Posts from 2022 (Page 21)
Daily Devotions
My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.” vss. 27-28 John 10:27-30 We’ve entered into the primary season in our election cycle and politicians of every stripe are spending millions of dollars to craft messages that they believe will attract the most voters to their cause. Sometimes the process isn’t pretty. It doesn’t seem to be necessary…
Daily Devotions
So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’ Jesus answered, ‘I have told you, and you do not believe.’” vss. 24-25a John 10:22-26 Because the gospel of John was written at a time of intense conflict in synagogues between those who believed that Jesus was the Messiah and those who did not, the writer regularly refers to Jews as the enemies of…
Daily Devotions
…for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” vs. 17 Revelation 7:13-17 Even though death is a regular visitor on the journey of life, and every one of us will one day die, many people seem surprised when it comes near. Some seem to have never considered that it will happen to them.…
Daily Devotions
After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands.” vs. 9 Revelation 7:9-12 While certainly not to be taken literally, John’s vision, as seen through heaven’s open door, provides an expansive glimpse at the never-ending resurrected life that is ours in Christ. Here there are no great…
Daily Devotions
He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.” vss. 2-3 Psalm 23 We live in a grimy and confused world, and our souls are easily sapped by the continual pressures of daily living. Bit by bit anxieties and worries chip away at us and fear steps in to take center stage. Before long, joy is a distant memory and we…
Daily Devotions
Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’ Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.” vs. 40 Acts 9:40-43 From our reading of the gospels we know that healing miracles were a regular part of the ministry of Jesus. In fact, that’s why most of the people flocked to hear him preach–they knew he could work wonders for their ailing relatives…
Daily Devotions
Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity.” vs. 36 Acts 9:36-39 Women have always played an integral part in the mission of Christ. Luke even names the ones who traveled with the little troop of disciples that surrounded Jesus during his Galilean ministry–some of them provided much needed financial support. They were present at the crucifixion and were the first to…
Daily Devotions
But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” vs. 18b John 21:15-19 We’re not sure who it was that added this chapter to the gospel of John but we can be glad that they did. Not only does it give us insights into the nature of the resurrection, it’s a reminder of the cost of discipleship. We know…
Daily Devotions
Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.” vs. 4 John 21:1-14 Sometimes even followers of Jesus have trouble with the resurrection because they have been taught by well-meaning preachers and teachers that when Jesus was resurrected he was reanimated, i.e. he got back the same body he had before he died. But that’s not the testimony of scripture. In every post-resurrection account of Jesus’ appearances, his closest followers at…
Daily Devotions
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, ‘To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!’” vs. 13 Revelation 5:11-14 When we read the book of Revelation our little minds are overstimulated by John’s visionary account of heavenly happenings, and it’s easy to get caught up in apocalyptic thinking.…
Daily Devotions
What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness?” vs. 9 Psalm 30:6-12 At his lowest point the psalmist tries to convince God that his death will be pointless, that if he’s gone the dust will surely not sing praises or bear witness to God’s faithfulness. Obviously he’s right, and his point wins the day; he recovers and gives thanks for his life before…
Daily Devotions
For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” vs. 5 Psalm 30:1-5 The psalmist has had a near death experience and wants everyone to know his triumphant story. We don’t know what had happened, perhaps it was a serious illness, but he had prayed to the Lord for deliverance–and his prayers had been heard. And now his praise is effusive. He wants…