Posts from 2023
Daily Devotions
There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four.” vss. 36-37 Luke 2:33-40 In Luke’s infancy stories of Jesus he gave the major speaking roles to Mary and Elizabeth, and he continued that pattern in today’s text by pairing the prophet Simeon with the prophet Anna, an even older…
Daily Devotions
Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation…” vs. 29-30 Luke 2:22-32 Those who have the privilege of living for many years sometimes begin to believe that they’ve “seen it all,” that there is nothing new under the sun, and to some extent they are right. There is a certain rhythm to life in this world, and some of us have been able to experience several of the…
Daily Devotions
And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’” vs. 6 Galatians 4:6-7 Most people think of faith in personal terms. God is not some amorphous blob, a giant dollop of nothingness, but a being with whom we can have a warm and lasting relationship. And it seems to be most natural for us to think of God as a parent, and more particularly as our Father. Paul says that’s…
Daily Devotions
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.” Galatians 4:4-5 Galatians 4:4-5 Paul tells the Galatians that Jesus had been born in the fullness of time, that all preparations had been made, and all conditions were just as they needed to be. And as we look back at that time,…
Daily Devotions
Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds! Young men and women alike, old and young together!” vss. 7, 9, 10, 12 Isaiah 61:10-62:3 The psalmist believed that everything in the universe had its origin in God and was of God, and that all things, whether in the heavens or on earth, offered praise to the Lord…
Daily Devotions
For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring upbefore all the nations.” vs. 11 Isaiah 61:10-62:3 As one year yields to the grim reaper and another eagerly awaits its birth, there is a natural tendency to reflect and predict. We look at the year gone by, consider its triumphs and tragedies, and then make our best…
Daily Devotions
and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Marytreasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.” vss. 18-19 Luke 2:8-20 As Luke tells the story, when the shepherds arrived at the manger and shared their tale of shining glory and herald angels they caused quite a stir. Evidently the birth had attracted notice—which makes sense—there’s going to be some hustle and bustle when a child is born. Passersby hearing Mary’s laboring cries…
Daily Devotions
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.” Galatians 4:4-5 Galatians 4:4-5 It has been widely reported that the leaders of the Christian churches in Bethlehem, in order to demonstrate their solidarity with the suffering Palestinians of Gaza, have canceled Christmas. There will be no marching bands, or holiday decorations,…
Daily Devotions
Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.” vs. 38 Luke 1:34-38 Mary has come to be revered for many different reasons all around the world. For the Easter Orthodox she is the Theotokos or Mother of God. For some Roman Catholics she is Co-Redemptrix, the redeemer together with Christ of all peoples. For the indigenous people of South America, she is…
Daily Devotions
The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.’” vss. 30-31 Luke 1:26-33 So how was it that Mary had found favor with God? She was likely quite young, maybe even a teenager, but no one knows much about her. Our scriptures say nothing–only that she had found favor with God. Of course that…
Daily Devotions
Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages, but is now disclosed,” vss. 25-26a Romans 16:25-27 Paul must have breathed a sigh of relief as he completed his letter to the Romans. He’d laid everything on the line and believed that he had successfully revealed the essence of the gospel. He hadn’t invented anything new,…
Daily Devotions
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.” vss. 52-53 Luke 1:52-53 The text of the Magnificat comes from Luke 1 and is the song sung by Mary when she was greeted by Elizabeth after being told by the angel that she was to bear a son. It’s regularly sung in churches all over the world during the Advent season…