Posts from September 2023 (Page 3)
Daily Devotions
Turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selfish gain. Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; give me life in your ways.” vss. 36-37 Psalm 119:33-40 Because we carry the divine spark in our genes we have an innate sense of how life shall be lived. Of course, from the time we are toddlers we are also receiving alternative messages from our context and culture. We are regularly encouraged to look to our own needs, build up wealth,…
Daily Devotions
Say to them, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?” vs. 11 Ezekiel 33:10-11 There is probably nothing worse than to think someone doesn’t care about us. Some who have been given that message by parents or presumed lovers carry the scars for…
Daily Devotions
So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.” vs. 7 Ezekiel 33:7-9 Ezekiel was feeling the pressure of his prophetic role. He had been chosen as a mouthpiece for the Lord, and his major responsibility was to tell the wicked that if they did not change their ways they would surely die. If he didn’t do it, and they didn’t…
Daily Devotions
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” vs. 24 Matthew 16:24-28 It must have appeared to the disciples that Jesus had performed a classic “bait and switch” on them. They had begun to follow him because they believed him to be the messiah, the one who would restore Israel to its former glory. As his initial followers then, they seem to have felt…
Daily Devotions
But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’” Matthew 16:21-23 Matthew’s irony is unmistakable! The “Rock” on which Jesus intended to build his church had become a stumbling block to him, and the Rock’s error has been a lesson for Christians of every age, and the mistake is so clear it’s a wonder that anyone can…
Daily Devotions
If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” vs. 18 Romans 12:16-21 One of the problems in a diverse community, as the Body of Christ is intended to be, is learning how to live with people who are different from ourselves. We have different ethnic and religious backgrounds, different perspectives on gender issues, different political preferences – in fact, we likely think differently about every matter under the sun. So there will be…