Posts from March 2021 (Page 2)
Daily Devotions
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’” vss. 20-21 John 12:20-21 We’re curious about the Greeks John mentions here, and all kinds of questions come to mind. Who were they? Why did they search out Philip? And most importantly, did they ever get introduced to Jesus? Unfortunately John isn’t in the business of…
Daily Devotions
Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him…” vss. 8-9 Hebrews 5:5-10 For pious Jews who became followers of Jesus after his resurrection it was natural to connect him with cherished temple practices, and many began to think of him in high priestly terms. The writer of Hebrews picks up on those themes and shows how it was that…
Daily Devotions
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.” vs. 10 Psalm 51:6-12 Some of us have sung this psalm in worship for as long as we can remember…and that’s a good thing! These ancient words pretty much articulate the rhythm of life in Christ for all of God’s people. Like our hands our hearts need daily cleansing to keep them free of disease and guilt buildup. One of the positive byproducts…
Daily Devotions
Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment.” vs. 4 Psalm 51: 1-5 One of seven penitential psalms this prayer has often been attributed to David after his confrontation with the prophet Nathan, and the whole sorry Bathsheba affair. While its words are appropriate to such a setting, it’s unlikely that David was the author, and more likely that…
Examen: A Faith Practice for Lent and For Life, Week 4
This recording is Week 4 of a 6-part Lenten exploration via examen, the faith practice of looking inward, trusting that God wants the eyes of the heart to be illumined. Sheri Brown facilitates the series ~ through prayer, meditation, examen, reflection, scripture, poetry, fasting and almsgiving, participants learn to be a contemplative in action, connecting their spiritual lives with their active day-to-day lives. Examen is the practice of prayerful reflection on how and where God is speaking to us from…
Daily Devotions
But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” vs. 33 Jeremiah 31:31-34 For hundreds of years Israel had prided itself on being a covenant people. God had chosen them out of all nations and had promised to be their God forever.…
Daily Devotions
And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.” vs. 19 John 3:18-21 We don’t like to talk about judgment, and some have pretty much eliminated the word from their religious vocabulary. They prefer to believe that since God is good and abounding in steadfast love, there’s no room for judgment. That would be news to the gospel writer! From his perspective there was…
Daily Devotions
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” vs. 16 John 3: 14-17 In Psalm 107 the psalmist wrote that because of the Lord’s steadfast love, he sent out his word and healed those who were suffering because of their sins. John picks up that theme in his gospel and identifies Jesus with God’s creative and redemptive word. In both instances…
Daily Devotions
For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.” vs. 10 Ephesians 2:4-10 We can spend a lot of pointless time wondering about stuff as we live and work in this world. Some think there is great gain in debating the fine points of theology and learning how to articulate our creeds in ever more complex ways. A few are so skillful in such…
Daily Devotions
All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else.” vs. 3 Ephesians 2:1-3 When the writer of Ephesians penned this letter he made no distinction between himself and those he was addressing. All were in the same boat, all were following the desires of their flesh and senses, and they were dead to the riches God had for…
Daily Devotions
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress” vs. 19 Psalm 107:17-22 Again and again in the psalms and other portions of scripture we read about how God reaches out to those who are in distress or any kind of trouble and offers them healing and restoration. This psalmist has in mind the occasion in the wilderness when the Hebrews were being tormented by poisonous serpents and God provided for them. It…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 107:1-3 … “O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.” vs. 1 Stories are often told, hopefully in jest, of crusty old husbands who are reluctant to use the language of love with their spouses because, “I said I loved her once and if I ever change my mind I’ll let her know.” In truth, such foolishness has no place in a marriage. An “I love you” never loses its power…