Posts from 2025 (Page 12)
Daily Devotions
And in the spirit, he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.” vs. 10 Revelation 21:10, 22-27 The city of Jerusalem has had enormous significance through the centuries, ever since David made it the capital of Israel over 3000 years ago. It’s been besieged, destroyed, and rebuilt dozens of times and even today is regarded as holy by Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Its streets are…
Daily Devotions
The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us. May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him.” vss. 6-7 Psalm 67 As the psalmist surveyed the world from his perch on the mountains of Judah, he could not help but see all the benefits that had been showered upon the land. Not only were fields and vineyards producing an abundance, riches and goods from the ends of the earth were…
Daily Devotions
…they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” vss. 3b-4 Revelation 21:1-6 As John comes to the close of his vision, he leaves us with words that resonate with every person who has ever walked the face of the earth. In the new creation, he boldly asserts,…
Daily Devotions
During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia…” vss. 9-10a Acts 16:9-12 As Paul traveled through what we know as western Turkey he stopped in the cities where Jews had settled, preached there, and brought the latest news from Jerusalem. Because he did not feel the direction of the…
Daily Devotions
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” vs. 34 John 13:33-35 As it began to be obvious to the disciples that Jesus was going to be leaving them, there was undoubtedly anxiety in their hearts. How could they possibly get along without him? He was their glue. It was because of him that they had come together. Without him wouldn’t they separate and…
Daily Devotions
When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now is the Son of man glorified, and in him God is glorified;’” vs. 31 John 13:31-33 As John wrote his gospel, he treated the departure of Judas from the Passover meal as a sign that the end of Jesus’ brief ministry was near. Death was just around the corner. Jesus knows this but there is no sign of panic and no admission of failure. On the contrary Jesus speaks of this ending…
Daily Devotions
“…they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” vss. 3b-4 Revelation 21:1-6 As John comes to the close of his vision, he leaves us with words that resonate with every person who has ever walked the face of the earth. In the new creation, he boldly asserts,…
Daily Devotions
“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! Let them praise the name of the Lord…” vss. 9, 10, 12, 13a Psalm 148:7-14 Having covered the heavens, the psalmist still wasn’t done! Echoing Genesis 1 he credits the Lord with all that has been brought forth upon the earth, and nothing is excluded. Even snowstorms, mountains, sea monsters, creeping things…
Daily Devotions
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars!” vss. 1-3 Psalm 148:1-6 Humans have always been fascinated by the skies and we’ve spent thousands of years observing both day and night, recording the movements of stars and planets, and tracking the paths of the sun and moon. They certainly aren’t static, and it…
Daily Devotions
If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?” vs. 17 Acts 11:11-30 This was Peter’s clinching argument as he talked to the Jerusalem leaders of the Christian community. The question was a good one, “Who was I that I could hinder God?” Peter realized that God’s will would be done, and it would be best for him if he didn’t…
Daily Devotions
So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, ‘Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?’” vss. 2-3 Acts 11:1-10 When the disciples received their commission to go with the gospel and proclaim the good news of Jesus they did not know what the Holy Spirit had in mind for them. They never dreamed that the traditions and customs of Judaism that were so dear to their hearts were going to be…
Daily Devotions
My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.” vss. 27-28 John 10:25-30 Some of us know the hymn “Blessed Assurance” well. It was a favorite at camps and revivals and was regularly sung in many congregations. The tune is familiar and easy to sing, and many can recall its opening lyrics: “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine, Oh what…