Posts from February 2021 (Page 2)
Daily Devotions
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.” vs. 1 Psalm 51:1-17 Through the years we’ve come up with some creative ways to deal with the problem of sin in our lives. Most recently a sizable number of folks have decided that there’s been too much talk of sin in the church, and that we deserve a break. Some congregations have consequently eliminated the confession from the order…
Daily Devotions
Is not this the fast that I choose: to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them…? vss. 6a-7 Isaiah 58:1-12 The prophet imagines a conversation between God and Israelites who are wondering why their prayers aren’t being heard when they have been so faithful in making their temple sacrifices and keeping their ritual fasts. In the prophet’s estimation, God has a different agenda for them–they’ve…
Daily Devotions
Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.” vs. 8 Mark 9:7-9 Most people have a variety of spiritual and religious experiences as they search for a unitary expression of faith, one that will stand the test of time and withstand the doubts that stalk them. There are days that our faith is strong, buttressed by internal certainties rising from what we perceive to be divine encounters. On those days there’s a…
Daily Devotions
Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’” vs. 5 Mark 9:2-6 When Peter was at a loss for words he usually said something–it was his way of dealing with anxiety, and as an extrovert, it was more comfortable for him to talk than think. So on the mountain of transfiguration, after a powerful vision of Jesus as the…
Daily Devotions
For it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” vs. 5 2 Corinthians 4:5-6 Sometimes we encounter people who have a bit of a glow about them, and not because they’ve been drinking. It’s the radiant look in their eyes, a light that we sense comes from deep within them, a light…
Daily Devotions
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” vs. 4 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 Paul uses dualistic language here to describe those forces present in the world that contrive to keep us from recognizing the presence of Christ, either in ourselves or in the world. While we might not call those powers the…
Daily Devotions
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.” vs. 2 Psalm 50:1-6 For the psalmist God was anything but hidden. He believed that the Lord daily summoned the people of Israel, from the rising of the sun to its setting, to acts of worship and sacrifice. And more than that, he was convinced that Jerusalem itself, holy Zion, home to the temple of Solomon, was the dwelling place of God on earth. True worship took place there, and…
Daily Devotions
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.’ Elisha said, ‘Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.’” vs. 9 2 Kings 2:9-12 Elisha’s request may seem strange to us, but he was making a reference to the inheritance laws of Israel, where the first-born son, at the death of his father, was awarded a double share of the inheritance. Elisha is asking Elijah…
Daily Devotions
The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, ‘Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?’ And he said, ‘Yes, I know; keep silent.’” vs. 3 2 Kings 2:1-8 The Elijah-Elisha cycle of stories were a cherished part of Israel’s traditions, and the story of Elijah’s ascent into heaven in a chariot of fire became an important part of the messianic dream. One day Elijah would…
Daily Devotions
In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.” vs. 35 Mark 1:32-39 The Sea of Galilee is a harp-shaped lake about eleven miles long and is surrounded by large hills. Along its banks in the time of Jesus were a number of small towns and villages. Capernaum is at the northern edge, right about where the Jordan River enters the lake. When Jesus got up…
Daily Devotion
He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.” vs. 31 Mark 1:29-31 Mark adds a personal touch to his story by telling how Jesus healed Simon’s mother-in-law during a Saturday afternoon visit to the family home. Whether Mark intended it or not we can’t help but be amused at what happened. A cynic would say that this healing was done as much to benefit the…
Daily Devotions
I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.” vs. 23 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Paul’s life had been resurrected by the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he wanted to share that blessing with as many people as he could. So he carefully crafted his message to fit the life situation of those he wanted to reach. He learned to speak the language his hearers would understand. To Jews he spoke as…