Narrow Pathways

Devotional

Week of January 5, 2025 (To read the devotional click on the topic heading)

Monday

ACCEPTANCE

So God created humans in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:1 – 2:4 (NRSV) STORY Fred Rogers, who was born in 1928, was a sickly child. This required him to spend most of his days in bed. Confined to his bed he alleviated his boredom by writing stories with accompanying music for his puppets, which he then performed on a make-believe stage. After Rogers graduated from Rollins College, he continued his education and later received his divinity degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He was ordained as a Presbyterian…
Tuesday

CHRISTIAN LIFE

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Epiphanes 5:1-2 (NRSV) STORY Hal Holbrook was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1925. For most people, he probably is best recognized for his television and movie appearances; though, it is his desire to be best remembered for portraying Mark Twain in a solo stage performance that ran for six decades. Holbrook was a student majoring in theater at Denison University in Ohio, when his education was interrupted to serve in the Army…
Wednesday

COMPASSION

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.  All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave…
Thursday

HUMILITY

If, then, there is any comfort in Christ, any consolation from love, any partnership in the Spirit, any tender affection and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others. Philippians 2:1-4 STORY Charles Feeney was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey in 1931. His parents were devout Catholics. His father, Leo, was an insurance underwriter who…
Friday

PEACEMAKERS

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.  People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 (NRSV) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9 (NRSV) STORY The Arabella was a ship of 350 tons with 28 cannons…