and multiplying it by eternity. Do you want heaven to be your home? If so, then don’t look to yourself to make it happen because there’s nothing we can do or be to have that happen. Rather, we look to our God who promises it to every Christian. As it says in Luke chapter 10(:20 NIV), “rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Take note what Jesus says here. It’s not “your names will one day be written in heaven” or “perhaps maybe will be written” but “are written.” It’s already done and promised to you through your faith in Jesus Christ. This already-made promise from God is right in line with what else we’re already learned about him. How God has already saved you by sending his one and only Son, Jesus Christ. How God’s power has already done the impossible like taking your sins away so that you are holy in God’s sight. How God has already put you first in everything he did. How God has shown his love to you in everything he’s ever done. As he has already done these things, so he’ll continue to do them as he keeps his promise to keep your name written in heaven so that it will be your home. When we look at who our God is and what all he’s done for us, there’s only one thing we can do – to simply rejoice. As our children rejoiced this past week at Road Trip Route 3:16, so do we. For we’re going to a place far better than any mountain retreat. We’re going to our home in heaven. Amen.
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