Posts from 2022 (Page 27)
Daily Devotions
And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” vs. 18 2 Corinthians 3:17-4:2 Sometimes amazing truths are hiding in obscure passages of scripture that we may not even have read before. Who would have thought that Paul, writing about the veiled face of Moses, would pass on…
Daily Devotions
Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.” vss. 15-16 2 Corinthians 3:12-16 As a well-educated Jewish scholar Paul knew the scriptures well and had committed many sections to memory. In his letter to the Corinthians he refers to a mysterious passage from Exodus and, like any good preacher, interprets it in a way that gives insight to what they have experienced.…
Daily Devotions
Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name. They cried to the Lord, and he answered them…O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.” vss. 6, 8 Psalm 99:6-9 Moses, Aaron, and Samuel were great heroes of Israel. Through them this wandering people, freshly removed from Egypt, had become a nation founded on the Law of God, a country…
Daily Devotions
Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.” vs. 4 Psalm 99:1-5 While the word “equity” occurs many times in scripture, it often goes unnoticed or is presumed to be a synonym for “equality.” In reality it is more related to the idea of justice, and could be thought of as being the spirit of the law, rather than the letter. Equality implies that all people should be treated exactly the…
Daily Devotions
When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him.” vs. 30 Exodus 34:29-35 The Aaronic benediction is dear to the hearts of believers. Those who worship hear it at the close of the service as a blessing from their pastor. The words are familiar and come to us from thousands of years ago. “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to…
Daily Devotions
But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.” vs. 35 Luke 6:31-36 Jesus could say radical, eye-brow raising things to his disciples because he knew God’s heart. Most people, then and now, believe that God keeps track of wrong-doing and wreaks vengeance on the ungrateful and the wicked. Somehow, we’ve gotten the…
Daily Devotions
But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” vss. 27-28 Luke 6:27-31 Those who heard Jesus preach remembered his radical words, and Luke took pains to include them in his gospel. Later followers of Jesus took these words to heart and they became the identifying mark of the kingdom. This is how Jesus expected his disciples to treat others, and…
Daily Devotions
When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’” vs. 54 1 Corinthians 15:42-56 When death comes to a person of faith, and a funeral is held, there will always be some expressions of grief. That’s to be expected when a loved one dies–they’re going to be missed, so of course there are tears. But there will also be…
Daily Devotions
‘But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” Fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.’” vss. 35-36 1 Corinthians 15:35-38 Among those who believe that there is life beyond death, there is sometimes curiosity about the nature of that new life. People wonder whether their loved ones can see them, some even consult mediums in hopes of making a connection. Often they find reassurance from the…
Daily Devotions
Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices. Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret—it leads only to evil.” vss. 7-8 Psalm 37:7-11,39-40 It’s obvious to most of us that there are some pretty rotten people in our world, some of whom the psalmist would have called wicked. They are preoccupied with power and greed and will do anything…
Daily Devotions
Trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” vss. 3-4 Psalm 37:1-6 As a teacher the psalmist has a sense of how life ought to be lived now that Israel had a land of its own and was no longer known as a wandering people. They could plant vineyards and raise olives on the land and…
Daily Devotions
Then Judah said to his father Israel, ‘Send the boy with me, and let us be on our way, so that we may live and not die—you and we and also our little ones. I myself will be surety for him; you can hold me accountable for him.’” vss. 8-9a Genesis 43:3-11, 15 The ancestral stories we find recounted in the last half of Genesis are entertaining, but none of them are particularly uplifting. Each of the families portrayed…