Posts from August 2025
Daily Devotions
But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.” vs. 13 Luke 14:12-14 Jesus doesn’t seem to care if his host was offended by his parting remarks. In fact, he’s oblivious to the social conventions that are so important in our world. When we interact with others, whether inviting folks over to our homes for a meal, or going out to eat with friends and acquaintances, most people are always keeping a record,…
Daily Devotions
On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.” vs. 1 Luke 14:1, 7-11 Jesus interacted with a variety of people, and he often accepted dinner invitations from his opponents. On this occasion he was in the home of a leader of the Pharisees, and Luke notes that they were watching him closely. They knew that he was unpredictable and that…
Daily Devotions
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” vs. 16 Hebrews 13:15-16 For generations the faith life of the Jewish people had revolved around the sacrificial system, and when some of them had become Christian there was a question about whether those sacrifices were still appropriate. Of course, when the temple was destroyed by the Romans this became a moot point. But there was still within the people a…
Daily Devotions
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’” vs. 5 Hebrews 13:1-8 As the writer to the Hebrews concludes his letter to the Jews who had become Christians, he has some directions for how they shall live their lives. After mentioning the mutual love which binds them together, he advises hospitality toward strangers, a concern for those in prison and…
Daily Devotions
They have distributed freely; they have given to the poor; their righteousness endures forever; their horn is exalted in honor.” vs. 9 Psalm 112:6-10 The psalmist is effusive in his praise of the righteous, those believers who walk in the way of obedience, and it’s interesting to see what attributes he holds up as deserving of special honor. He doesn’t mention a thing about their grand houses or estates, nor does he note their exploits on the battlefield. Instead, he…
Daily Devotions
It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice.” vs. 5 Psalm 112:1-6 The psalmist tells us here that those who fear the Lord and who walk in the paths of righteousness will be blessed in a multitude of ways. We can say the same for those who live in Christ and who follow in the way of Jesus. The behavior is not intended to impress God or ensure a seat on the…
Daily Devotions
Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great; for it is better to be told, ‘Come up here’, than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.” Proverbs 25:6-7 Proverbs 25:6-7 The book of Proverbs was one of the three books of Hebrew scripture that have been classified as Wisdom Literature. Its content varies but generally it includes a variety of pithy sayings and observations gleaned from various sources…
Daily Devotions
When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.” vs. 17 Luke 13:15-17 Jesus hadn’t minced words when he corrected the leader of the synagogue and his cronies. He called them hypocrites, and the people responded with rejoicing. Not only were they happy to see the bent woman straightened; but they were also likely thrilled to see the religious leaders put in their…
Daily Devotions
Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight.” vss. 10-11 Luke 13:10-14 When Jesus saw the bent woman in the synagogue crowd as he was teaching on the sabbath, he couldn’t contain himself. Even though he knew there was a law against healing on the sabbath, he…
Daily Devotions
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe;” vs. 28 Hebrews 12:25-29 The writer of Hebrews goes to great pains to make connections for his readers between what happened in Jesus and the stories of God’s interactions with Israel. Because most of us have rather sketchy knowledge of the Old Testament passages, he refers to, some parts of Hebrews are…
Daily Devotions
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering…” vs. 22 Hebrews 12:18-24 Because the writer of Hebrew was writing to people who had become Christians and were also well-versed in the intricacies of the Hebrew scriptures, Old Testament allusions abound. Here he refers to the gathering of the Israelites at the foot of Mt. Sinai when according to Exodus the people were terrified…
Daily Devotions
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” vs. 8 Psalm 103:1-8 The psalmist would have been surprised to learn that many Christians avoid the Hebrew scriptures as much as they can, having been brainwashed into believing that they contain nothing but tedious laws and stories of a vengeful demanding God. Of course, all we need to do for another perspective is to take time to read those scriptures. The pages of the Old…