Daily Devotionals
November 24, 2017
Two Black Fridays
November 24, 2017
DAILY READING
This weekend’s reading: Matthew 25:31-46
FIELD NOTES
Today is Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year. This is because businesses offer great deals in order to boost their need for profits. Jesus also died on a Black Friday. Because we are sinners, Jesus had a need to save us, providing us with eternal rewards.
A few years ago on Black Friday, shoppers stampeded into a store trampling an innocent person to death while fighting to get the best deals. At Jesus’ Black Friday, the crowd intentionally chose to kill Jesus. Jesus willingly accepted his death, providing the deal of a lifetime, eternity!
Because of potential profits, merchants began having Gray Thursday sales (Thanksgiving Day) and Black Friday sales earlier and earlier in the year. Several national chains began their Black Friday sales on November 1st this year. What Jesus did for us on His Black Friday is available and priceless year-round.
When it comes to bargains and sales, be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. How? Throughout today’s Black Friday, let Jesus’ grace, which comes from His Good Black Friday, flow in and through you. Even during this Black Friday, with all its traffic headaches and long check-out lines, live faith, shout hope, and love all God’s people.
QUESTIONS FOR THE FIELD
- What if Jesus guided your purchases today, as well as every day? Would your spending habits change in any way?
- What might happen to you if you prayed for the people in traffic, sales clerks, other customers, and the people in the check-out lines?
- Since we were thankful yesterday for all of the blessings we’ve received from God, how might we show God thanks through our actions in our helping others, spending, missions, and through Brentwood UMC?
FAMILY FIELD TALK
- Since Jesus blessed us by giving his life for us on a Black Friday, how might our family be blessings to God through our service to God and to others?
PRAYER GUIDE
Lord, you are such a blessing to each of us. Through your grace, you died for us. I pray that you help each of us be wise as serpents and gentle as doves as we use our time, our talent, our money, our witness, and our service to you. Help us transform each potential Black Friday-type day into a Good Friday-type Holy Day! In your gracious name, I pray. Amen.