Posts from 2020 (Page 4)
Daily Devotions
Psalm 80:1-7, 15-17 “O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers? You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure.” vss. 4-5 Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and because family gatherings have been shown to be “superspreaders” in the COVID pandemic, many are choosing to forego traditional celebratory dinners with friends and relatives. For them it’s one more negative effect of these last nine months of…
Daily Devotions
Isaiah 64:6-9 “Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” vs. 8 The prophet was confident of two things: first, he believed that humans were pretty much hopelessly corrupt; in his words, even our righteous deeds are like filthy rags. And second, he knew that all people are the work of God’s hand, as he puts it, “We are the clay, and you are…
Daily Devotions
Isaiah 64:1-5 “O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence…to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence!” vs. 1 The prophet was impatient with the hiddenness of God! He had a deep and abiding faith; he was convinced that God had acted in mighty ways in Israel’s past. But now there was no sign of God’s presence, at least…
Daily Devotions
Matthew 25:37-47 “And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’” vs 40 It’s amazing to see how people are drawn to those who are the rich and the powerful! When presidents and billionaires beckon, even cardinals and preachers pay attention and then vie with one another for a chance to break bread or have a…
Daily Devotions
Matthew 25:31-36 “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me…” vss. 35b-36 The will of Jesus for those who follow him and walk according to his teachings could not be more clearly stated than here in Matthew’s gospel. It’s his last…
Daily Devotions
Ephesians 1:18-23 “God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places…” vs. 20 Some people point to verses like this to show that the Risen Christ has been elevated to a position in the universe that is beyond our reach or understanding. If that’s what we believe, we’re really on our own in the world now, left to work things out as best…
Daily Devotions
Ephesians 1:15-17 “I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.” vss. 15-16 The reputation of the congregation at Ephesus had spread among the little house churches that sprang up all over the eastern Mediterranean as apostles had proclaimed the good news of Jesus. According to the writer of this letter two…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 95:1-7a “O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” vss. 1-2 As the worship quarantine continues in our congregations, one of the things we’re missing the most is lifting our voices in songs of praise and thanksgiving. In fact, we’ve been told by those who understand how…
Daily Devotions
Ezekiel 34:20-34 “Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged…” vss. 21-22a The scattering of people does not happen by chance. Ezekiel used the sheep metaphor to describe exactly what takes place. The fat and the strong sheep bully the weaker members of the flock and chase them away from their sources…
Daily Devotions
Ezekiel 34:11-16 “I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep…I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.” vss. 15a-16 Ezekiel liked the metaphor of shepherd to describe the relationship of God to the people of Judah. Like lost sheep they had been scattered and left to…
Daily Devotions
Matthew 25:24-30 “For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.” vs. 29 Jesus’ parables can be read either from the perspective of law or gospel. In this instance our inclination is to immediately go to the law and see his story as a warning not to bury our talents. Sometimes readers will even be upset by the action…
Daily Devotions
Matthew 25:14-18 “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability.” vss. 14-15 Essentially, all that we do in life is stewardship. Every person on the planet has been entrusted with gifts and abilities that are the legacy of our Creator. No one has been exempted and each has been blessed…