from our pastor, Johnny Melton, at Luther First Christian Church in Luther OK Lent Third Friday of Lent Hello! I was swamped yesterday and didn’t get a chance to post the Friday Lent dedication. My apologies, but we are going to look at one of the most mysterious and in my opinion, coolest pieces of scripture! Genesis 14:18-21 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High,�Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 And blessed be God Most High,�Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all. 21 Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.” Who is this mysterious king named Melchizedek??? First, let’s understand Abram had just won a major battle. Directly following this victory, seemingly out of nowhere, here comes King Melchizedek bringing bread and wine to celebrate! Why? Remember, Jesus’ hasn’t been born! This is centuries before “Holy Communion” at the Last Supper, yet here comes Melchizedek with bread and wine! This seems to be the first Holy Communion served by an unknown King! In the Old Testament, names ALWAYS have significance. The word “Salem” literally means “Peace”. So, Melchizedek was the King of Peace! The name Melchizedek is a Hebrew name meaning My Righteous King . He was also called the priest of God! Verse 18 reads; “he was the priest of God Most High”. The New Testament calls Jesus the High Priest! Hebrews 4:14 reads; 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. In addition to Holy Communion, Abram gives Melchizedek a tithe! Why would he do that! Somehow Abram knew who He was. He obviously knew Him because of the actions taken when Melchizedek arrived. Abram had a unique relationship with God. Unlike any other person at that time. I am convinced this was the preincarnate Jesus, the Messiah. It’s important to note that Melchizedek shows up after a victory. How does all of this relate to us? We too need to strive to have a strong relationship with God. When we have victories in our lives, we should celebrate and give thanks to God immediately. Another factor in my view on this subject. Sometimes, God shows up in our lives to lead us to a victory and WE are the only ones that recognize Him. It doesn’t have to be big, it many times is very subtle, but recognizing it is vital to our spiritual growth in our relationship with God. Always give thanks, even for the small victories, because the truth is, EVERY VICTORY IS HUGE when God is involved. Blessings,

STANDARD LESSON RESOURCES DEVOTIONS SPRING 2026 March 7 Unmatched Beauty Don't let anyone look down on you because your are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12) Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:7-12 Song: "For the Beauty of the Earth" One summer, my family went on a vacation to Yellowstone National Park. We saw geysers, waterfalls, and hot springs. We rode on a stagecoach, went whitewater rafting, and hiked on trails. We spotted bison, bears, and elk roaming in their natural habitat. The beauty of Yellowstone was indescribable, and every day was a new experience. But the highlight of the trip heppened when my niece was baptized by her mother in the Yellowstone River, which ran through the backyard of the vacation home we had rented for the week. As we all took turns praying for her on that riverbank in southern Montana, I realized that out of everything we had experienced on that wonderful vacation, nothing came close to the beatuty of a young person committing her life to Jesus Christ. Just as Paul encouraged young Timothy in his walk with the Lord, we too should be an encouragement to those younger than us who are on their faith journeys. It could be through our support and encouragement that they learn what it means to set an example in their speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. Father, I know that You are doing a beautiful work in the next generation of believers. Show me how I can be an encouragement to them. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SANCTUARY by David Jeremiah March 7 LOVED! 1 John 4:8 God is love. When Scottish teenager George Matheson learned he was losing his eyesight, he determined to finish his studies at the University of Glasgow as quickly as possible. His blindess overtook him while he pursued graduate studies for Christian ministry, but his family rallied to his side. His sisters even learned Greek and Hebrew to help him in his assignments. The real blow came later, when his fiancee determined she just couldn't marry a blind man. Breaking the engagement, she returned his ring. George was devastated. Years later when he was a beloved pastor in Scotland, his sister became engaged, and the news opened old wounds in his heart. More mature now, he turned to God and out of the experience wrote a prayer that later became a much-loved hymn. The words say: O love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, That in thing ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be. Have you been disappointed recently? God's love will never let you go, and in its continuous, compassionate, costly flow, your life will richer, fuller be.

DAILY STRENGTH FOR MEN March 7 (day 2) Passage: Verse in Context - 2 Kings 2:19-22 NRSV The people of the city said to Elisha, "The location of this city is good, as my lord sees; bu the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful." He said, "Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it." So they brought it to him. Then he went to the spring of water and threw the salt into it, and said, "Thus says the LORD, I have made this water wholesome; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it." So the water has been wholesome to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke. Related Passage - Matthew 5:13 NASB "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet." Related Passage - Colossians 4:2-6 NASB Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way that I ought to proclaim it. Conduct yourselves with wisdom towards outsiders, making the most of the opportunitiy. Your speech must always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. Questions for Refelction and Application * When you were growing up, what challenges did you face in connecting with your father? Did the relationship get better or worse as you go older? Why? * If your father still is alive, what can you do to improve your relationship with him? If you have sons, how can you develop a strong relationship with them? * What other family relationships do you have that could be improved, and what are you prepared to do to improve those relationships? Almighty God, just as you can heal poisonous water with salt, you can heal anything - even deep hurts from my past - with anything. I ask for your healing in whatever way you choose to deliver it. Amen.

STANDARD LESSON RESOURCES DEVOTIONS SPRING 2026 March 6 It's a Girl! For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:13-14) Scripture: Psalm 139:13-24 Songs: "Ancient Words" I sat nervously by my wife's side. This ultrasound was going to be the first view of our first child. Having never experienced anything like this before, I wasn't sure what to expect. I was anxious about the baby's development, my wife's health, and whether or not I was prepared to be father. When the video appeared on the monitor, we heard the doctor say something very unexpected, yet very familiar. As his eyes remained focused on the screen he said, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." The words the doctor said at that moment were exactly what we needed to hear. Hearing those words from Psalm 139 was more important than hearing abou the gender of our baby, the health of our baby, or any other interesting fact that the doctor could have pointed out. In that moment, it was good to be reminded that no matter what, God was in control. Whether we find ourselves in a season of lament, a season of praise, or another season of life, the Psalms are a great place to find the words we need to hear. The ancient words of the psalmists are even relevant, in a modern doctor's office exam room! Father, no matter what I am facing in this life, guide me to the truth found in Your Word. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SANCTUARY by David Jeremiah March 6 WHEN IN DOUBE, DON'T! Genesis 18:25 Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? Everyone has doubted God's justice at time. We may not think of it that way, we may just wonder, "Why did God allow an event to happen that way?" I know I have wondered the same thing on many occasions. I have learned to take many things in my Christian walk purely by faith. I have learned enough about God through Scripture and His faithfulness in my life that when I come to a place where I am tempted to doubt - I don't. I take by faith the fact that God is good, that the Judge of all the earth shall do right (Genesis 18:25). Not to have that core conviction governing one's thoughts daily is to live in a world of vacillation and shifting shadows. If we do not live our lives based on the fact that God is righteous, we have no basis for righteousness in our own lives.

DAILY STRENGTH FOR MEN March 6 (day 1) HAVING A CATCH Then he went to the spring of water and threw the salt into it, and said, "Thus says the LROD, I have made this water wholesome; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it>" 2 Kings 2:21 NRSV If God can heal a spring of water with a bit of salt, then God can heal your heart with anything. Even a few minutes from a film. In the movie, Field of Dreams, Ray Kinsella recounts how his father "never made it as a ball player, so he tried to get his son to make it for him." But Ray refused to pursue his father's dream and even refused to "have a catch" with his father. Ray left home at seventeen and never returned, until his father's funeral. At the end of the film, Ray's father, John, appears on the field of dreams that Ray had built on his Iowa cornfield. Ray introduces his dad to his wife and daughter. As John begins to walk away, Ray asks, "Hey ... Dad ... you wanna have a catch?" John turns around and answers, "I'd like that." They toss the ball back and forth as the film ends. The 1989 film has never ended for Dwier Brown, who played John "For people who had a difficult relationship with their dad," he says, "that scene got tatooed on the back of their retina." Everywhere he goes strangers approach him to talk about their dads. "Some poeple come up and literally cry on my shoulder." An attorney once confesed to Brown that "tears were pouring down" his cheeks during the pivotal scene. The man realized that he had mad e himself miserabl trying to lease his father; the film prompted major changes in his life. If you have trouble connecting with your father, Brown suggests having a catch with him. "You have this wonderful back-and-forth. Playing catch is just enough of a distraction, especially for men. They might start talking about things they wouldn't normally talk about. When you're playing catch, the words just kind of come out of your mouth." Have a catch and let the healing begin.

STANDARD LESSON RESOURCES DEVOTIONS SPRING 2026 March 5 Ups and Downs If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make by bed in the depths, you are there. (Psalm 139:8) Scripture: Psalm 139:1-12 Song: "Praise to the Holiest in the Height" In April of 1970, the astronauts on board the Apollo 13 spacecraft reached an altitude of 248,573 miles. In May 2019, Citor Vescovo reached a depth of over 7.5 miles when he descended to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean aboard a submersible craft. At the time of this writing, these are the highest heights and deepest depths ever reached by humans. I imagine these records will be broken. As technology advances, humans will continue to be able to go higher into the heavens and deeper into the depths. But while we may be able to places where no humans have ever gone before, we will never reach a height nor a depth where God hasn't been, isn't currently, and won't always be present. There are times in our lives when we may forget this truth. For one reason or another, we may not feel like God is close. It is in those moments that it is important to recall the words of the psalmist in Psalm 139, reminding us that no matter where we are or what is happening in the world around us, God's hands are guiding us and holding us fast (v.10). Father, when I feel alone or abandoned, remind me that You are always near. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SANCTUARY by David Jeremiah March 5 BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO TRUST IN THE LORD Galatians 6:9 Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit" (Jeremiah 17:7-8). The person who loves God is like a tree with deep roots. During a drought, when all the other trees are perishing, that tree will remain healthy and strong. There is no anxiety, for the commitment of that tree reaches beyond the circumstances of the storm. If we are to succeed in the midst of trouble, and if we are not to quit when the going gets tough, we need to get our roots down deep into the Lord, establishing a commitment in Christ that goes beyond our curcumstances. As the apostle Paul put it, "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose hear" (Galatians 6:)

DAILY STRENGTH FOR MEN March 5 (day 2) Passage: Verse in Context - 1 Kings 17:17-22 NRSV After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill; his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. She then said to Elijah, "What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to cause the death of my son!" But he said to her, "Give me your son." He took him from her bosom, carried him up into the upper chamber where he was lodging, and laid him on his own bed. He cried out to the LORD, "O LORD my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?" Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried out to the LORD, "O LORD my God, let this child's life come into him again." The LORD listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. Related Passage - 1 Kings 19:1-4 NRSV Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elihah, saying, "So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow." Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors." Questions for Reflection and Application * Why is Elijah considered one of the greatest prophets in the Bible? When the life of Elijah is reviewed, what stands out: his weaknesses or what he accomplished by following God's direction? * How do you think God saw Elijah? How does God see you? * To what has God called you in the past? How did you respond? * To what is God calling you right now? How will you respond? Lord, like Elijah, I am fraught with flows. Use me as a vessel to do your work anyway. Amen.

STANDARD LESSON RESOURCES DEVOTIONS SPRING 2026 March 4 Ready, Set, Go! Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. (1 Corinthians 9:24) Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:19-27 Song: "Victory in Jesus" In my stance at the starting line, I envisioned what was soon to be my moment of glory. Surely, as an eighth grader, I would be able to beat the three sixth-graders I was racing against in the 100-yard dash. I hadn't been given any other opportunities to compete throughout the season, so I knew this was wny one chance to prove to everyone that they had made a mistake by understimatng my speed. When the starting pistol was fired, I took off, only to find myself instantly in last place, and I stayed in last place for the duration of the short sprint. Looking back, I know what at least a part of the problem was. I was lazy. I never practiced. I thought I could win without putting in any work. But if someone is running in such a way as to get the prize, they have undoubtedly been in strict training. As Christians, our lives are like a race, and waiting for us at the finish line is "a crown that will last forever" (! corinthians 9:25). So as we run this race, we can strive to run it well by participating in the traninng that comes through studying the Bible, serving others, and worshiping God. Father, for the sake of sharing the gospel, train me to run this race well. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SANCTUARY by David Jeremiah March 4 AS YOUR SOUL PROSPERS 3 John 1:2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. Verse 2 contains a revealing concept: prospering in all things as your soul prospers. As I was studying this verse, I began to wonder what it would be like if one Sunday everyone arrived at church in the same physical condition that their souls were in. That is, our outward manifestation of "prosperity" would be in direct correlation to the prosperity of our souls. It might be a very interesting sight! How would you arrive if that happened? In a wheelchair? On crutches? Would you need assistance getting in the door? Or would you arrive in fine shape, physically fit, because your soul was in such fine condition? John knew that Gaius was a godly man, so he did not hesitate to pray that he prospered in all tings in the same way his soul prospered. If the church is going to accomplish all it is supposed to, we need many more vigorous workers than we have now. We need people who are willing, like Gaius, to play a supporting role, empowering others in their spiritual walk. The Bible promises spiritual blessings for those willing to work in such a way.

DAILY STRENGTH FOR MEN March 4 (day 1) NOT A PERFECT PROPHET The LORD listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. 1 Kings 17:22 NRSV Elijah had a flair for the dramatic. In his first act as a prophet of God, Elijah announced to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word" (v.1). To demonstrate that Baal was a false god, Elijah challenged 450 prophets of Baal to a public duel of divine altar lighting. The prophets of Baal went first, and Elijah mocked them and Baal the entire time. When it was Elijah's turn, he insisted that his altar be saturated with water before he called to God to light it in fire. Elijah also was a bit of a whiner. Shortly after Elijah announced the drought, God sent him to live with a widow, promising her that her supply of flour and oil would not run out, and it didn't. When the widow's son became ill and died, however, she accused Elijah of causing the son's death, and Elijah passed the buck to God. God responded to Elijah's crisis by bringing the son back to life. After God demonstrated his power in the duel with Baal's prophets, and Elijah killed the prophets, Jezebel threatened to kill Elijah. God's might prophet ran for his life. After a day of running, he asked God that he might die. God responded by sending angels to feed Elijah. Then Elijah ran again, ending up living in a cave, and complained to God that he was the only faithful person left in Isreal. God responded that there were 7,000 others in Israel who had never worshipped to Baal. Despite his penchant for being dramatic and whining, Elijah was revered as one of the greatest prophets, if not the greatest prophet in Israel's history. All of us, even Elijah, have personality thrat that are, well, less than perfect. When God calls us, he doesn't expect perfection. He simply wants us to heed the call.

STANDARD LESSON RESOURCES DEVOTIONS SPRING 2026 March 3 Unclean Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 Song: "Give Us Clean Hands" In June of 2024, the National Park Service announced that the prairie dogs in Baldlands National Park were infected with "plague." Prairie dogs live in densely populated colonies. So the disease, often transmitted through the bites of infected fleas, can spread quickly through a large number of the population of prairie dogs. Plague can then be spread to other susceptible animals - and even to humans! One little flea bite can unleash a deadly epidemic. When we sin, we often think that our small acts of immorality are not that big of a deal. We may convince ourselves that our private sins aren't really hurting anyone. We fail to recognize that as members of the body of Christ, our sins affect more than just ourselves. In fact, our immorality will likely be far-reaching, eventually affecting others in spiritually, emotionally, and physically damgaging ways. Paul encourages us to "honor God with [our] bodies." We can avoid spreading an epidemic of immorality by remembering that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. We can honor our Lord and Savior by what we do with our bodies and what we put in our minds. Father, when I am tempted to dishonor You, remind me that as a member of the bod of Christ, Your Spirit lives in me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SANCTUARY by David Jeremiah March 3 HOW TO FEAR GOD 1 Samuel 12:24 Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. In July of 1861, in an act declaring September 26 as a National Day of Prayer and Fasting, Abraham Lincoln worte: "It is fit and becoming in all people, at all times, to acknowledge and revere the Supreme Government of God; to bow in humble submission to his chastisement; to confess and deplore their sins and transgressions in the full conviction that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom..." That may be one of the best summarires of what it means to "fear the Lord" ever penned. Note the action words: "To acknowledge . . . revere . . . bow . . . confess and deplore." To fear the Lord means more than just one thing. Indeed, it is a phrase that gathers together a number of attitudes and action. In short, when we fear the Lord, we recognize God's proper place as Creator over us as His creation. If someone followed us around for a week, what eveidence would they see that we fear the Lord> Which would they most - grumbles or gratitude, compalins or compassion? A nation that fears the Lord is one whose citizens fear the Lord. Plan a "Personal Day of Prayer and Fasting" soon - a day to reafiirm your own fear of the Lord.

DAILY STRENGTH FOR MEN March 3 (day 2) Passage: Verse in Context - 2 Samuel 22:26-33, 47-51 NRSV With the loyal you show yourself loyal; with the blameless you show yourself blameless; with the pure you show yourself pure, and with the crooked you show yourself perverse. You deliver a humble people, but your eyes are upon the haughty to bring them down. Indeed, you are my lamp. O LORD, the LORD lightens my darkness. By you I can crush a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God - his way is perfect; the promise of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all who take refuge in him. For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? The God who has girded me with strength has opened wide my path. The Lord lives! Blessed be my rock, and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation, the God who gave me vengeance and brought down peoples under me, who brought me out from my enemies; you exalted me above my adversaries, you delivered me from the violent. For this I will extol you, O LORD, among the nations, and sing praises to your name. He is a tower of salvation for his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever. Questions for Reflection and Application * Are you going through a tough stretch right now? If sho, how has it affected your faith in God? How do life's challenges affect how you interact with God? How much do you rely on God? * When is the last time you doubted God? How quickly did God come through for you? If you had to wait for a while, then what was that like? * Have you ever looked back on the challenges in your life and recorded how God helped you through those challenges? If not, take some time to do that now. When you look back on your life (with the benefit of hindsight), do you see any patterns in how God works? God, as I look back upon my life, I see you respond to my struggles time and time again. Remind of your goodness in periods of hardship. Amen.

from our pastor, Johnny Melton, at Luther First Christian Church in Luther OK Lent Third Thursday of Lent Good morning! I hope you are enjoying Lent and growing in Spirit with God. Today we look at the love of money. This scripture is Jesus telling of the dangers that can come from a greedy heart. Luke 16:13 13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” In today’s world people are often judged by their possessions or their financial worth. Possessions are temporary. Our spirit is eternal. First of all, we should never judge anyone. You will never look into the eyes of anyone that God does not love. It’s important to know that Jesus is not condemning money, He is condemning turning it into an idol! Idol worship is as much of an issue today as it was in biblical times. Our devotion must be to God, not the world. As discussed in some of our earlier devotions, charity is a key component of Lent. If we put our selfish greed before a charitable heart, we are serving the greed of the world and not the righteousness of God. With that said, we should never give a handout simply for the sake of giving. We should be good stewards and give a hand up! Where ever God leads us to serve with our hands and feet or support with our finances, we should follow the path the Holy Spirit illuminates for us. Love of money is a path to destruction. A charitable heart is a pathway to building God’s Kingdom. In doing so, we are feeding His sheep. Ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate your path by the Light of Christ and give generously with a cheerful heart. Blessings,

from our pastor, Johnny Melton, at Luther First Christian Church in Luther OK: Lent Second Wed of Lent Hello! My apologies. I am a day late with this one. Today we continue to look at Abram. It is a very sad scripture of both cowardliness and deceit. Let’s look at Genesis 12:10-20. 10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. 11 As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are.12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.” 14 When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman.15 And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. 16 He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels. 17 But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. 18 So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” 20 Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had. The Holy Bible is a collection of books that tell a love story that unfolded with God and His people. However, it also tells the ugliness of human nature. As soon as Abram hits some challenges, he immediately tries to take things into his own hands rather than trust in God. Don’t we all? Even though Abram lied and deceived the Egyptians, God saved Sarai and kept His end of the covenant. This proves that we fail miserably over and over, but God loves us unconditionally and keeps His word to us. Remember, Abram is the father of Judaism, Islamic, and Christian religions. He is the one that God chose to reveal Himself through and even he made huge mistakes. He even was willing to hand his wife over because of both fear and greed, but God kept His word despite Abram’s flaws. If God will work through Abram’s sins, He will work through our sins too! Blessings,

from our pastor, Johnny Melton, at the Luther First Christian Church in Luther OK: Second Tuesday of Lent Genesis 12:1-4 12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you;�I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;�and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” 4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. Hello! I hope you are still enjoying your Lenten journey and growing closer with Christ. Lent is about repentance, prayer, and charity. But for our spiritual growth, we should also educate ourselves. Today we will look at God calling Abram, who of course later God changed his name to Abraham. The name Abram in the Hebrew language means “exalted father”. We have all heard at some point that the Jews are God’s chosen people. Well, here is where God chooses Abram and begins the Covenant with him. Before we get too far, I must say there are three prolific Abramic religions. Jewish, Muslim, and Christianity all have Abramic roots. God has a plan for all of us, we just have to be patient. In the first verse, we see that God is separating Abram from everyone else. He wants Abram to have a clean new beginning. This is a pivotal time in our history. God uses Abram to begin moving from idol worship into grace through Christ. God promises Abram his new home will be a land that will become very rich in resources, which it did. He also promises Abram that he will be protected. It’s important to note that Abram has no children at this time. That will be a key factor as we move through his story. The ultimate goal is not just to prosper Abraham, but to use his family as a conduit for global blessing, reversing the curses of humanity in Genesis 1-11. With no children, how can that be possible? 😬. You will have to come back and see, but another question is “Why is Lot with Abram? He is specifically mentioned. Why? In my humble opinion, this is an example of how we as people, disobey God on a regular basis, but we always have an excuse. God plainly told Abram not to take any family with him, but he disobeyed and took Lot anyway. Probably because Lot was the son of Abram’s dead brother and Abram still felt responsible to his brother. Well intended, but still disobedient. Abram’s disobedience is a fabulous illustration how we disobey God, because we think we know what’s best. We have to remain in control. Why didn’t Abram trust God to care for Lot? Excellent question and we don’t know the answer, but we do know that truly trusting in God is the hardest thing we will ever do. We will see later that Abram is good at making excuses and trying to out his spin on why God wants rather than being patient and waiting on Gods plan to work itself out. As we go further in our study of Abram over the next few days, we will see the greed of Lot. As we pray through this Lent, ask that God’s will be done, not the will of our own. Learn to trust God with everything and continually pray for wisdom. Blessings,

STANDARD LESSON RESOURCES DEVOTIONS SPRING 2026 March 2 People Are Watching From the fruit of their lilps people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward. (Proverbs 12:14) Scripture: Proverbs 12:1-2, 10-14 Song: "Take My Life and Let It Be" When I was in college in the mid-1990s, I had a part-time job in a mall. Because the job wasn't very difficult, was just part-time, and was simply a way for me to make some extra money, I didn't feel any stress or anxiety about the work I was doing. I genuinely enjoyed the people I worked with, and I treid to have a good attitude abou the opportunity that I had been given. One day, another malll employee asked me why I was always in such a good mood. He had noticed that while other mall employees were often negative and frequently compalined, there was something different about me. I was surprised he had noticed, I couldn't image that my few interactions with this man had made any sort of impact whatsoever. We never know how our actions my affect the people around us. Things as simple as a good attitude, a few encouraging words, and a good work ethic may open a door for a rewarding conversation abou the love of Jesus Christ. Father, help me to accomplish the difficult task of emaining positive and encouraging in such a negative culture so that others may know You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SANCTUARY by David Jeremiah March 2 NEVER FAIL TO FORGIVE Matthew 6:12 Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. When I was a teenager, I disobediently took my father's car out for a joy ride when he wasn't at home. Unfortunately, I ended up running the car off a country road into a ditch. I went to him and said, "Dad, I've got to tell you I feel terrible about what I did,. I was wrong, deceitful, dishonest. I knew better than to to that. I'm sorry, and I want to ask you to forgive me." He said, "You are forgiven - but you will pary for the car." Now - when I damaged my father's dar did I cease to be my father's son? No. But my relational forgiveness was in deep trouble. If you want to know the oneness with the Lord in your daily relationshipo with Him, if you want to feel the reality of your forgiveness when you pray to God, don't hold grudges agasint others and fail to forgive htem. You can't come to God and expect to enjoy His forgiveness of your sins while you have not confessed your own sin of unforgiveness and forgiven your brother. If you want to know the daily sense of your forgiveness in you walk with the Lord, then you must forgive those who have wronged you.

DAILY STRENGTH FOR MEN March 2 (day 1) DOUBTING GOD This God - his way is perfect; the promise of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all who take refuge in him. 2 Samuel 22:31 NRSV In a song of rememberance of his three decades as king, David recalls how God has delivered him, time and time again, from his enemies. In the middle of this song, David describes God's ways as perfect. When you look back on your life, it's easy to see how God has worked in your life and to recognize that his way, indeed, has been perfect. But in the midst of the struggles, disappointments, heartaches, and pain of today, seeing God's perfect plan can be difficult. That's why David added this: The LORD's word is flawless; he shields all those who take refuge in him. God knows that when times get tough, we are likely to doubt him. Consider the behavior of the Israelites recorded in Exodus after God delivered them from Eghypt, where they were slaves for centuries: Problem People's Reaction God's Response The Egyptian army is bearing We'll die here! God parts the Red Sea, and then closes it down on the people at the on the Egyptians. Red Sea. Food begins to run out. We'll starve! God provides manna every day. They camp where there is no We'll die of thirst! Moses strikes a rock; water! water. They get tired of eating only God doesn't care! God provides quail. manna. Moses is on Mount Sinai for Make a golden calf! Moses returns; God forgives them. forty days. Even when the Israelites doubted, God came through for them. So why did they doubt God, again and again? Why do we? It's because, in the stress of the moment, we forget how God has helped us in the past, and we forget God's promises, which he always keeps. We need to trust in God. After all, his way is perfect, his word is flawless, and, if we take refuge in him, then he will shield us. Every time.

STANDARD LESSON RESOURCES DEVOTIONS SPRING 2026 March 1 Who Poisoned the "Apple"? "The second [commandment] is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:31) Scripture: Mark 12:28-34 Song: "They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love" My laptop had been shutting down for no apparent reason. When the Apple technician on the other end of the line didn't seem to know any more than I did. I got extremely frustrated. And out of that frustration I spoke angry, hurtful words. After the call ended, regret came over me like a tidal wave. So in answer to the question, "Who poisoned the 'Apple'?" I did. This conviction came because I'd forgotten that all-important command to live my neighbor as myself. If I had been spoken to the way I spoke to her, I would have crumbled. I knew I needed to call this associate back and apologize, though it was the last thing I wanted to do. But God was persistent. And it was wholly His doing that I was able to even reach that technician again. When I apologized for my unkind words, she was touched . . . and grateful . . . and gracious. She even tried to console me by saying, "Don't worry about it. I've experienced far worse." But frustration is not an excuse to forget to love and respect another person. As the song says, "They'll know we ar Christians by our love" - not by our arrogance. Father, please help me remember to treat others with the same love You've shown me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SANCTUARY by David Jeremiah March 1 LIVING ON THE LIVING GOD Psalm 142:5 I cried out to You, O LORD: I said, "You are my refuge, my portioin in the land of the living." David would have agreed with the old African-American preacher who said, "There's no living in the land of the living like living on the living God." That preacher was right. The land of the living is not a reference to eternity or heaven. It is a reference to living right now. The Bible is written for peopl who are living in the land of the living, not for peole whose dream of "pie in the sky by and by." The land of the living is where you and I live every day. We rise and face the challenges that the living face, and God is our portion in that land. He does not remove us from the land where we live in order to help us. Rather, He joins us where we are - our private world, our family, our job, our church - to meet our needs. The God of David is our God, and He is still out refuge and our portion.

DAILY STRENGTH FOR MEN March 1 (day 2) Passage: Verse in Context - 2 Samuel 22:1-7, 17-20 NRSV David spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said: The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. For the waves of death encompassed me, the torrents of perdition assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me, the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I called. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry came to his ears. He reached from on high, he took me, he drew me out of mighty waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated em; for they were too mighty for me. They came upon me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my stay. He brought meout into a broad palce; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. Questions for Reflection and Application * What motivates you to help others? Are there times when it is to reciprocate as a favor done for you? Or in the hopes of getting seom recognition or praise? Or to build up some "equity" with another preson? * Do you gelieve that God rewards people who do his will, either in this life or the next? Or do you think that God expects his followers to be obedient, regardless of whether or not they receive a reqard for their good works? * When is the last time you saw someone doing something good and praised God for it? Why do we tend to do that so rarely? Father, even though I will fight many battles in this life, help me to remember to whom the glory goes for winning the good fight. Amen.