Posts from 2020 (Page 22)
Daily Devotions: April 30, 2020
April 30, 2020 1 Peter 2:19-21 … “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.” vs. 21 The people to whom Peter was writing had a few big faith questions, and the big one is obvious: “Since they were living lives pleasing to God, why in the world were they suffering?” It’s a question we’re still living with some 2000 years later. When…
Daily Devotions: April 29, 2020
April 29, 2020 Psalm 23 … “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” vs. 5 If nothing else, our experiences over the last couple of months have taught us that we live in a dangerous world and, no matter how good our intentions, we can’t always control outcomes. Life is hard, and problems can come from most any direction at any time—some would even say…
Daily Devotions: April 28, 2020
April 28, 2020 Acts 2:46-47 … “Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people.” vss. 46-47a Initially, the followers of Jesus in Jerusalem did not imagine that they would be considered the founders of a new religion. They were very content within Judaism and made temple worship a part of their daily…
Daily Devotions: April 27, 2020
April 27, 2020 Acts 2:42-45 … “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” vs. 42 As places of worship have closed their doors through the course of this pandemic, leaders have regularly reminded believers that the Church has not been closed, and they’re one hundred percent correct. The Church has never been about steeples, sanctuaries, or classrooms, and Luke’s description in Acts remains accurate to this day. The Church…
Daily Devotions: April 26, 2020
April 26, 2020 Luke 24:24-35 … “Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.” vs. 35 Some believers have reported that what they’re missing most in the physical distancing related to the current reaction to the spread of the corona virus is participation in Holy Communion. There are no shortages of worship services on YouTube and being live-streamed, but while it’s nice to check…
Daily Devotions: April 25, 2020
April 25, 2020 Luke 24:13-27 … “Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.” vs. 27 Luke makes it clear to his readers that the good news about Jesus was not self-evident even to his disciples after that fateful weekend in Jerusalem. Some women had spread the news of his continuing presence but their reports were not considered authoritative. What the early believers needed was some evidence that…
Daily Devotions: April 24, 2020
April 24, 2020 1 Peter 1:21-23 … “You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.” vs. 23 Peter’s words to those early followers of Jesus were intended to give them encouragement and hope. They were a holy people, set aside by God to make a difference in the world. Their strength came not from their own merit or worthiness but as a gift from God through the Holy…
Daily Devotions: April 23, 2020
April 23, 2020 1 Peter 1:17-20 … “You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.” vss. 18-19 A ransom is typically understood as the payment that gives a person release from captors. In this passage it’s used as a verb to describe how the blood of Christ sets sinners free…
Daily Devotions: April 22, 2020
April 22, 2020 Psalm 116:12-19 … “What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.” vss. 12-14 When the Psalmist was restored to health there was only one adequate response: he headed to the temple as fast as he could to offer a generous sacrifice…
Daily Devotions: April 21, 2020
April 21, 2020 Psalm 116:1-4 … “Then I called on the name of the Lord: ‘O Lord, I pray, save my life!’” vs 4 The Psalmist was in a buoyant mood; he had a story to tell and he wanted everyone to know his good news. He had been at death’s door, close to giving up his spirit, and very near to entering the dark haunts of the dead. At the last moment he had cried out to the Lord…
Daily Devotions: April 20, 2020
April 20, 2020 Acts 2:14a, 36-41 … “So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.” vs. 41 According to Luke, the growth of the early Christian community was explosive, with 3000 persons being baptized in response to Peter’s sermon. While we might question Luke’s numbers and the impact of a particular sermon, there is little doubt that there was missionary zeal among believers from the very beginning. They’d been touched by…
Daily Devotions: April 19, 2020
April 19, 2020 John 20:26-31 … “But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.” vs. 31 When John wrote his Gospel there was no doubt about his convictions or his intentions. He may not have known Jesus personally, but he was certainly aware of his life and ministry, and he had come to believe that Jesus was…