Posts from 2026
Daily Devotions
Ezekiel 37:1-14…“Then he said to me, ‘Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, “Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.” vs. 11 From Israel’s perspective, hunkered down in captivity in Babylon, the future was pretty dismal, and Ezekiel doesn’t pull any punches. The nation had appeared to him in a vision as a valley of dry bones, a country that had completely lost its way. While we typically…
Daily Devotions
John 9:28-38…“They answered him, ‘You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?’ And they drove him out.” vs. 34 It’s hard for educated and highly trained professionals to listen to the ramblings of the illiterate and unlearned. The religious leaders had zero respect for the insights of a beggar or his parents. And when the man claimed that Jesus had come from God they silenced him. He had no credentials! The standards have not changed…
Daily Devotions
John 9:13-27…“He answered, ‘I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.’” vs. 25 The man who had been blind in John’s story didn’t have a satisfactory answer for anyone who questioned him. The whole community, from religious leaders to his own parents, wondered how he had recovered his sight, and all he could do was tell his simple story. When they pressed him further he gave…
Daily Devotions
John 9:1-12…“The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, ‘Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?’ Some were saying, ‘It is he.’ Others were saying, ‘No, but it is someone like him.’ He kept saying, ‘I am the man.’” vss.8-9 In John’s story the people had gotten used to the blind man sitting and begging in the street. They saw him every day, and they were comfortable with his…
Daily Devotions
Ephesians 5:12-14…“For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light.” vs. 12-14a In recent months, as the files and papers related to the crimes of a wealthy andinfluential financier who made his fortune providing tax and estate services to billionaires, have been released to the public, dozens of his friends and acquaintances have resigned their positions. It seems that they knew what…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 23…“For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light—for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.” vss. 8-10 As the called disciples of Jesus we have heard since the day of our baptisms that we are the light of the world, and that we are to let that light shine before…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 23…“He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.” vss. 2-3 While some folks love being a leader, there is probably even greater delight in having a leader! The psalmist made no bones about it. The Lord was his shepherd and he didn’t have a care in the world. His leader took care of all his material and spiritual needs,…
Daily Devotions
1 Samuel 16:1-13…“Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Are all your sons here?’ And he said, ‘There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.’ And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.’” vs. 11 Even though David was a handsome enough fellow, with his ruddy skin and beautiful eyes, he had one additional attribute that had caught Samuel’s ear. He was a shepherd boy! Based on what we…
Daily Devotions
John 4:31-42… “They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Saviour of the world.’” vs. 42 The woman had been an effective evangelist. When she went back into her home city and excitedly told the people about Jesus, many believed in him because of her testimony. But then when they actually met Jesus and had a chance…
Daily Devotions
John 4:16-26… “Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.’” vss. 21-22 Jesus was a Jew, and he was proud of it. He loved the history, the rituals and practices, and the traditions. His faith had given him a cherished identity, and while he had issues…
Daily Devotions
John 4:5-15… “The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?’ (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.)” vs. 9 The Jews and the Samaritans were of the same ethnic background, but the Samaritans had not been a part of the Babylonian exile. When the Jews returned to Jerusalem under Ezra and Nehemiah there were immediate tensions with the Samaritans. Those tensions continued through the…
Daily Devotions
Romans 5:6-11… “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die.” vss. 6-7 In most of the places where followers of Jesus gather for worship there will be a cross in a prominent position near the front of the church, sometimes in a crucifix form, bearing the body of Jesus, and often empty, a reminder…