Today's writing is entitled "THE COLOR RED." In it we explore the different things that red can represent. Then we examine what we find in the Bible.
Blessed Pentecost to you!
Jan and Corinne
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Today's Devotional:
THE COLOR RED
by
Jan Andersen
I’m not sure I have a favorite color anymore, but as a child my favorite was red. I remember how excited I was when I got a red throw rug for my kindergarten nap time. As a youngster I also had a red jacket for those chilly fall days. Even for hard candy red is probably still my favorite - cherry or strawberry! Do you have a favorite color?
What does the color red symbolize for you or bring to mind? Fire engines? Valentines? Wine? In psychology red has numerous possible meanings, including energy and passion… or anger. Those things can give us positive or negative experiences, depending upon if they are used appropriately. Red is an energizing color, as opposed to having a calming effect like greens and blues. It also can mean love, and is the color of blood and fire.
Love, blood and fire have an important significance in the Bible. Out of the Father’s great love for us, He sent his only son, Jesus Christ, to shed his blood on the cross to pay for our sins. After Jesus died and rose again, he walked the earth for 40 days. As he was preparing to ascend into heaven to be with the Father, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to be with the disciples and give them the power to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. When the Spirit came on the day of Pentecost, tongues of fire rested on the disciples, and they began to speak in different languages recognized miraculously by all those around from various language groups. Red can represent the Father’s love, the Son’s blood and the Spirit’s fire.
Today is when our church celebrates Pentecost. The liturgical color for Pentecost is red. It reminds us of the tongues of fire and the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of truth plants faith in our hearts so that we too can witness to the ends of the earth what the blood of Jesus has done for us. The red of the Holy Spirit’s fire and the red of the blood of Jesus on the cross mix together to make the red of God’s love - red must be God’s favorite color!
Acts 2:1-4 (ESV). When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested[a] on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Dear Father in heaven, thank you for the gift of your love for us, as shown in the gift of your Son who paid for our sins, and the gift of faith in you by the power of your Holy Spirit. May we remember these gifts of red as we go throughout our lives, witnessing to others of your love and how that has played out in our lives. Help them to see how you love them too. In the name of Jesus, who with you and the Spirit are one, Amen.
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Song:
AT THE CROSS
(LOVE RAN RED)
Chris Tomlin
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Prayers are lifted up daily for
you by the Devotional Writers
and the Monthly Writing Staff
of Women's Focus Ministries.
Blog Writers:
Jan Andersen, Sandy Billingham, Carol Steficek,
Brother Thomas Ukwute, Jody Ward, Karen Bennett,
Collette Phillips, Cathy Friberg, and Corinne Mustafa
Occasional Contributors:
Kathy Bireley, Lynda Kinnard, Mary M. Wilkins,
Terri Baker, Beverley Napier, Kelly Dobyns
Glenna Williamson, Shelly Keith, Amie Spruiell,
Lisabeth Lipp, and Nandita Bhatnagar
I love how your devotionals are always so geared at what is going on in the world or the times we remember in our churches. Well done as usual Jan,
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