Posts by Rev. Steve Holm (Page 45)
Daily Devotions
Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” vss, 7-8a Philippians 3:4b-8a For many, success in life is measured by net worth at the time of retirement. They want to have enough socked away to ensure a comfortable lifestyle throughout their golden years. With that as a goal they choose lucrative jobs or…
Daily Devotions
Why then have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?” vs. 12 Psalm 80:8-15 Like Isaiah the psalmist uses the metaphor of the vineyard to describe Israel. But the questions asked are different. Isaiah asks “Why did the beautiful vineyard yield wild grapes?” but the psalmist asks “Why did God break down the vineyard’s walls?” Isaiah the prophet implies that Israel had disappointed the Lord, but the psalmist seems to have…
Daily Devotions
Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.” vs. 7 Psalm 80:3-7 When things were going bad for the people of Israel, something that happened with some frequency, it was not unusual for their prophets and psalmists to yearn for restoration. In recent years we’ve even seen that theme used as a political slogan as some have lifted up their voices to urge that America be made great again. Such persons remember a…
Daily Devotions
What more was there to do for my vineyard that I have not done in it? When I expected it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?” vs. 4 Isaiah 5:1-7 Isaiah’s love song on behalf of the Lord in chapter 5 has a country western quality to it. The lyrics speak of unrequited love, the devotion of the beloved as he pours all of his energy in constructing the finest vineyard imaginable, and the devastating disappointment which…
Daily Devotions
“Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.’” vs. 31b Matthew 21:28-32 It must have been hard for the chief priests and the elders to hear these words of Jesus. They had understood his parable about the two sons asked to work in the vineyard – they knew which son had done the father’s will. But they likely didn’t realize the story was about…
Daily Devotions
“When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’” vs. 23 Matthew 21:23-27 The chief priests and the elders were concerned about Jesus’ credentials, and they had a point. They had responsibility for what went on in the temple and it wasn’t appropriate for just any random teacher to come in and…
Daily Devotions
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” vss. 12-13 Philippians 2:5-13 Paul is not telling the Philippians to forget about the grace of God with these profound and insightful words. Not at all! All…
Daily Devotions
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” vss. 3-4 Philippians 2:1-4 From time to time we run into people who actually follow Paul’s prescription for the life of faith. They’re all around us, and many can be found in our congregations. Sometimes we don’t even know that they’re there. By nature, and conviction, they call…
Daily Devotions
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!” vs. 7 Psalm 25:1-9 All of us have a history! It begins in childhood and continues through our entire lives, and everything is recorded! Some would just as soon leave some early events out – they’re not proud of what they’ve done. The psalmist probably would have fallen in that category. He asks the Lord to…
Daily Devotions
For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live.” vs. 32 Ezekiel 18:25-32 Bad things had been happening to the people of Israel and many of them had concluded that all of this was the Lord’s fault and that the Lord could not be trusted. Ezekiel reminded them that all the bad stuff that had happened in the life of the Israelites was their own fault. If they wanted a better…
Daily Devotions
Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child ismine: it is only the person who sins that shall die.” vs. 4 Ezekiel 18:1-4 It was written in the law of Israel, “I the LORD your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation…” The sentiment seems severe, yet we can see its truth. Children suffer because of what…
Daily Devotions
Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’” vss. 14-15 Matthew 20:8-16 In this delightfully composed parable Jesus describes how the owner of the vineyard pays the same daily wage to all the workers that he had hired, whether they had worked twelve hours or…