Daily Devotional

One of the greatest hymn writers of the church is Isaac Watts. He is considered one of the fathers of English hymnody. Many of his hymns are still sung in congregations around the world. He possessed a unique gift of bringing the story of our faith to life in poetry and music. He was so influential that, even while still alive, he was referenced by other great writers of the time, such as Herman Melville (Moby Dick) and Charles Dickens (David Copperfield). Isaac Watts wrote over 600 hymns in his lifetime. His hymns are a gift to the life of faith.

As Jesus went from village to village, he encountered so many unique people. Some of the people he encountered simply wished to see him as he passed through their community. They followed him like a modern-day celebrity. Others sought after Jesus because they wanted to hear his intimate religious knowledge. They knew he was a great teacher. Often, when Jesus entered a community, he would encounter people who were eagerly waiting on him because they needed healing. They had heard that Jesus was capable of incredible miracles. He brought hope with him as he traveled from place to place.

The disciples of Jesus were ordinary people with different backgrounds and personalities. A handful were fishermen, brothers who worked together on a boat, making a living by casting nets to catch fish.

It is our privilege and calling to share God’s love with others. We do not have to be a great preacher, teacher, missionary, or some other spiritual leader to convey the love and grace of God to the people in our lives. Each of us has been given a gift. God has given us a way to connect with others and offer a tangible way to know and share the love and grace of God.

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men.

I recently had a conversation with a parent of a teenager. She told me that her son was driving her crazy. I laughed because I understood her frustration. In the very following sentence, the young mother told me that she was so proud of him. We shared a few laughs about our children, but it was clear how much we both loved our kids.

Winter has returned. It is cold, with snow and ice covering the ground as I write this devotional. With just a slight change in the weather, we in Oklahoma can find our daily lives interrupted. We are not used to the extreme cold, and winter precipitation slows traffic, shuts down schools, and makes us scramble for groceries. People who live in slightly harsher climates find our struggles with winter weather somewhat funny.

It is cold in Oklahoma. Each year, we have a few days of cold, snow, and ice. If you are not a fan of this weather, remember the words of Oklahoma’s own Will Rogers, “If you don’t like the weather, just wait a minute.” In just a few days, the sun will return, the temperatures will rise, and the snow and ice will melt.

Annie S. Hawks was a talented young woman. She had a gift for writing poetry and lyrics. By the age of 14, she was a contributing writer to local newspapers. She would write poetry that was often featured in these publications. Annie’s faith was important to her. As she grew in her love for God, she developed her skills in writing lyrics for hymns. In her lifetime, Annie S. Hawks (1836-1918) would write just over 400 hymns. Her ability to write was remarkable.