Posts from 2020 (Page 27)
Daily Devotions: March 1, 2020
March 1, 2020 Matthew 4:1-11 … “The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’” vs. 3 Jesus had just experienced an encounter with God that had exploded his mind. He’d come out of the water and seen a dove circling down from the skies—and with the dove came a voice, “You are my Son, my Beloved, with you I am well-pleased.” It was an overwhelming word of…
Daily Devotions: February 29, 2020
February 29, 2020 Romans 5:12-19 … “Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all.” vs. 18 In Paul’s estimation, the Gospel can be understood logically. Just as Adam’s sin led to condemnation for all, so Jesus’ righteous act leads to life for all! In his mind, it’s as simple as that! Now we might find good reasons to argue with Paul’s syllogism, but there’s a…
Daily Devotions: February 28, 2020
February 28, 2020 Psalm 32: “Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you.” vs. 9 Humans, horses, and mules all reflect the goodness and presence of the Divine Creator, but according to our Scriptures, only humans have been created in the image of God. We bear the stamp of the Divine DNA in our genes and act in this world as the…
Daily Devotions: February 27, 2020
February 27, 2020 Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7 … “But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’” vss. 4-5 The ancient Hebrews used this little story about the man and woman in the Garden of Eden to share some great insights about the nature of good and evil. Unfortunately the story has been used through the…
Daily Devotions: February 26, 2020
February 26, 2020 For full passage click: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 … “but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.” vs. 20 We’re familiar with these words of Jesus; at the very least we’ve heard them read at worship during our Ash Wednesday services. They’re a yearly staple of our lectionary, the texts that are set aside for the three years of the liturgical cycle. And…
Daily Devotions: February 25, 2020
February 25, 2020 For full passage click: Isaiah 58:1-12 … “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?” vs. 6 Isaiah 58 should be required reading for any who presume to be God-fearing believers. The Prophet was fed up with folks who claim to be religious, but who have no heart for the poor or the…
Daily Devotions: February 24, 2020
February 24, 2020 For full passage click: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 … “rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.” vs. 13 Israel had been invaded by a plague of locusts and the prophet Joel believed that relief would come only if the people turned back to God and repented of their sinful ways. Most of us probably…
Daily Devotions: February 23, 2020
February 23, 2020 For full passage click: Matthew 17:6-9 … “But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Get up and do not be afraid.’ And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.” vss. 7-8 The Scriptures consistently report that divine encounters are a scary proposition. Certainly that was true for the disciples on the mountain of transfiguration! The voice that was meant to assure them instead terrified them, and only the gentle touch of Jesus…
Daily Devotions: February 22, 2020
February 22, 2020 For full passage click: Matthew 17:1-5 … “Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’” vs. 4 Jesus had just told the disciples that anyone who wanted to follow him should take up the cross and be prepared to suffer. Peter hadn’t particularly liked that image–none of us do! No healthy person…
Daily Devotions: February 21, 2020
February 21, 2020 For full passage click: 2 Peter 1:19-21 … “First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” vss. 20-21 Interpretation of Scripture is a notoriously difficult enterprise. Some say it can only be done reliably by trained and skilled biblical scholars, men and women who understand fully…
Daily Devotions: February 20, 2020
February 20, 2020 For full passage click: 2 Peter 1:16-18 … holy mountain.” vs. 18 The oldest account of Jesus’ baptism indicates that his experience with the voice and the spirit was a private affair and that it happened as he was emerging from the Jordan. Here Peter indicates that on the Mount of the Transfiguration the voice from heaven was for the benefit of the disciples present. The affirmation was not for Jesus, but for those who were following…
Daily Devotions: February 19, 2020
February 19, 2020 For full passage click: Psalm 2:7-12 … “I will tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to me, ‘You are my son; today I have begotten you.’” vs. 7 During the days when Israel had a strong monarchy, the king was thought of as the anointed one of God; he was the ‘messiah’ and at his coronation he was reminded that he was the son of God from that day forward. Later on, when Jesus…