Posts by Rev. Steve Holm (Page 3)
Daily Devotions
Romans 4: 1-5… “But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.” vs. 5 Most people have a pretty good sense of how they have lived their lives. Oh, we forget some things, but in general we know exactly what we have done and what we have not done, and we’re particularly aware of our shortcomings. That’s why many folks find it really hard to believe that they are worthy in…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 121:5-8… “The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.” vs. 7 Sometimes it’s hard to believe the things we read in scripture, and that’s particularly true with verses like this one. We wonder how the psalmist could speak with such certainty! Surely he must have known people whose lives had been turned upside down by the evils of this world. Sometimes good and decent people have awful things happen to them and to their…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 121:1-4… “I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” vss. 1-2 Humans take great pride in being self-sufficient. We’re taught from an early age to take care of ourselves, and, if we have a problem, to find a solution. We like being in charge of our destiny and love being able to choose professions or careers. Those same feelings even carry over…
Daily Devotions
Genesis 12:1-4a… “I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” vs. 3 Some have experienced what it’s like to have a “chosen one” among our siblings. This is the child who, at least from our perspective, has gotten all the advantages while growing up. They’re pampered, protected, and given the best of everything. That seems to have been the position…
Daily Devotions
Matthew 4:1-11… “Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! for it is written, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” vs. 10 Having savored the love and the goodness of God in his baptism Jesus was led into the wilderness for a taste of the world’s brokenness. And as he prayed and fasted, he pondered the direction of his ministry. There were so many possibilities. We know this part of the story well. Everywhere we look there…
Daily Devotions
Romans 5:12-19… “For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” vs 19 While we may not agree with Paul’s interpretation of Genesis 3, we have to rejoice in the way he uses the story to proclaim the gospel of grace. His logic is impeccable. As in Adam the many were made sinners, in Jesus Christ the many are made righteous. He recognized that…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 32… “Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit, there is no deceit.” vss. 1-2 There is perhaps nothing better than having a clean conscience! It just feels so good to have no burden of guilt weighing down our walk through this complicated world. It’s bad enough to have worries and anxieties, and we’ll always have plenty of those. But to have…
Daily Devotions
Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7… “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate.” vs. 6 One of the great tragedies of life in our world has been the continuing relegation of women to a subservient…
Daily Devotions
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21… “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.” vs. 1 When Ash Wednesday arrives there is a sense among believers of all stripes that we are entering a season of opportunity. We know that this is a fixed time during which we can practice spiritual disciplines and take time to reflect on the state of our souls. Perhaps in previous…
Daily Devotions
2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10… “…but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God;” vss. 4 ,6-7a Paul thought of himself and his partners in ministry as being ambassadors for Christ, and that through them the Corinthians were being reconciled to God. He knew that their conduct in that role was crucial, and he was proud that in every circumstance of suffering…
Daily Devotions
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17… “Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.” vs. 13b The prophet Joel responds to a devastating invasion of locusts by calling the people of Israel to repentance. It’s never been uncommon for people to make connections between the forces of nature and the actions of God. Even today, laments are regularly lifted up when weather events or other calamities come…
Daily Devotions
Matthew 17:5-9… “While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’” vs. 5 It was a great comfort for Jesus to know that God was pleased with him and that he was loved unconditionally. And as he regularly took time for prayer each morning, he likely remembered his Jordan baptismal experience, and soaked in just a…