Posts by Rev. Steve Holm (Page 9)
Daily Devotions
Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died.” vs. 6 Numbers 21:4-9 It’s not uncommon for people to wonder why awful things are happening in their lives. And for people of faith the wondering is often accompanied by the question, “Why is God doing this to me?” Behind the question lurks the popular assumption that when we sin, God will arrange for our punishment, maybe not with poisonous snakes,…
Daily Devotions
After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.” vs. 22 John 2:19-22 As he concludes the story of how an angry Jesus cleansed the temple precincts by chasing off the merchants and the moneychangers, the gospel writer John gives some clues about how the gospels were written. First he reminds us that it was after the resurrection that the disciples remembered…
Daily Devotions
Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.” vs. 15 John 2:13-17 If we were asked to describe Jesus we would likely use words like wise, charismatic, loving, humble, and gentle. Yet passages like this one from John would indicate that we should also add the adjective “angry” to the list. Because many struggle…
Daily Devotions
For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.” vs. 25 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 When Jesus was crucified, as far as the Jewish leaders were concerned, that was the end of his claim to be the messiah. But they hadn’t reckoned with the resurrection! As far as the disciples were concerned, his crucifixion was all part of the divine plan, and the cross became their rallying cry. They gloried in the message of…
Daily Devotions
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” vs. 20 1 Corinthians 1:18-21 Each day we see reports about the heart-breaking loss of innocent lives in a seemingly endless cycle of wars and revolutions. There seems to be no end to our capacity to inflict suffering on one another, and most distressingly, there seems to be no end in sight.…
Daily Devotions
Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.” vss, 2-4a Psalm 19 The psalmist believed that God was revealed in the creation. If we wanted to know God all we needed to do was open up our eyes and take a look around. And if…
Daily Devotions
And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…” vs. 21 1 Peter 3:21-22 The story of Noah and the Ark had special significance for early Christians. It was here that they saw the first evidence of God’s saving grace, and they began to use the Ark as a symbol for the Church. In their estimation baptism…
Daily Devotions
As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven.” vs. 11 2 Kings 2:9-12 Some have suggested that this little story from the Hebrew scriptures is an ancient account of an alien abduction, that the chariot of fire was a spacecraft of some sort, and that Elijah was carried off to some unknown planet in a faraway galaxy. While that claim is…
Daily Devotions
The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, ‘Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?’ And he answered, ‘Yes, I know; be silent.’” vs. 5 2 Kings 2:1-8 Elijah was remembered as the first of the great prophets of Israel, one who vigorously defended the Lord against the prophets of Baal. As he grew older he was given an associate, Elisha, who became his partner…
Daily Devotions
In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him.” vss. 35-36 Mark 1:35-39 Mark tells his readers that the morning after being besieged by the crowds in Capernaum, Jesus got up early, and went in the dark to a deserted place for prayer. Because the geography of Galilee has changed little in 2000 years we know that he…
Daily Devotions
That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door.” vss. 32-33 Mark 1:29-34 Many congregations now have parish nurses on their staff, and people appreciate having skilled persons who can help them with the myriad of health issues that plague us as we age. Healing services are held regularly as a part of worship and people are glad for the opportunity to receive prayers,…
Daily Devotions
He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.” vs. 3 Psalm 147:1-4, 20c Probably everyone has dealt with deep pain in their lives. We have love relationships that begin well and end with despair and anger. Death seems always to be lurking in the wings and periodically reaches out to snatch a loved one away. Dreams are dashed with the loss of a job or the failure of choice investments. Circumstances vary but the feelings are the same, and…