Blog (Page 147)
Daily Devotions: September 5, 2019
September 5, 2019 For full passage click: Philemon 1-7 … “I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.” vs. 7 The letters of Paul give us amazing snapshots of life in the early Christian communities. In one way or another in dozens of cities, the good news of Jesus had been proclaimed and passed on. Hundreds of people had become believers and were meeting…
The Spiritual Practice of Hospitality
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Have you ever been offered a place to stay at a time of need in your life? Has a kind word or thoughtful presence helped you…
Daily Devotions: September 4, 2019
September 4, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 1:4-6 … “The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.” vs. 4 The imagery used by the Psalmist calls to mind the hilltop threshing floors used by farmers to separate the wheat from the chaff at harvest time. As they tossed the separated grain into the air, the chaff would be blown away by the wind while the heavier wheat would fall back to the earth. The…
Daily Devotions: September 4, 2019
September 4, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 1:4-6 … “The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.” vs. 4 The imagery used by the Psalmist calls to mind the hilltop threshing floors used by farmers to separate the wheat from the chaff at harvest time. As they tossed the separated grain into the air, the chaff would be blown away by the wind while the heavier wheat would fall back to the earth. The…
Daily Devotions: September 3, 2019
September 3, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 1:1-3 … “They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.” vs.3 The world of this Psalmist was not particularly complicated. There were good people and bad people, those who had their act together and those who didn’t. Most of us would probably agree–that’s what we see too. There are those who…
Daily Devotions: September 2, 2019
September 2, 2019 For full passage click: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 … “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live…” vs. 19 The Israelites had been set free from their bondage in Egypt by the grace of God, and had been formed into a people by their experience in the wilderness. Now they faced a critical moment–ahead lay…
Daily Devotions: September 1, 2019
September 1, 2019 For full passage click: Luke 14:12-14 … “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” vss. 13-14 Every organization or community is guided by sets of unwritten rules that govern social connections. Often these expectations will be obscure to outsiders, but those on the inside know them intimately–we…
Daily Devotions: August 31, 2019
August 31, 2019 For full passage click: Luke 14:1, 7-11 … “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host;” vs. 8 Jesus had been invited to dinner on the Sabbath at the home of a leader of the Pharisees and people were watching him carefully–and he was watching them. He was particularly amused at how they…
Daily Devotions: August 30, 2019
August 30, 2019 For full passage click: Hebrews 13:8,15-16 … “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” vs. 8 The writer of the book of Hebrews knew the history of his people as far back as the Scriptures recorded it. He was familiar with the stories of the matriarchs and patriarchs and believed that the many examples of their faithfulness could both inspire and console. But the most important truth he passed on was his insight regarding…
Daily Devotions: August 29, 2019
August 29, 2019 For full passage click: Hebrews 13:1-7 … “Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” vss. 1-2 It’s a given that followers of Jesus are called to love one another. According to John, it was his final commandment. Early believers learned that this mutual love was one of the most impressive attributes of their faith communities, and it’s been that way ever…
Daily Devotions: August 28, 2019
August 28, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 81: 1, 10-16 … “I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.” vs. 10 From the Psalmist’s perspective, the Lord was responsible for Israel’s existence as a people. Once they had been slaves. The fact that they had a land of their own was totally due to the Lord’s intervention. Not only had the Lord…