Posts by Rev. Steve Holm (Page 131)
Daily Devotions
Luke 2:1-14 “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” vs 7 Luke’s precious story detailing the birth of Jesus is at its core a tale of hope. When we look at our family stories it’s amazing how regularly the accounts of death are accompanied by the report of a birth. A beloved grandmother dies and a…
Daily Devotions
Romans 13:11-14 “Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near.” vss. 11-12a It’s hard to believe, but Advent is almost over. Christmas is on the horizon, though it’s shape may be much different than in prior years. It’s interesting how quickly the days of December have passed–even…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 96 “Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy…” vss. 11-12 Humans have wandered this earth for only a brief portion of its history and yet we presume to think of ourselves as the center of creation. We’ve developed religions, invented gods, and written a history that glorifies our…
Daily Devotions
Luke 1:46b-55 “He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.” vss. 52-53 Mary’s song, the Magnificat, has long been a favorite for Christians, particularly at this time of year. When the vocalist is skilled, the tune lifts our hearts, and we’re entranced by its beauty. What we miss though is that the song is about revolution, the total transformation of…
Daily Devotions
Luke 1:34-38 “Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then angel departed from her.” vs. 38 Mary’s act of trust has been a model for believers since the beginning, and is one of the reasons that millions of followers hold her in such esteem. “Let it be with me according to your word,” she responded and she became the mother of Jesus the Christ, a child whose…
Daily Devotions
Luke 1:30-33 “The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.” vss. 30-31 As Luke began to put together his account of the life of Jesus he discovered that people were curious about his origins. All agreed that he was a Jew but little was known about his heritage, except that he was from…
Daily Devotions
Luke 1:26-29 “And (the angel Gabriel) came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.” vss. 28-29 The artists of the Renaissance were much taken by Luke’s account of the Annunciation and almost all of them painted one or more versions of the angelic appearance. Many show Mary in what the artists presume to be a perplexed state with…
Daily Devotions
Romans 16:25-27 “Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed…” vss. 25-26a There are a lot of secrets floating around at this time of year. Gifts are being purchased, buyers hoping that their choices match the secret desires of those they love. Children are wondering what’s in the packages that are…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 89:19-24 “Happy are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your countenance;” vs. 15 Only a week or so until Christmas–three candles are lit on our Advent wreaths and final plans are being made. For some the cancelling of family gatherings will accent the already present pandemic loneliness. Others will find it strange not to be able to sing carols in a crowded sanctuary on Christmas Eve. Nominal churchgoers are being…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 89:1-4 “I declare that your steadfast love is established for ever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.” vs 2 Tradition ascribes this psalm to Ethan the Ezrahite, and calls it a maskil, a didactic poem, one that is used as a teaching tool. Ethan’s intention is clear, he wants all of Israel to know that God is faithful and that David was God’s chosen one, the founder of a dynasty that would last forever. For centuries Ethan’s…
Daily Devotions
2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 “Nathan said to the king, ‘Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you.’” vs. 3 King David, having defeated his enemies, has settled down in Jerusalem in a fine house. In thanksgiving he decides to build an even bigger house for the Lord and the palace prophet Nathan told him to do whatever he wanted. Later Nathan has a change of heart and tells his king the Lord really doesn’t…
Daily Devotions
John 1:19-28 “John answered them, ‘I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.’” vss. 26-27 John was a person of some notoriety. King Herod knew who he was; the religious leaders in Jerusalem were aware of his ministry; he was attracting thousands of followers from all over Judea. Rumors about his identity were spreading even without social…