Posts from 2019 (Page 32)
Daily Devotions: January 6, 2019
January 6, 2019 To read full passage click: Matthew 2:1-12 …“On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” vs. 11 Officially, the season of Christmas ended yesterday. Presumably trees and decorations have been taken down or stored away, and folks are ready to get on with the new year. The gift-giving is over and…
Daily Devotions: January 5, 2019
January 5, 2019 To read full passage click: Ephesians 3:7-12 …“Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me by the working of his power.” vs. 7 While many question whether Paul was the actual writer of the book of Ephesians, there is no doubt that its content is consistent with what we know of his life. He was completely committed to the message of inclusive grace that had…
Daily Devotions: January 4, 2019
January 4, 2019 To read full passage click: Ephesians 3:1-6 …“that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” vs. 6 Paul’s gospel insight changed everything in those exciting Spirit-directed and chaotic early days of the Church. The promise of life and forgiveness that had been given to the children of Abraham through the revelation of the prophets was intended for all people. No…
Daily Devotions: January 3, 2019
January 3, 2019 To read full passage click: Psalm 72:10-14 …“He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight.” vss. 13-14 There are over 65 million displaced persons in the world today, and more than 25 million refugees and more than half of these are children. They’ve been forced from their homes by oppression and violence…
Daily Devotions: January 2, 2019
January 2, 2019 To read full passage click: Psalm 72:1-7 …“Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king’s son. May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor.” vss. 1, 4 The people of Israel always had high expectations of their rulers, and even sang about their hopes in temple rituals. The psalmist might have composed this psalm for an enthronement ceremony, and there…
Daily Devotions: January 1, 2019
January 1, 2019 For full passage click: Isaiah 60:1-6 …“Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” vs. 1 Epiphany is the season of light, a time to celebrate the dawning of the good news in a world of darkness. It’s a time to rededicate ourselves to our calling as children of light and focus on the many ways we can let that light shine before others. Way back in the time of the…