Blog (Page 142)
Daily Devotions: November 1, 2019
November 1, 2019 For full passage click: Ephesians 1:15-23 … “I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ…may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you” vss.17-18 When Paul was called to faith by the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus, he had no idea what God was up…
Daily Devotions: October 31, 2019
October 31, 2019 For full passage click: Ephesians 1:11-14 … “In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit;” vs. 13 In the ritual of Holy Baptism, after the baptism and the tracing of the cross on the forehead, these words are often said, “Child of God, you have been sealed with the Holy Spirit and marked…
Daily Devotions: October 30, 2019
October 30, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 149:6-9 … “Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands, to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples…” vss. 6-7 Anyone with even a passing interest in history will know that warfare has been a constant part of our human experience. From the very beginning, tribes and nations have risen against each other for a variety of reasons, occasionally as a…
Daily Devotions: October 29, 2019
October 29, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 149: 1-5 … “Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful.” vs. 1 All of us have experienced new songs or hymns in the course of our worship, and some have found it to be an aggravation. They try to join in the singing but the tune is often unfamiliar and it doesn’t take long for them to start pouting. They want…
Daily Devotions: October 28, 2019
October 28, 2019 For full passage click: Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 … “But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever—forever and ever.” vs. 18 The book of Daniel was likely one of the last writings to be included in what is commonly called the Old Testament. It’s a collection of stories featuring a young Jew named Daniel along with a series of apocalyptic visions. Like the book of Revelation in the New…
Daily Devotions: October 27, 2019
October 27, 2019 For full passage click: John 8:33-36 … “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” vs. 36 In 1945 the State of New Hampshire adopted the motto “Live Free or Die,” a slogan with roots dating back to the French Revolution. Some feel that it’s the perfect summation of the revolutionary principles that guided American patriots to declare independence in 1776. Like Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death,” its words…
Daily Devotions: October 26, 2019
October 26, 2019 For full passage click: John 8:31-32 … “Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’” vss. 31-32 John tells us that the Word was present with God in the beginning and that through the Word all things came into existence. He further tells us that this Word became flesh and…
Daily Devotions: October 25, 2019
October 25, 2019 For full passage click: Romans 3:22b-28 … “For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…” vss. 22b-24 Through the centuries, as believers have read Paul’s letter to the Romans, they’ve taken verse 23 of chapter 3 to heart, and have used it as the great leveler. Yes, indeed, all of…
Daily Devotions: October 24, 2019
October 24, 2019 For full passage click: Romans 3:19-22a … “But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” vss. 21-22a Paul was attempting to give the congregation in Rome a more theological perspective of what had happened through Jesus. As part of his argument, he takes pain to explain that the righteousness of God is in…
Daily Devotions: October 23, 2019
October 23, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 46:6-11 … “The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.” vss. 6-7 In recent months, given the state of affairs in our world, i.e. the tensions among nations and the threat of global warming, we’ve begun to hear talk of the “last days” among some Christians. They’re convinced that these…
Daily Devotions: October 22, 2019
October 22, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 46:1-5… “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” vs. 1 Sometimes we forget that Martin Luther was not only a great biblical scholar and theologian, he loved music and wrote dozens of hymns for congregational singing. His most famous, “A Mighty Fortress,” took its inspiration from Psalm 46. Luther lived in turbulent times among constantly warring nations and regularly expected to be arrested and put to death.…