Posts from August 2020 (Page 2)

Posts from August 2020 (Page 2)

Daily Devotions

Psalm 138 … “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” vs. 8 It’s not unusual for the faithful to wonder about their purpose in life. Often our paths seem indistinguishable from those of the people around us–there’s a certain routine: education, career, marriage and family, and before we know it, we’re planning our retirement. And it’s possible to do all of that without an…

Daily Devotions

Isaiah 51:4-6 … “Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and those who live on it will die like gnats; but my salvation will be forever, and my deliverance will never be ended.” vs. 6 The people of the prophet’s day worried about their continuing existence and the prophet affirms their concerns. The heavens will vanish and the earth…

Daily Devotions

Isaiah 51:1-3 … “Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness, you that seek the Lord. Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.” vs. 1 Each of us have a history and if we look back to the beginning years of our individual timelines we will see the framework in which we began to learn decency, the kind of righteousness that is the starting point for life in community. For…

Daily Devotions

Matthew 15:25-28 … “Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed instantly.” vs. 28  Ironies abound as Jesus continues his ministry to the scattered Jews of the Gentile world. Matthew has carefully recounted the disciples’ melt-down on the Sea of Galilee where they are chastised for their miniscule faith convictions. Not only did Peter get scolded, the whole boatload got an earful from Jesus. And in…

Daily Devotions

Matthew 15:21-54 … “But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.’” vs. 23 The Jews of Galilee had been scattered through the years and by the time Jesus began his ministry some were living in what were considered Gentile areas. Naturally as Jesus was doing his preaching and healing he searched out those pockets of Jews that they too might be able to hear…

Daily Devotions

Romans 11:29-32 … “for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” vs. 29 Paul was explaining to his Roman readers that the disobedience of the Jews had not separated them from the love of God. Just as Gentiles, in spite of their disobedience, had been shown the mercies of God, so it was with the Jews. His careful arguments to that effect are likely not of much interest to us, but his conclusions bring a mind-boggling word of…

Daily Devotions

Romans 11:1-2a … “God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.” vs. 2a In those all-too-frequent times when Christians have embraced an anti-Semitic stance and done all kinds of horrendous things to Jews, they have excused their own behavior by saying, “Well, they rejected Jesus,” implying that Jews deserve to be persecuted. Of course, that’s despicable logic and it does nothing to excuse the centuries of torment and abuse. What such positions do reveal is the abysmal ignorance of…

Daily Devotions

Psalm 67:4-7 … “The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us. May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him.” vss. 6-7 Demographers estimate that there are now 7.8 billion people in the world, a marked increase from the 1 billion who populated our planet just 200 years ago. One reason for the rapid growth has been agricultural development. At one time it was believed that the world would run…

Daily Devotions

Psalm 67:1-3 … “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations.” vss. 1-2 The psalmist makes reference to the Aaronic benediction in his hymn of praise. That brief blessing has been a favorite of God’s people from the beginning, and it continues to bring joy as we hear it in worship now. It comes at the end…

Daily Devotions

Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 … “Thus says the Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I will gather others to them besides those already gathered.” vs. 8 As the religion of Judaism developed through the centuries, the rabbis debated at length about Israel’s place in the world. Some wanted a closed system, but others, inspired by the prophet Isaiah, understood that ultimately the house of God would become a house for all nations. What had happened for the people of…

Daily Devotions

Matthew 14:28-33 … “But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” vs. 30 Our liberal, literal minds are often challenged by the miracle stories in the gospels and we struggle to find satisfactory explanations. Most days we have an easier time with the healings–after all that’s one of the things Jesus did, and many people through history have been known as healers. But walking on water is a…

Daily Devotions

Matthew 14:22-27 … “And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone…” vs. 23  Those who are more introverted in their relationship to the external world are likely to identify with Jesus as they read in scripture of his desire to be alone. The world was changing. John the Baptist had been brutally murdered. Decisions about continuing his ministry needed to be made. Some people love…