Posts from 2023 (Page 21)
Daily Devotions
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” vs. 9 1 Peter 2:6-10 As the age of denominationalism slowly grinds to an end, it’s easy to become discouraged. It’s not easy to accept that what we found so helpful and precious means virtually nothing to our children and grandchildren. But the extinction…
Daily Devotions
Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood…” vss. 4-5a 1 Peter 2:2-6 Travelers to Israel and Palestine often find themselves being bussed from one ancient ruin to another. While some historic sites have been partially reconstructed, most remain destroyed, maybe just a pile of rocks at the bottom of an archeological dig. Leaders…
Daily Devotions
Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.” vs. 5 Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 Redemption is one of those words that is used regularly by Christians and often connected with Jesus’ death on the cross. It describes the process by which we are made right with God through grace. It’s interesting that the psalmist, long before Jesus, also knew about redemption and claimed it as his own, a gracious gift from his faithful…
Daily Devotions
Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died.” vs. 60 Acts 7:59-60 Alone among the gospel writers, Luke reports that Jesus spoke words of forgiveness from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” And now we hear similar words from the first martyr, Stephen, as he is being stoned. Their voices remind us that sometimes…
Daily Devotions
Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.” vs. 58 Acts 7:55-58 Paul was very open about his past, that he had in fact been involved in the persecution of the followers of Jesus. In his letter to the Galatians he writes that he violently persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it, not out of hate, but…
Daily Devotions
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” vs. 10 John 10:6-10 It’s stunning to find out how many people in this world actually know us by name, and even more than that, how many know our social security numbers! In such an environment, many live in constant fear of being scammed or bamboozled, or even having their retirement funds drained. Yes, there are thieves in the…
Daily Devotions
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” vs. 3 John 10:1-5 There are echoes of Isaiah 43 in these beautiful words from Jesus. Centuries before, the prophet had written, “I have called you by name, you belong to me,” and now Jesus restates this magnificent truth in a way that each believer can understand. For some it’s a reminder of baptism, that rich…
Daily Devotions
For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.” vs. 25 1 Peter 2:23-25 When left to our own devices we can manage to get ourselves into every kind of trouble imaginable. Humans seem to have an infinite capacity for mischief and wrongdoing, and sometimes it can be the ruin of us. In order to live well, we need some sort of internal compass that can be our guide…
Daily Devotions
If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval.” vs. 20 1 Peter 2:19-22 It was not unusual in the Roman provinces for households to include a number of slaves, and it’s evident that many of those slaves became followers of Jesus. Peter in his letter advises those slaves to patiently endure when they are mistreated. They should take…
Daily Devotions
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.” vs. 6 Psalm 23:4-6 Many in Israel claimed to belong to the house of David–it was the most prestigious lineage that anyone could hope to have. But this psalmist believed that he was of the house of the Lord, and he would be a resident in that house for as long as he…
Daily Devotions
He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.” vss. 2-3a Psalm 23:1-3 For some these words from Psalm 23 call to mind a tranquil day on the golf course, minus the traps and the out-of-bounds. For them, golf is exactly what the psalmist is describing–a restful day on beautifully contoured green fairways with calming water features always at hand. It’s a beautiful experience! Of course for most, these verses are…
Daily Devotions
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” vs. 42 Acts 2:42-47 Luke writes that after Pentecost the followers of Jesus, remembering his teachings about the folly of riches and the accumulation of wealth, practiced communism in their faith community. They had all things in common, sold their possessions and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. Undergirding those practices was a community life that centered on the apostles’…