January 2026 Devotional | renewchurchcleveland

January 5 Shema: To Listen, To Hear “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” — Deuteronomy 6:4 The opening word of Israel’s confession is שְׁמַע (Shema)—often translated hear. But Shema is richer than sound waves reaching the ear. In Hebrew thought, to hear means to listen attentively, to receive deeply, and to allow what is heard to shape the way we live. Hearing is incomplete until it moves from the ear into the heart and outward into life. Shema calls us to more than awareness. It invites attention—a heart leaned in. God is not merely speaking information; He is forming a people. To hear God is to let His words reorder our loves, our priorities, and our daily rhythms. In a noisy world, we often confuse exposure with transformation. We listen to sermons, podcasts, Scriptures—yet Shema asks: Have you truly received what you heard? Biblical listening is relational. It assumes trust and closeness. When Israel spoke the Shema, they were declaring allegiance: We belong to this God. We will live shaped by His words. Jesus echoes this same vision when He says, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” The invitation remains: slow down, quiet the competing voices, and give God your full attention—not just with your ears, but with your whole self. Reflection What voices most often pull your attention away from God? Where might God be inviting you to listen more deeply today? Prayer Lord, teach me to Shema—to listen with my whole heart. Quiet the noise within me. Let Your word sink deep, reshape my loves, and guide my steps today. Amen.

January 6 Shamar: To Guard, To Keep, To Watch Over “You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God…” — Deuteronomy 6:17 Flowing naturally from Shema (to listen, to hear) is the Hebrew word שָׁמַר (Shamar). While often translated keep, Shamar carries the picture of guarding something precious, watching over it with care, and protecting what has been entrusted to you. In Scripture, Shamar is used of a watchman on the city walls, a shepherd protecting a flock, or a gardener tending a vineyard. It is not cold compliance—it is attentive care. God’s words are not meant to pass through us briefly; they are meant to be held, protected, and treasured. Shamar asks a deeper question: What are you guarding? Because what we truly value, we naturally protect. To Shamar God’s words means we give them space to remain, resisting the erosion that comes from distraction, hurry, and competing voices. We guard them in our hearts, our homes, our conversations, and our habits. We watch over what shapes us. This is deeply relational. God first Shamar’s us—He watches over His people, neither slumbering nor sleeping. In response, we Shamar His words, not out of pressure, but out of love and trust. What God speaks is worth protecting. Reflection What do you currently guard most carefully in your life? Are God’s words being protected—or crowded out? Prayer Lord, help me to Shamar what You have spoken. Teach me to guard Your truth in my heart, to watch over it with care, and to let it shape my daily life. Keep me attentive and faithful with what You have entrusted to me. Amen.

January 7: Shamar (Part 2): Guarding God’s Dwelling Place “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” — Genesis 2:15 In Part 1, we saw Shamar in Deuteronomy 6:17—a call to carefully keep what God has spoken. In Part 2, Scripture takes us back even further, to the very beginning, to show us what Shamar has always been about. The Hebrew word שָׁמַר (Shamar) means to guard, to watch over, to protect something sacred. In Genesis, Adam and Eve were placed in the garden not only to cultivate it, but to Shamar it. Eden was not merely farmland—it was sacred space, the place where God’s presence dwelled with humanity. This language is intentional. Later in the story of Israel, the same word Shamar describes the work of the priests, who were assigned to guard the tabernacle and later the temple. What Adam and Eve were called to do in the garden was priestly work—protecting the space where heaven and earth met. Here is the striking connection: Scripture now says that we are God’s temple. God’s dwelling place is no longer confined to a garden or a building, but His people. That means Shamar is not just something we do with words on a page—it is something we live out in our bodies, minds, and hearts. To Shamar today is to guard the space where God’s presence lives, to watch over what shapes us, influences us, and forms our loves. God first Shamar’s us—He watches over His people with constant care. And as those who bear His presence, we are invited into that same priestly calling: to guard what is holy. Reflection What has God entrusted to you that needs protecting? What influences might be crowding the space where God dwells in you? Prayer Lord, thank You for making me Your dwelling place. Teach me to Shamar—to guard my heart and my life so Your presence remains honored and protected. Help me live out the priestly calling You have given me. Amen. Shema listens. Shamar guards.

January 8: Asah: To Do, To Make, To Live It Out “And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD…” — Deuteronomy 6:18 After Shema (to listen) and Shamar (to guard), Scripture leads us to the word עָשָׂה (Asah). Often translated do or make, Asah speaks of intentional action—bringing something into reality through lived practice. Asah is where faith becomes visible. In Hebrew thought, listening is never meant to stop at understanding, and guarding is never meant to end in preservation alone. What is heard and protected is meant to be worked into the fabric of everyday life. Asah is not rushed performance or forced effort—it is faith taking shape through faithful living. Throughout Scripture, Asah is used for God Himself. God Asah-ed the heavens and the earth. He brought order, beauty, and purpose out of what was formless. When we Asah, we are not trying to earn God’s favor—we are participating in His creative work, allowing what He has spoken to be expressed through us. Asah reminds us that God’s words are not abstract ideas. They are meant to be practiced in homes, embodied in relationships, and revealed through daily choices. What we listen to (Shema), and what we guard (Shamar), eventually shows up in how we live. This is not about perfection. It is about direction. Step by step, choice by choice, God’s truth is made tangible in our lives. Reflection What has God been inviting you to put into practice? Where might listening and guarding now lead to action? Prayer Lord, help me to Asah—to live out what You have placed in my heart. Shape my actions, my habits, and my choices so Your truth becomes visible through my life. Let my faith take form in everyday faithfulness. Amen. Shema listens. Shamar guards. Asah lives it out.

January 9: Mary & Martha: Presence Before Practice Luke 10:38–42 When Jesus enters the home in Bethany, He steps into a tension every believer knows well—the pull between being with God and doing for God. Two sisters respond to His presence in very different ways. Martha opens her home through active service. Mary opens her heart through attentive listening. And at the center stands Jesus, gently revealing what truly matters most. Martha is not portrayed as lazy or faithless. In fact, her actions are honorable. Hospitality was a sacred duty in the ancient world, and Martha takes that responsibility seriously. But Luke tells us she becomes “distracted with much serving.” The word implies being pulled apart—fragmented by good things that slowly crowd out the best thing. Mary, on the other hand, “sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to His teaching.” This was not a casual posture. Sitting at a rabbi’s feet was the recognized position of a disciple—one who is learning, receiving, and being formed. Mary chooses attentiveness over activity, presence over productivity. When Martha voices her frustration, Jesus responds with compassion, not condemnation: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.” He names the deeper issue—not her service, but her anxiety. Her work has drifted from love into pressure, from joy into striving. Jesus’ affirmation of Mary—“she has chosen the better portion”—does not diminish service. It restores its proper place. Service that flows from intimacy brings life. Service that replaces intimacy breeds exhaustion. This moment reveals a core rhythm of discipleship woven throughout Scripture: Listen to God before you act Receive from God before you give Be with God before you work for Him Mary shows us that transformation begins in stillness. Martha reminds us that action matters—but only when it is rooted in relationship. Jesus calls both sisters—and us—into alignment, where our doing flows naturally from our being. Reflection What “good things” might be crowding out time at Jesus’ feet? Where has service quietly turned into anxiety? How would your work change if it flowed from deeper presence with God? Prayer Jesus, slow my heart and quiet my striving. Teach me to sit at Your feet, to listen before I act, and to serve from love rather than pressure. Let my life be shaped by Your presence. Amen.

January 12 Devotional: Who’s on Your Path? Luke 10:25–37 Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan in response to a simple but searching question: “Who is my neighbor?” The story unfolds on a dangerous road between Jerusalem and Jericho—a place of risk, uncertainty, and vulnerability. A man is beaten, robbed, and left half-dead. Two religious figures see him. Both pass by. Then comes a Samaritan—an outsider, someone expected not to help. Yet the Samaritan sees, has compassion, stops, binds wounds, lifts the man onto his own animal, pays the cost, and promises continued care. Jesus flips the question. Instead of asking “Who qualifies as my neighbor?” He shows us what it means to be a neighbor. This isn’t just a story about kindness—it’s a call to interruptible love. The Samaritan allowed his plans, schedule, comfort, and resources to be disrupted for the sake of someone hurting along his path. The Heart of the Story The road matters. This wasn’t a planned act of charity; it was love in the moment. The Samaritan didn’t go looking for a project—he responded to a person placed right in front of him. Reflection Question Who’s on your path right now that needs you? A coworker carrying quiet grief A neighbor who feels unseen A family member who needs patience, not advice A stranger God has placed in your day Love of neighbor often looks less like grand gestures and more like faithful attentiveness—seeing who God has already placed in our way. Prayer Jesus, slow me down enough to see the people You place on my path. Give me eyes to notice, a heart that feels compassion, and courage to stop when love requires it. Teach me to live interruptible, generous, and present—like You. Amen.

January 13 Devotional: Love Is Spelled T-I-M-E One of the simplest—and most costly—ways we love people is by giving them our time and attention. In a world of notifications, multitasking, and hurry, attention has become rare. Yet throughout the Gospels, Jesus consistently gives people His presence. He stops for the overlooked, listens to the broken, touches the untouchable, and allows interruptions to shape His ministry. He never treats people as distractions. Time is powerful because it cannot be faked. You can give money without your heart, offer words without your soul—but when you give someone your time, you give them yourself. Love says: I see you. You matter. You’re worth slowing down for. Often, the people around us don’t need solutions or sermons. They need someone who will sit, listen, and stay. Attention communicates dignity. Presence restores value. Loving people this way means resisting hurry. It means putting the phone down, making eye contact, asking real questions, and listening without planning a response. It means choosing people over productivity. A Simple Truth You don’t have to add more to your schedule to love well. You just have to be fully present in what’s already there. Reflection Question Where is God inviting you to love someone today by giving them your undivided time and attention? Prayer Jesus, You never rushed past people. Teach me to slow down and love the way You love. Help me to be fully present with those You place in front of me—to listen well, notice deeply, and give my time generously. May my presence reflect Yours. Amen.

January 14 Devotional: Loving People Through Encouragement One of the most powerful ways we love someone is by encouraging them. Encouragement isn’t flattery or empty positivity. It’s the intentional choice to speak life and truth into someone who may be weary, doubting, or discouraged. God often uses timely words to strengthen hearts and restore hope. Scripture reminds us how essential this is: “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Encouragement builds. It reinforces what God is already doing in a person. Our words can help someone stand when they feel like giving up, or keep walking when the road feels long. Jesus modeled this constantly. He encouraged fearful disciples, affirmed faith that others overlooked, and spoke identity before people fully believed it themselves. His words didn’t just comfort—they called people forward. Encouragement says: I see you. You’re not alone. God is at work in you. Don’t quit. Sometimes loving someone doesn’t require fixing their problem—just reminding them of God’s presence, His promises, and their value. Reflection Question Who has God placed in your life right now that needs encouragement—and what words could you speak today to help build them up? Prayer God, thank You for encouraging my heart when I am weak. Help me to love others the same way. Guard my words and make them life-giving, timely, and full of grace. Show me who needs encouragement today, and give me the courage to speak it. Amen.

January 15 Devotional: Rich Toward What Matters 1 Timothy 6:17–18 Paul speaks to a timeless temptation: placing our confidence in what we have rather than in the One who provides. "17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, " Scripture challenges us to rethink what it truly means to be rich. God’s vision of richness is not measured by what we accumulate, but by how freely we give. To be rich in good works means our lives are marked by active love—meeting needs, serving quietly, and stepping in when help is required. It’s faith made visible. Good works are not about earning God’s favor; they are the natural overflow of a heart that trusts Him. Generosity with our money flows from the same place. Money is one of the clearest indicators of where our hope is anchored. When we give generously, we declare that our security is not in what we hold, but in the God who provides. Open hands reveal a confident heart. Being generous doesn’t always mean giving large amounts—it means giving willingly, joyfully, and consistently. It means seeing our resources as tools for God’s purposes rather than possessions to protect. God invites us into a better kind of wealth: Wealth that blesses others Wealth that builds faith Wealth that echoes into eternity When we are rich in good works and generous with our money, we participate in God’s work of restoration. We store up treasure that cannot fade, be lost, or be taken away. Reflection Question Where might God be inviting you to grow in generosity—through good works, financial giving, or both? Prayer God, everything I have comes from You. Teach me to hold my resources with open hands and a willing heart. Make me rich in good works and joyful in generosity. Use what You’ve entrusted to me to bless others and bring You glory. Amen.

January 16 Devotional: Loving Others Through Forgiveness (Refusing the Bait) One of the clearest ways we love others is by forgiving them the way God has forgiven us. And as The Bait of Satan by John Bevere reminds us, forgiveness is not only an act of love—it is a guardrail for our hearts. Forgiveness is not pretending the hurt didn’t happen. It doesn’t minimize the pain or excuse what was wrong. Forgiveness is choosing to release someone from a debt you feel they owe you—and placing justice back into God’s hands. The enemy rarely begins with obvious rebellion or blatant sin. More often, he begins with a wound. A careless comment. A tone that felt dismissive. A moment you felt you were overlooked. A leader who let you down. A friend who didn’t show up when you needed them. The hurt feels reasonable. The reaction feels justified. That is the bait. If we hold onto that offense, it slowly shapes us. What begins as pain can turn into bitterness. What starts as disappointment can become distrust. Unforgiveness doesn’t just remember the moment—it replays it, giving it power to define our posture toward others and toward God. Scripture reminds us of the pattern we follow: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” — Ephesians 4:32 God’s forgiveness toward us was not casual or cheap. It was costly. It flowed from mercy, not merit. While we were still sinners, God moved toward us in love. When we forgive others, we are not saying the offense didn’t matter—we are saying God’s grace matters more than our right to stay offended. The Bait of Satan warns that unresolved offense becomes a trap that restricts spiritual growth. We think we are holding onto justice, but in reality, we are holding onto chains. Forgiveness is the key that opens the trap. Forgiveness frees us as much as it frees others. Unforgiveness keeps us tied to past wounds, rehearsing what happened and why it wasn’t fair. Forgiveness loosens that grip. It allows healing to begin and keeps bitterness from taking root in our hearts. Forgiving like God means: Letting go of the right to revenge Choosing grace over resentment Refusing to live offended Trusting God with what still feels unfair This kind of love is not natural—it is supernatural. It requires the Spirit’s work in us. But it is also one of the clearest reflections of the gospel, because it mirrors how we ourselves have been treated by God. Reflection Question Where might you be holding onto a justified offense—and how might God be inviting you to release it so you can walk in freedom? Prayer Father, search my heart and show me where I’ve taken the bait of offense. I bring You the wounds, the disappointments, and the moments that still sting. By Your Spirit, give me the grace to forgive as I have been forgiven in Christ. I release my right to revenge and entrust justice to You. Heal what is wounded, soften what has grown hard, and guard my heart from bitterness. I choose freedom. In Jesus’ name, amen.