Posts by Rev. Steve Holm (Page 7)
Daily Devotions
In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” vs. 17 Acts 2:14-21 From the disciples’ perspective what had happened with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was unprecedented. All the old presuppositions about how God works in the world had been turned upside down, and from now…
Daily Devotions
As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” vs. 18 John 17:14-19 Even though the world can be dangerous and is continuously trying to confuse and entrap us with its seductive ways, this is exactly where followers of Jesus have been sent to love and serve. In fact, if it weren’t for the presence of people of faith it’s hard telling what dreadful conditions would exist. Moral corruption would be rampant and…
Daily Devotions
And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.” vs. 11 John 17:11-13 In this story John pictures Jesus at the end of his ministry, meeting with his disciples for one final moment of communion and instruction. Earlier in the gospel it had been made clear…
Daily Devotions
for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.” vs. 8 John 17:6-10 The gospel of John does a masterful job of connecting the Creator of the Universe directly to Jesus of Nazareth. In his familiar prologue, the gospel writer makes the claim that the Word through whom all things came into being is…
Daily Devotions
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” vs. 13 1 John 5:9-13 The gospel of John was written so that readers might come to believe that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, so that through believing they might have eternal life. It seems that many people did become believers, and it is to these persons that this epistle is…
Daily Devotions
for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” vs. 6 Psalm 1:4-6 The psalmist was certainly no nihilist, i.e. one who believes that life is meaningless and that there are no eternal values. Rather, he had a strong conviction that there is a right way to live, a way that is looked over and protected by the Lord. He also believed that there was another way, one that was pretty…
Daily Devotions
Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;” vs. 1 Psalm 1:1-3 If we’ve managed to compile a decent track record in the game of life, we will most certainly agree with the words of the psalmist. We only have to be marginally aware of what’s going on in the world to know that blessings abound when we make wise choices. While…
Daily Devotions
Then they prayed and said, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’” vss. 24-25 Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 Judas had been one of the disciples and later was commissioned by Jesus as one of the twelve apostles. During Jesus’ ministry these Twelve were sent to towns and villages as missionaries, bringing the good…
Daily Devotions
You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.” vs. 16 John 15:13-17 When we hear that Jesus has chosen us to be his disciples we are not surprised. It’s a familiar part of the gospel story that we’ve grown up with. We know that we have been called to proclaim the good…
Daily Devotions
I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” vs. 11 John 15:9-12 These words are said in the context of Jesus’ last conversation with the disciples and indicate that he was well-pleased with them, and that their presence brought him joy. We know that feeling, that sense of satisfaction that a parent can have in looking around a festival table at the gathered faces of children…
Daily Devotions
for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.” vs. 4 1 John 5:4-6 We’ve gotten a good look at the ways of the world in recent years, and it’s not been a pretty sight! The environment is taking a beating, tensions between nations explode into wars, thousands are being killed, starvation and hunger are rampant and millions of refugees are on the move. In that scenario John’s optimism…
Daily Devotions
For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome…” vs. 3 1 John 5:4-6 It’s really not that difficult to be a follower of Jesus! All that is necessary is that we keep God’s commandments! And what are God’s commandments? Well, John’s not talking about the Ten Commandments that we learn in Sunday School or the 613 commandments that we can dig up out of the Hebrew Scriptures. He’s talking about…