Hope on the Outside: Saturday

Saturday March 27, 2021

Created by Elyse Swihart

Matthew 18:20 (NIV)

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Devotion

In today’s day and age, it is easy to think that we need church in order to be a “good” follower of Christ. It is important to remind ourselves that Jesus did not speak to the disciples in a room with vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows, or in a room with acoustic guitars and lighting effects. Hope can be found outside of the church in the same way that religion can be found outside of a church. Matthew 18:20 says that “for where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” Try taking a walk in a local park with a friend. Bring a bible and spend some time reading and discussing scripture together in a place outside of a church building. With no roof above our heads we can sometimes find a clarity that was missing before.

Hope can be found on a walk, or by looking at a busy street out a window. The observation of humanity and its imperfections can feel like we are without hope, but if we are willing to look closer, we can see the beauty in our imperfections. A painting we once thought was boring could become a breath of fresh air, or a person we once thought was too loud could speak out for us when we weren’t able. We can find hope in perspective, and by shifting our point of view, we can find relief and beauty.

Prayer

Good and gracious God, help us to find hope in this weary season. Amen.