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Daily Devotions
Psalm 119:37-40..“Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; give me life in your ways.” vs. 37 The psalmist could not be more clear! He asks the Lord to preserve his eyes from looking at vanities, which we could probably translate as “keep me from wasting my precious time looking at my phone!” It is estimated that the average person spends about five hours a day squinting at those little screens we carry with us through every waking hour and that…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 119:33-37..“Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selfish gain.” vss. 35-36 Like most of us the psalmist had a deep desire to walk in the way of righteousness. He knew that this was the way to true delight, and we can relate. It does feel good to lead good and decent lives and we bask in those beautiful, and sadly rare, moments in which…
Daily Devotions
Ezekiel 33:7-11…“So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.” vs.7 Ezekiel had been taken to Babylon with the first group of captives in the early 6th century BCE. There he had been called to be a prophet to all those in exile. It was not a good job! Being a prophet seldom is! He understood himself as being compelled to…
Daily Devotions
Matthew 16:24-28…“For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose theirlife for my sake will find it.” vs. 25 While these challenging words of Jesus have sparked countless debates among his followers, they also touch on the essential teachings of all the major religions. Humans know intuitively that the divine spark is the essence of life and that it resides in the heart of every person. Through the centuries authentic spiritual leaders from many…
Daily Devotions
Matthew 16:21-23…“But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’” vs. 23 Peter, obviously basking in the recognition given him by Jesus, mistakenly assumes that his new role gave him permission to question the dismal picture of the future painted by Jesus. Like most Jews he strongly believed that the messiah would restore the kingdom of Israel. So…
Daily Devotions
Romans 12:14-21…“No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” vss. 21-22 One of the ways in which countries can gain control of others is through a process that has been called “immiseration,” the act of gaining victory through impoverishing one’s opponents. This can be done in a variety…
Daily Devotions
Romans 12:9-13…“Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.” vss. 12-13 After giving the Roman faithful a healthy dose of doctrine and complex legal arguments Paul moves on to what seems to be the core of his message. He wants them to know what is really important for their community of faith, and it isn’t having proper theology! What counts is the cohesiveness of their little congregation…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 26:1-8…“Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and mind.” vss. 1-2 This psalmist has the utmost confidence in his own righteousness. If there were any entrance requirements for temple worship, he has no doubts about passing the test. He is a man of integrity and has nothing to hide from the Lord. There is no question…
Daily Devotions
Jeremiah 15:19-21..“Therefore, thus says the LORD: If you turn back, I will take you back, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth. It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them.” vs. 19 Jeremiah had had enough. He had answered the call of the Lord and spoken the words that had been put in his mouth, and the…
Daily Devotions
Jeremiah 15:15-18..““Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.” vs. 16 Jeremiah was called to be a prophet about 627 B. C., during the reign of King Josiah. At first he had resisted the call and claimed to be too young, but ultimately as this verse indicates, the Lord’s words became to him a…
Daily Devotions
Matthew 16:17-20..“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” vs. 18 The disciples had likely seen the temple of Pan at Caesarea Philippi, and had marveled at the water gushing out of the grotto on which it stood. According to one of the legends attached to this wonder of nature, because the ancients didn’t have a clue where all the water was…
Daily Devotions
Romans 12:1-2…“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.” vs.2 In recent years countless entrepreneurial types have discovered they can make millions of dollars by using social media to advertise products of various kinds to their followers. They simply take a video of themselves, well made-up and looking beautiful, showing how their life is being…