Posts by Rev. Steve Holm (Page 207)
Daily Devotions: June 20 , 2018
June 20, 2018 Psalm 107:23-32…“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out from their distress;” vs. 28 The psalmist had no difficulty thinking of times in Israel’s history when the people were facing calamity of one kind or another. In these verses, he’s recounting the stories of sailors who braved the unpredictable and dangerous seas and who turned to God when the winds blew and waves engulfed their boats. Of course many boats sank…
Daily Devotions: June 19 , 2018
June 19, 2018 Psalm 107:1-3…“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those he redeemed from trouble…” vs. 2 Sometimes Christians imply that the only redemption worth talking about is that which comes through Jesus, that only those “washed in the blood of the Lamb” have the salvation of God. Such talk would have certainly surprised the psalmist. In his estimation there were countless examples of redemption in Israel’s history. The people had often fallen away from God and then…
Daily Devotions: June 18 , 2018
June 18, 2018 Job 38:1-11…“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.” vs. 4 People have long asked, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”–and have struggled to find suitable answers. The writer of Job is certainly familiar with the question and has presented a long narrative exploring various answers. In the course of his story, he presents God’s response to Job’s laments in colorful and provocative ways. His images…
Daily Devotions: June 17 , 2018
June 17, 2018 Mark 4:30-34…“With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.” vss. 33-34 As a teacher, Jesus regularly used parables to pass on the great truths of the kingdom of God. For the most part they’re short and uncomplicated, and use familiar examples to give glimpses of God’s work. They’re similar to…
Daily Devotions: June 16 , 2018
June 16, 2018 Mark 4:26-29…“He also said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how.’” vss. 26-27 From ancient times, those who till the soil and plant crops have generally had a strong appreciation of God’s role in the whole process, and, at harvest time, have led the way in making sacrifices and giving…
Daily Devotions: June 15 , 2018
June 15, 2018 2 Corinthians 5:14-17…“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” vs. 17 Insanity has been described in the AA program as doing the same thing over and over again, each time hoping for different results. It’s a good definition, one that most of us have had some experience with. In this view, real change can only happen when the old has passed away, and…
Daily Devotions: June 14 , 2018
June 14, 2018 Corinthians 5:6-10…“For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.” vs. 10 As followers of Jesus pick and choose their favorite passages of scripture, they often skip over verses like this one from Paul. Those who bask in the grace freely offered by God are troubled by intimations that there might one day be a time…
Daily Devotions: June 13 , 2018
June 13, 2018 Psalm 92:12-15…“In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap, showing that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.” vss. 14-15 The psalmist has noticed that the righteous will often seem to live forever. He compares them to a cedar or palm tree planted in the courts of God. They live on and on as faithful servants and continue to bear fruit even…
Daily Devotions: June 12 , 2018
June 12, 2018 Psalm 92:1-4…“For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.” vs. 4 There are some days that seem better than others. We wake in the morning with a smile on our faces, and through the day we are alert to the blessings of our lives and the pure wonder of being alive in this spectacular spot in the universe. The psalmist was having one of…
Daily Devotions: June 11 , 2018
June 11, 2018 Ezekiel 17:22-24…“Thus says the Lord God: I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of a cedar; I will set it out. I will break off a tender one from the topmost of its young twigs; I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.” vs. 22 Ezekiel writes from Babylon at a time of crisis and turmoil in Jerusalem. The expected military help from Egypt had not arrived and the last Davidic…
Daily Devotions: June 10 , 2018
June 10, 2018 Mark 3:31-35…“And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” vss. 34-35 We get mixed messages from scripture about Jesus’ relationship with his family. John and Luke indicate that by the end of his life, Mary and his brother, James, were on board with his mission, but Mark tells us there was a disconnect early on.…
Daily Devotions: June 9 , 2018
June 9, 2018 Mark 3:20-30…“When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, ‘He has gone out of his mind.’” vs. 21 It’s disheartening sometimes to realize how many naysayers there are among us. As soon as someone attains some measure of notoriety, background investigations are launched and inevitably dirt begins to appear in the news. We hear all the old stories of past indiscretions and unsubstantiated accusations–and some of us love it. We…