My apologies for being late with the devotion for this week. I left after worship on Sunday to head to Mar-Lu-Ridge Camp and Retreat Center with a few of our confirmation students. We joined confirmands from other congregations from the Metro DC Synod and the Delaware-Maryland Synod for a week of Confirmation Camp. For the devotions this week, I invite you to follow along with some of the Scriptures and concepts the confirmation students will explore.

So much of what we do is wrapped up with our identity and who we understand ourselves to be. And how we understand our Christian identity has a lot to do with how we understand who God is. Is God a god of love or hatred? Is God a god of justice or appeasement?

Confirmation is a process that many Christians use to help us understand ourselves, God, and ourselves in relationship with God and our neighbor.

This week at camp, we will explore together how (1) Jesus makes a difference, (2) how Jesus makes a difference to me/us, (3) how Jesus makes a difference in my/our relationships, and (4) how Jesus makes a difference in the world.

When we arrived on Sunday night and after we got settled and had some dinner, we began with worship in which we remembered our baptisms as a central piece of our identity as Christians. In the Orthodox tradition, the congregation faces to the west to renounce evil and all that works against God. Then, we turn to the east and the rising sun as we declare our faith in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the new day ahead.

 

This Week

An important part of this week for the confirmands will be journaling. There will be time set aside in their day to write about what ever is on their minds, but specifically what they see God doing, what affirms their faith, what challenges their faith, prayers, and questions or ideas they would like to remember later. I encourage you to try this journaling alongside the confirmands as you go through your week and as you read, pray and reflect on the following Scriptures:

• Baptism of Jesus (Mark 1:9-11) – What does this say about Jesus’ identity?
• Zaccheus (Luke 19:1-10) – How did Jesus change Zaccheus and even the crowds?
• Jesus’ purpose (Luke 4:16-21) – Based on this passage and the whole Bible, how would you fill in the following blanks: The Bible tells us to __________ (some action) for _____________ (which people?).
• Jesus sharing the gift of ministry (John 14:8-9, 11-12)

As your week comes to an end, think about (and write or draw) how you understand yourself as a child of God and what that means to your life. How does Jesus make a difference for your life? This last question can be a very tough question because we may be tempted to say what we think the answer should be. Regardless of how you answer, even after this week, continue to look for God all around you and often in unexpected ways and places.