Posts by Rev. Steve Holm (Page 191)
Daily Devotions: December 9, 2017
Mark 1:1-5 “And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.” vs. 5 For Mark the beginning of the good news of Jesus begins, not with dreams and angel visitations, but with the wilderness ministry of a fiery prophet with a message of repentance. John the Baptist was a significant figure and he attracted major crowds–he even caught the…
Daily Devotions: December 8, 2017
2 Peter 3:8-15a “But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.” vs. 13 Peter’s vision of the future includes devastating fire and total destruction of the present world, very much like we might expect from a series of atomic explosions or what people have experienced recently in California. But after the fiery disaster he also sees a new beginning, a re-creation so to speak, in which there will…
Daily Devotions: December 7, 2017
2 Peter 3:8-10 “But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.” vs. 8 Like other New Testament writers Peter believed that Christ would be returning soon, and he too encourages his readers to be patient in their waiting. He tells them that time is mysterious and the Lord operates beyond its influence. It can crawl along so slowly that it seems…
Daily Devotions: December 6, 2017
Psalm 85:10-13 “Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other.” vs. 10 So what is it that we’re looking forward to as we move through Advent toward Christmas? For some, it might be a holiday party or maybe a family gathering full of celebratory rituals. Or maybe it’s simply an indefinable “something more!” That’s what the psalmist was searching for in those days before Jesus–he was looking forward to the salvation of God, and not…
Daily Devotions: December 5, 2017
Psalm 85:1-2, 8-9 “Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.” vs. 9 As we move into Advent we see neighborhoods being transformed for the season. Most houses have at least some strings of lights along the eaves and some front yards are packed with every gaudy holiday display imaginable. It would appear that our land is deeply religious and that our citizens are totally committed to showing forth…
Daily Devotions: December 4, 2017
Isaiah 40:1-5 “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” vs. 2 From a purely historical perspective we can’t help but be amazed at the dogged determination of the Jewish people to maintain their connection to the Lord. Even though they thought of themselves as the elect, as God’s chosen ones, they were certainly never pampered.…
Daily Devotions: December 3, 2017
Mark 13:32-37 “Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.” vs. 32 When we hear of those who make bold predictions for the return of Jesus, sometimes even naming the day and the year, we are right to be skeptical. Our scripture is very clear in saying that no one, not even the Son, knows the time or the season. But sometimes those who laugh at the misguided prophets forget that the main point of…
Daily Devotions: December 2, 2017
Mark 13:24-3 “So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.’ vs. 29 Early Christians were firmly convinced that Jesus would return to gather believers to himself and free them from the tribulations and evil of this world. Naturally there was great speculation about when this would take place, and many believed that there would be signs in the heavens that his coming was imminent. In the centuries that have…
Daily Devotions: December 1, 2017
1 Corinthians 1:8-9 “God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” vs. 9 It’s not uncommon for followers of Jesus to have questions about faith. For one thing it seems to ebb and flow with the changing circumstances of life. One day it will be strong and certain and the next, well, it could be nearly gone, and we might even be considering atheism as an option. For some those…
Daily Devotions: November 30, 2017
1 Corinthians 1:3-7 “so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.” vs. 7 The early Christians lived with a sense of expectation because they believed that the Lord Jesus would return and reign within their lifetimes. As time passed and he did not appear they became anxious and began to question whether he would return at all. When Paul heard that people in the congregations he had…
Daily Devotions: November 29, 2017
Psalm 80:17-19 “Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.” vs. 19 Soon we’ll be starting the season of Advent, the time of preparation for celebrating the birth of Jesus. Sometimes it’s hard to know what to do with these four weeks. Obviously it’s about more than parties and singing Christmas carols and making sure our holiday shopping is done. In some ways it’s a kind of a mini-Lent, a time for…
Daily Devotions: November 28, 2017
Psalm 80:1-7 “O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers? You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure.” vss. 4-5 The land of Israel had been devastated by its enemies and the people felt that they had been abandoned by their God, the one who had established them in the land. No matter how hard they prayed their situation did not change…their land…