Blog (Page 139)
Daily Devotions: December 7, 2019
December 7, 2019 For full passage click: Matthew 3:1-6 … “Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.” vss. 6-7 We know little about John the Baptist, just a few verses in the Gospels, and a brief mention in the works of Josephus, an ancient chronicler of Jewish history. Some believe he was an Essene…
Daily Devotions: December 6, 2019
December 6, 2019 For full passage click: Romans 15:7-13 … “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” vs. 13 Paul’s life had changed in amazing ways and we can imagine that at times he found it hard to believe that he, a devout Jew, would be writing a powerful Epistle of inclusion to Gentiles. At one point, he had…
Daily Devotions: December 5, 2019
December 5, 2019 For full passage click: Romans 15:4-6 … “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.” vs 4 Paul obviously held the Hebrew Scriptures in high regard and was familiar with all they had to say. It was important for him to align his teaching with what had been taught in the law and the prophets. He believed that…
Daily Devotions: December 4, 2019
December 4, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 … “May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor.” vs. 4 The Psalmist composed this prayer for the coronation of a new king, perhaps for David’s beloved son, Solomon. It reflects the deep desire of the people for a leader who would bring prosperity to Israel and provide protection against invading armies. It’s the sort of prayer that…
Daily Devotions: December 3, 2019
December 3, 2019 For full passage click: Isaiah 11:6-10 … “They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” vs. 9 Both Isaiah and Jeremiah believed that, as the knowledge of the Lord spread upon the earth, hurting and destruction would come to an end. They’re not talking about some doctrine or creed; they don’t have in mind a new…
Daily Devotions: December 2, 2019
December 2, 2019 For full passage click: Isaiah 11:1-5 … “A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.” vs. 1 In recent years some families have begun to use Jesse trees as a part of their Advent activity. The tree is multi-branched, often bare of leaves, and each day a new decoration representing some biblical event or person is attached to a branch. It has become an alternative or…
Daily Devotions: December 1, 2019
December 1, 2019 For full passage click: Matthew 24:42-44 … “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.” vs. 44 Today we start the season of Advent. Some will be lighting the first candle on their wreath; children are perhaps opening the first surprise on an Advent calendar. Our text is from a section of Matthew’s Gospel dealing with the last days. We are being warned, it seems, to be ready,…
Daily Devotions: November 30, 2019
November 30, 2019 For full passage click: Matthew 24:36-41 … “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark…so too will be the coming of the Son of Man.” 38-39b Most of the time life is pretty ordinary! Oh, there are occasional moments of transition, but mostly we spend our time routinely going about our business, taking care of self and family, and rarely…
Daily Devotions: November 29, 2019
November 29, 2019 For full passage click: Romans 13:11-14 … “Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” vs. 14 As Paul writes to the Romans, his carefully reasoned theological constructs are not always easy to understand, but he closes with some practical advice that is hard to misconstrue. He wants them to know that proper theology can be helpful, but it’s not the bottom line. What really counts is…
Daily Devotions: November 28, 2019: THANKSGIVING
November 28, 2019 For full passage click: John 6:25-35 … “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” vs. 35 Thanksgiving is a holiday that seems to arise naturally out of human experience–people in nearly all countries have annual festivals to give thanks for harvest blessings. Often there will be prayers offered to God, even by those who don’t typically recognize…
Daily Devotions: November 27, 2019
November 27, 2019 For full passage click: Philippians 4:4-9 … “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” vs. 6 Thanksgiving Eve has become a favorite time for interfaith services. It seems that we can, for at least one day, put aside differences and concentrate on that which we have in common. And that’s a good thing! All of us, regardless of religious affiliation, receive amazing…
Daily Devotions: November 26, 2019
November 26, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 122 … “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers.’” vss. 6-7 Jerusalem was not only the capital of Judah, it was the center of worship life for all devout Jews, no matter where they lived in the world. The temple was here and three times each year there were important festivals to attend. Even today three major…