Blog (Page 16)
Daily Devotions
So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them.” vs. 39 Acts 9:36-43 The Christians had been driven out of Jerusalem by Saul’s campaign to search and destroy their community. Of course his efforts were unsuccessful and served only to increase their influence. Many had settled in Joppa…
Daily Devotions
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’” vs. 15 John 21:10-19 It’s not surprising that this was the chosen gospel text for the funeral of Pope Francis. Not only does it testify to the resurrection, it focuses on Peter, the disciple considered by many to have been…
Daily Devotions
That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the lake.” vs. 7 John 21:1-8 Chapter 21 appears to be a kind of an epilogue that was added to the gospel of John sometime after it was completed. It consists of an account of another resurrection appearance by Jesus, this time in Galilee, and could have…
Daily Devotions
And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” vs. 5 Revelation 22:1-5 Occasionally people will fall into an illness which brings them to the brink of death. Doctors will advise family and friends that there is nothing more that can be done, that their loved one is in a coma from which there is likely no return. And…
Daily Devotions
…singing with full voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing!’” vs. 12 Revelation 5:11-14 When the door of heaven is opened and the Seer is taken up in the Spirit to view its wonders, we are quickly introduced to the slaughtered Lamb of God, a metaphor for the Christ that is used 28 times in the book of Revelation. Obviously the early Christians were…
Daily Devotions
As for me, I said in my prosperity, ‘I shall never be moved.’ By your favour, O Lord, you had established me as a strong mountain; you hid your face; I was dismayed.” vss. 6-7 Psalm 30:6-12 The psalmist had been confident in his relationship with the Lord, and, in his estimation, he had been blessed. Like many people he believed that there was a link between faith and prosperity, and since he had wealth, he anticipated that the good times…
Daily Devotions
For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” vs. 5 Psalm 30:1-5 Most folks don’t consider that their unfortunate circumstances have come because of God’s anger. They recognize that in a broken world there is bound to be suffering, tears, and pain, and that those moments aren’t necessarily connected to our behaviors or actions. The psalmist did believe that God could be…
Daily Devotions
He asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The reply came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’” vss. 5-6 Acts 9:3-9 There are some who refer to this experience on the road to Damascus as the conversion of Paul, but that description misses the point. Paul was not converted, but remained a proud and faithful Jew, a man proud of his training and heritage.…
Daily Devotions
Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” vss. 1-2 Acts 9:1-2 The number of believers was growing at a rapid rate in Jerusalem. Saul, a young zealous Pharisee, was appalled at what was happening and acted on behalf…
Daily Devotions
But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.” vs. 31 John 20:24-31 Those who read the gospel of John are regularly puzzled by his account of Jesus’ ministry and life. Often the details seem exaggerated and many of his stories aren’t even included in Matthew, Mark, or Luke. No wonder some end up identifying with Thomas –…
Daily Devotions
Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” vss. 21-22 John 20:19-24 Each of the gospel writers chooses a different way of describing what we call the Great Commission. John tells his readers that it happened immediately after Jesus appeared to the disciples in Jerusalem after his resurrection. Two things are involved:…
Daily Devotions
‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” vs. 8 Revelation 1:5b-8 We’re used to the language John used to describe God. After all, many of us grew up with the hymn, Holy, Holy, Holy, and came to love the cadence of the words in the second verse, “Which wert, and art, and evermore shall be.” There’s a poetic quality to that description of God that…