Posts from 2021 (Page 27)
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…
Daily Devotions
So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.” vs. 9 Numbers 21:4-9 Given the general distaste for snakes that exists among humans, it can be surprising to learn that the symbol used to designate medical professionals is a serpent coiled around an upright rod or stake. It’s origin is traced by scholars to the rod of Asclepius, the…
Daily Devotions
After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.” vs. 22 John 2:17-22 John tells us that the disciples didn’t understand what was going on when he wreaked havoc in the temple–it was only much later, after his resurrection that his words made sense to them. That was probably the case with much of what Jesus said and did during his ministry.…
Daily Devotions
Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.” vs. 15 John 2:12-17 According to the gospel of John, Jesus took his family and disciples to Jerusalem for the celebration of the Passover toward the beginning of his ministry. When he came to the temple for worship he was outraged. The whole outer courtyard had…
Daily Devotions
For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles…” vss. 22-23 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 Some of us spend a lot of time trying to make the gospel palatable to unbelievers and skeptics, and that’s really not anything new. For centuries Christian thinkers have tried to make sense of it through logic and systematic theologies. And sometimes those efforts have produced fruit–some people have found their work satisfying…
Daily Devotions
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” vs. 18 1 Corinthians 1:18-21 Paul quickly discovered that both Jews and Gentiles had a tough time wrapping their minds around the cross as the central image in the message he was proclaiming. They simply couldn’t believe that the path to salvation ran through excruciating suffering and death. Messiahs were supposed to triumph over…
Daily Devotions
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” vs. 14 Psalm 19 The psalmist had been led to create a prayer for the use of his congregation, and he used the opportunity to pour out the meditations of his heart with as much grace and beauty as he could muster. He was a keen observer of nature and saw the fingerprints of God in every…
Daily Devotions
Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” vs. 12 Exodus 20:12-17 Typically this commandment is referenced most often by parents who are having a tough time getting the respect and obedience they desire from their children. Out of control kids are forcefully reminded that God wants them to behave–they are to honor their fathers and their mothers or face divine anger! That might…