Posts by Rev. Steve Holm (Page 4)

Posts by Rev. Steve Holm (Page 4)

Daily Devotions

For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.” vs. 5 Psalm 62:5-8 There are some who had occasion this holiday weekend to reflect on the life and ministry of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. While in his lifetime many considered him to be a troublemaker and a threat to national security, we now see more clearly his intent and his purpose. He had a dream of a world in which divisions based on race…

Daily Devotions

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.” vs. 10 Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Much to Jonah’s chagrin, the people of Nineveh repented and turned from their evil ways and in response, God too repented, and did not bring calamity upon them. His story reminds us of two things, first that it is possible…

Daily Devotions

And he said to him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’” vs. 51 John 1:47-51 Nathanael had made a confession of faith based on little evidence, and Jesus told him that his insight had been superficial. But it was a start! And according to the gospel writer, John, Jesus went on to tell him what was in store for him. The image used…

Daily Devotions

Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’” vs. 46 John 1:43-46 Nathanael was quick to dismiss the idea that Jesus was the messiah. For one thing he was from a town that had no standing in tradition. It wasn’t even mentioned in the scriptures. Nathanael wasn’t the only one to make such snap judgments. Most of us do the same sort of thing when introduced to someone whose geographic…

Daily Devotions

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own?” vs. 19 1 Corinthians 6:16-20 Some of us who grew up in pietistic homes became accustomed to hearing that much of which we enjoyed doing and that seemed to be fun, was in fact horribly wrong. Our parents scrutinized what we ate or drank, how we behaved, what we read or…

Daily Devotions

‘All things are lawful for me,’ but not all things are beneficial. ‘All things are lawful for me,’ but I will not be dominated by anything.” vs. 12         1 Corinthians 6:12-15 One of the first reactions people have to the gospel of grace is, “Wow, if all my sins have been forgiven in Christ, I am free to do whatever I please.” When Paul heard that reaction, he went apoplectic. That attitude makes a sacrilege of the gospel! It…

Daily Devotions

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.” vs. 14 Psalm 139:13-18 The psalmist had obviously taken time to reflect on the wonder of his own body, and he was in awe. Every part has a function and a purpose and they are engineered to work together in perfect harmony. And because he wrote 2500 years ago he had only a minimal knowledge of anatomy or physiology–he knew little…

Daily Devotions

Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it.” vs. 6 Psalm 139:1-6 The relationship that this psalmist had with God went beyond personal. Instead of painting a picture of a God on a throne in heavenly courts or a storm god riding on the clouds,…

Daily Devotions

Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’” vs. 10 1 Samuel 3:1-5, 10 When Hannah, in her old age, had borne a son, she dedicated him to the Lord, and when the boy Samuel was weaned she brought him to the priest, Eli, and left him to serve in the temple at Shiloh. Each year she would make him a new robe and bring it to…

Daily Devotions

And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.” vs 10 Mark 1:9-11 According to Mark, after his baptism Jesus received an epiphany that forever changed the direction of his life. Prior to that moment we know virtually nothing about him, only that he had come to the Jordan from Nazareth in Galilee, a small hamlet near the city of Sepphorus. There are…

Daily Devotions

On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” vs. 11 Matthew 2:1-12 Matthew really didn’t have much to say about the birth of Jesus. According to his sources, Joseph had a home in Bethlehem and the child was born there–there’s no mention of an inn or a stable. But he does add a follow-up…

Daily Devotions

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  Mark 1:4-8 John’s ministry along the Jordan attracted large numbers of people, most of whom seemed to have had a strong awareness of their own sinfulness. There were ways within Judaism for them to deal with this issue–the law was quite precise in explaining how people could find…