Posts from June 2024 (Page 2)
Daily Devotions
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind: ‘Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?’” vss. 1-2 Job 38:1-3 According to the book bearing his name Job is a righteous man who loses his health, property, and family as the result of an inexplicable test prompted by Satan and approved by God. In spite of his blameless life he endures horrible suffering, and then to top it off, his friends suggest that he has brought all…
Daily Devotions
With what can we compare the kingdom of God…It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs…” vss. 30-32 Mark 4:30-34 When Jesus came into Galilee he proclaimed that the kingdom of God was at hand, and he then devoted his teaching to describing the nature of that kingdom and how its power…
Daily Devotions
He also said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how.’” vss. 26-27 Mark 4:26-29 Jesus frequently talked about the kingdom of God in his teaching. He understood it as a present reality in our world and used parables to describe what it was like. Those parables frequently used metaphors about ordinary things that…
Daily Devotions
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” vs. 17 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 One of the reasons for Paul’s confidence was his belief that Jesus’ resurrection was also his resurrection. His future life in the Lord was his present reality. He already had received what would one day be his. In fact, he says that’s the way it is for all who are in Christ. We are…
Daily Devotions
So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord—for we walk by faith, not by sight.” vss. 6-7 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 Paul told the people in the Corinth house church that when he died he would be at home with the Lord. He’s not alone in expressing that sentiment. In fact, there are many among us who believe the same thing. Like Paul they have…
Daily Devotions
The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon… In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap…” vss. 12, 14 Psalm 92:11-15 This psalmist had seen firsthand that the righteous flourish in the community of faith. Their obedience and reverence for the Lord brought encouragement to all the believers. In their presence good works were obvious and they never stopped growing, but more than that, and this is…
Daily Devotions
For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.” vs. 4 Psalm 92:1-4 The word “glad” breathes happiness and pleasure. It’s a word we use when we have nothing but good feelings in our hearts and life is full. Sometimes gladness comes on behalf of others, those moments when a friend shares news with us that has them smiling, and we let them know how happy we are…
Daily Devotions
Thus says the Lord God: I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of a cedar; I will set it out. I will break off a tender one from the topmost of its young twigs; I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.” vs. 22 Ezekiel 17:22-24 Ezekiel knew the sorry saga of Babylon’s siege of Jerusalem. He was familiar with the king’s futile attempt to make a treaty with Egypt. He’d likely been part…
Daily Devotions
And looking at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.’” vss. 34-35 Mark 3:31-35 Humans are communal creatures. While there are some persons who prefer to live in isolation, their numbers are few. Most folks love their connections with others and suffer from loneliness when separated. Birth provides us with our first experience of community and it’s a huge blessing…
Daily Devotions
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.” vss. 24-25 Mark 3:20-30 Abraham Lincoln quoted this verse when he launched his campaign in 1858 as the Republican candidate for the United States Senate from Illinois. These words opened his speech and were a direct reference to the impending division of the United States that had been triggered by a massive controversy…
Daily Devotions
…we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.” vs. 18 2 Corinthians 4:17-5:1 In recent years, some scientists, after generations of observations and calculations, have concluded that there is more to reality than meets the eye. While that notion may seem strange to secularists, it’s no surprise to people of faith, and was very familiar to the apostle Paul. Everything…
Daily Devotions
So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.” vs. 16 2 Corinthians 4:13-16 Even as the apostle Paul grew older and became more aware of his physical limitations he never once told the Corinthians that he was staying away from carbs, counting his steps, or going to the gym for strength training. But he does tell them that his inner nature was being renewed day by…