Trinity Daily Devotion

Who Are We?
Rev. Dr. Lorri E. Baldwin
John 1:6-13 NIV

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so … through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

The true light … was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him – those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

The Gospels are witnesses to the life and work of Jesus while on earth; in this scripture, according to the Apostle John, he introduces Jesus' cousin, John the Baptist, into his witness and discourse of who Jesus is. Three of the four gospels begin with John the Baptist, described as a "witness to the light," but make it clear he is not the light, but Jesus was … In Chapter 3, John corrects any misconception by using the wedding metaphor to describe their relationship as a friend who attends to the bridegroom or bride like a "Best Man or Maid of Honor."

Even though I have been in church ever since I can remember, I always say, "I was born in the church." My first real childhood memories were of being taught about Jesus and His acceptance of children. I must admit there were stages of my understanding of how I fit into the Christ story … watching and learning from my grandmother's faith as a little one and getting to witness my parents' faith as an adolescent, teenager, and beyond. Then, testing and being tested as an adult, discerning who Jesus/God was to me in my adult life. But it took me a while to grow into my faith and understand who I am in my relationship with Jesus/Christ and God. This is where the real faith challenge and growth happen, through our personal experiences.

We are coming to the realization that we are here to "witness" to others who Jesus was and Christ is now, showing through our lives the true and living God with our actions, words, and presence in the world. We are called to serve, provide leadership, and be faithful in all we do.

In the earlier church, we seemed to hear conversations and discussions about the role of Christians that may not be as clearly proclaimed in today's language. That is why it is crucial and essential to understand as a Child of God – God gives us our name and identity in Christ. By the way, we live, show up, and proclaim: We are Called to be Witnesses to this World!

PRAYER:
Dear Creator-God, Help me be a witness to the life and ministry of Jesus here on earth. Let me proclaim the miracle of Christ to all who will hear. Amen

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Are we witnesses for God!?!

Whose You Are
Minister Aris D Simpson
Luke 10:20 NIV:
"However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

There’s a rhythm this world drums into us to produce, perform, and progress. Measure your worth by the output. Count your value in visible acts. And yes, feed the hungry, clothe the unhoused, sit beside the sick, hold the bereaved. These are holy works. No question.

But hear this plainly: activity alone is not holiness. If the root is not love, the fruit is noise. When Paul the Apostle spoke to the church in Corinth, he didn’t dress it up. He called loveless action what it is, “clanging cymbals”. Loud, impressive, and empty. Then comes the whisper of the Gospel of Luke 10:20: It is not a celebration of what you do, but a grounding in who you belong to.

Your name is written. Your identity is settled. Your worth is not earned; it is rooted. So, let’s set it straight: service matters, but belonging matters more. When you know Whose you are, your service stops being performance and starts becoming presence. Not striving but flowing. Not proving but reflecting.

And here’s the hard mirror, no sugar: If you pour out compassion in the streets but starve your own household of grace, something is off-balance. If you fight for justice publicly but practice harshness privately, you’ve split the soul from the act.
Love doesn’t compartmentalize. It doesn’t clock in and out. It is consistent, or it is counterfeit.

PRAYER:
Oh, Gracious God, You have declared that I belong to You. Strengthen my resolve to live anchored in that truth, embracing our relationship as the very embodiment of who I am and Whose I am. Let my life reflect Your love…steady, true, and without pretense. In the name of Jesus, I pray.
Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Do your actions define you—or reveal you? And if they reveal you, what is the motive beating underneath?

INNER WORK:
Look at where compassion flows easily and where it runs dry. Sit with both because the truth is simple: even if it cuts, you cannot give what you are not rooted in. So return, not first to doing but to belonging. From there, everything else will tell the truth.

Wisdom from Above
Deacon Michael Heard
James 3:17 (ESV)

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

In James, chapter 3, verses 13- 18, the title is Two Kinds of Wisdom. What James, Jesus’ brother, describes in verse 17 are the fruits of wisdom. You see, there is earthly wisdom that works through envy to create discord. Then there is Heavenly wisdom that creates peace, not division.

Often when I pray, I ask God for wisdom and discernment. What I have realized from the book of James is that the wisdom defined by God is different than what I envisioned in my prayers. That is the Webster Dictionary definition of wisdom: “accumulated philosophical or scientific learning, KNOWLEDGE,” which is what I had been praying for, and there is God's definition of wisdom (James 3:17), which do you pray for?

I read an excerpt from Howard Thurman’s writings that was sent to me the other day. Here is part of what Howard Thurman wrote: We cannot be prisoners of an event. We must not scale down the horizons of our hope and our dreams and our yearnings to the level of the event of our lives.” This is wisdom from a mystic, a prophet... Howard Thurman. I see, in those words, heavenly wisdom.

As people of faith at this time, we have to pray for wisdom. We don’t know why God allows bad things to happen to good people, but we know there is a God, and our thoughts are too small and our world is too limited to comprehend what God is up to.

In our humanness, if we have peace, gentleness, openness, mercy, the good fruits, and if we are sincere and non-judgmental, then God has answered our prayer and granted us Wisdom.

PRAYER:
Lord, we need heavenly wisdom! Give us the right mind to walk through the events in our lives that want to bring us down. Let us find ourselves on the other side of these events with a new purpose, stronger and more in line with Your Plan for us.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
One peaceful person helps everyone calm down.

The Power of Understanding
Rev. Mosea Harris
Acts 2:1–11

2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place….

This past Sunday, we celebrated Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples. Many people focus on the fact that they spoke in tongues, and certainly that was a miracle. But I believe the most powerful thing that happened in Acts 2 was not simply that people spoke different languages; it was that people understood each other.

The crowd gathered in Jerusalem was made up of people from many nations, cultures, and backgrounds. Yet when the Holy Spirit came, each person heard the message in their own native language. The emphasis of the text is not confusion, but understanding. God brought diverse people together and made it possible for them to hear one another.

That is a message we desperately need today.
Years ago, Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. taught us a profound truth: “Different is not deficient.” Our differences are not problems to be solved; they are gifts to be celebrated. Yet we live in a time when too many leaders sow seeds of division and fan the flames of ignorance. Fear, intimidation, and injustice are often used to separate people rather than bring them together. We even see people campaigning against diversity, as though our differences are a threat rather than a strength.

Pentecost teaches the opposite lesson. When the Holy Spirit came, God did not divide people—God united them. The Spirit created understanding among people who otherwise might never have connected with one another. God did not erase their cultures, languages, or identities. Instead, God enabled them to understand one another across their differences.

Lord knows we need more understanding today. We need it in our personal lives and in our families. We need it in our workplaces and neighborhoods. We need it here in Chicago and in cities across this nation. We need it in our states, in our national life, and throughout the world. We need the ability to listen before judging, to learn before condemning, and to recognize the image of God in people who may not look like us, think like us, worship like us, or vote like us.
For when understanding grows, division loses its power. When understanding grows, communities become stronger. When understanding grows, justice becomes possible. And when understanding grows, God's people become a living witness to the love, unity, and beloved community that Christ intended for us all.

PRAYER:
My prayer today is simple: Lord, let Your Holy Spirit fall fresh upon us again. Fall upon us as individuals, as families, as churches, and as communities. Open our hearts and minds so that we might better understand one another. Help us move beyond fear and ignorance toward compassion and wisdom. May we become people who build bridges instead of walls and seek understanding instead of division.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
The power of the Holy Spirit should enhance our ability to understand others. It’s not just about the speaking; it is about hearing and understanding.

Build Strong
Lee T. Jones
Matthew 7:24-27, New International Version (NIV)

24Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.

Two elaborate houses were built using the best materials available. One was built in Hollywood and the other in an urban neighborhood. Both homes had wonderful owners, immaculate landscaping, and breathtaking entrances. These two homes were highly sought after in established communities. However, there was one fundamental difference between the two homes. One was built on a rock, a solid foundation, and the other was built on sand, a compromised foundation. Both houses experienced an extreme wind and rain storm. Which house remained standing after the storm?

In today’s Scripture, we learn about the parable of the wise and foolish builders. We learn that hearing God’s teachings isn’t enough; true wisdom requires active obedience. Building on a rock foundation represents a life of applying Jesus’ teachings. Building on a sand foundation represents knowing the truth, but failing to act on it.

Building on a rock foundation can stand up to hardship, loss, and in some cases, success. Spiritually speaking, a solid foundation can mean wisdom, discipline, character, and preparation. It does not matter who you are, where you live, or how rich and beautiful your house (life) may be. When the storm comes, if you don’t have a faithful and spiritual foundation, you too will be washed away like the house built on sand. The scripture emphasizes building a foundation, which physically and spiritually represents stability and preparation for obstacles before they arrive.

PRAYER:
Precious God, it is our desire to have a strong, lasting relationship with you. We know this is built on solid faith, solid discipline, and solid belief. Our prayer is to heed your instructions and complete the divine assignment you have specifically designed for each one of us. Let each of us build a connection with you that will outlast any challenges until we meet eternally.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Standing on solid ground is standing with the Lord.

Divine Creation
Deacon Cassandra Hudson
Genesis 1:27a NCV

So God created human beings in his image. In the image of God he created them.

As an African American member of Generation X, there is nothing I enjoy more than a documentary on the history of hip-hop. The consensus of every documentary is that hip-hop was born out of a dark, desolate place. In its birthplace, the Bronx, New York, crime was rampant, drug use was prevalent, and many experienced abject poverty. One would not expect art to emerge from such a hopeless space. Nevertheless, young creative people of color created an art form that would, over time, influence the entire world. The darkness of oppression could not destroy the creative spirit within them.

In the creation story of Genesis, God created the world out of darkness. God fashioned an intricate and stunning earth from chaos. Then the Almighty created human beings in God’s image and likeness. The Life Application Bible suggests that being made in God’s image means that we reflect God’s glory.

Our creative Lord, in God's infinite wisdom and grace, made us creative too. As African Americans, we have a history of dreaming, conceiving, and giving birth to masterful works of art: poetry, portraits, fashion, fiction, jazz, and blues; all while living under oppression. Let us celebrate the divine spirit of God that has birthed many artists and innovators. Through slavery, reconstruction, Jim Crow, economic repression, and police brutality, we continue to create because we were created in the image of God.

PRAYER:
Holy and creative God, we thank you that you made us in your image. We are grateful for those who have endured, by the power you have put within them, to bring beauty into this world through their art.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“You can't stop my go.
I've been born to be where I am.
A bright light from a distant star
Miracles and answered prayers.”

Hip Hop artist Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def.