Posts by Rev. Steve Holm (Page 165)
Daily Devotions: October 29, 2018
October 29, 2018 Isaiah 25:6-9 …“And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever.” vs. 7 A long, long time ago the prophet had the sense that there was more to the cycle of life than meets the eye. It wasn’t just a matter of being born, living for a time, and then dying. There just had to be more…
Daily Devotions: October 28, 2018
October 28, 2018 John 8:34-36 …“Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin…So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.’” vss. 34, 36 There’s not a lot of talk about sin in our day. It’s almost as though it has ceased to be a factor in our daily living. Oh, we still acknowledge mistakes and know that sometimes we do dumb stuff, but in general, we don’t…
Daily Devotions: October 27, 2018
October 27, 2018 John 8:31-33 …“They answered him, ‘We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, “You will be made free”?’” When Jesus told the religious leaders that, as his disciples they could be made free, their response is both understandable and laughable. They were, of course, proud of their heritage as children of Abraham. It gave them a stable identity and set them apart from other people. But to…
Daily Devotions: October 26, 2018
October 26, 2018 Romans 3:26-28 …“Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith.” vs. 27 Because of his conviction that salvation came through faith and not by works of the law, Paul insisted that there was no room for boasting. And he’s right! When everything is based on grace we have nothing to brag about. As he had earlier written to the Galatians, “May I never…
Daily Devotions: October 25, 2018
October 25, 2018 Romans 3:19-25 …“But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” vss. 21-22a For most of us, these words from Paul are familiar. This is the core of the gospel: we’ve heard the message in a variety of ways for our entire lives and we know it well. For that reason, it’s…
Daily Devotions: October 24, 2018
October 24, 2018 Psalm 46:6-11 …“He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.” vs. 9 Often we think of the God of the Hebrews as being a warmonger, one who brings devastation and ruin through force of arms. At the very least, their God is portrayed as urging the people to do battle against their enemies and to wipe them out completely. But that’s…
Daily Devotions: October 23, 2018
October 23, 2018 Psalm 46:1-5 …“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” vs. 1 Martin Luther loved Psalm 46 and used it as the inspiration for his famous hymn, A Mighty Fortress is Our God. For him, the psalm was a source of comfort in a time of conflict and challenge. And doubtless that’s what it was for its writer too. Jerusalem was a tough place to live, constantly beset by enemies, and full of…
Daily Devotions: October 22, 2018
October 22, 2018 Jeremiah 31:31-34 …“No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.” vs. 34 This is the dream! Jeremiah expressed it well. He was an eye-witness to the fall of Jerusalem and became a refugee in the land of Egypt. In his heart…
Daily Devotions: October 21, 2018
October 21, 2018 Mark 10:41-45 …“But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.” vss. 43-44 When the other disciples found out about the request of James and John for positions of power in the coming kingdom, things did not go well and Jesus had to call a team meeting. His desires could not have been more…
Daily Devotions: October 20, 2018
October 20, 2018 Mark 10:35-40 …“James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’” vs. 35 When James and John decided to follow Jesus, leaving their father sitting in the boat, they weren’t nearly so altruistic as we sometimes think. Judging by this text, they had given up the family business for the sake of personal gain–they were hoping to get…
Daily Devotions: October 19, 2018
October 19, 2018 Hebrews 5:1-10 …“Every high priest…is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness;” vss. 1a-2 High priests were mediators between the people and God. They had responsibility for making sure offerings and sacrifices were made in an orderly way that was pleasing to God. The writer of this letter had observed that the best of the priests dealt gently with the ignorant and the wayward because they themselves were…
Daily Devotions: October 18, 2018
October 18, 2018 Psalm 91:13-16 …“When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.” vs. 15 The psalmist is convinced that those who love the Lord will be rewarded in a big way. Their prayers will be answered and they will be rescued and honored in the time of trouble. This isn’t a matter of believing in God, that’s not what the writer is talking about…