Blog (Page 163)
Daily Devotions: December 25, 2018
December 25, 2018 To read full passage click: Luke 2:8-20 …“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’” vs. 15 The shepherds in Luke’s story could have been content with hearing the good news from the angels and then going back to sleep. Instead, Luke reports that they decided…
Daily Devotions: December 24, 2018
December 24, 2018 To read passage click: Luke 2:1-14 …“Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.” vs. 4 When Luke decided to put together his account of Jesus’ life, he must have been thrilled to find this little story of the birth in Bethlehem. It really was the missing link, the piece of evidence that linked…
Daily Devotions: December 23, 2018
December 23, 2018 To read full passage click: Luke 1:43-45 …“And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?” vs. 43 Elizabeth’s reaction to Mary’s visit reveals a genuine humility that is often lacking in an age of entitlement. She had been privileged by God and it blew her mind. She was an ordinary woman with no claim to fame or glory and she didn’t deserve the honor that had come to her.…
Daily Devotions: December 22, 2018
December 22, 2018 To read full passage click: Luke 1:39-42 …“And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.’” vss. 41b-42 The scriptures report that Mary, though initially concerned about her son’s mission, became closely associated with his disciples after his death and resurrection. It even seems that by the time Luke wrote his gospel, some had begun to recognize her special…
Daily Devotions: December 21, 2018
December 21, 2018 To read full passage click: Hebrews 10:7-10 …“And it is by God’s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” vs. 10 There aren’t many people who even care that much about the arguments put forward by the writer of Hebrews. From their perspective, all this talk about sanctification and sacrifice is speculative and boring and has little to do with life in the 21st century. And…
Daily Devotions: December 20, 2018
December 20, 2018 To read full passage click: Hebrews 10:5-6 …“Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.’” vss. 5-6 The sacrificial system had been the centerpiece of worship for the people of Israel for centuries. It was a way for them to deal with the guilt and the power of sin. By…
Daily Devotions: December 19, 2018
December 19, 2018 To read full passage click: Psalm 80:4-7 …“O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?” vs. 4 The psalmist was very aware of his people’s history. He’d heard the stories and committed them to memory. He knew they were a blessed and privileged people and that God had rescued them out of slavery and given them a fresh start and a new land. He also knew that they had messed…
Daily Devotions: December 18, 2018
December 18, 2018 For full passage click: Psalm 80:1-3 …“Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.” vs. 3 When times got tough for the people of Israel, they always sent out a cry to God for help, and who can blame them? We do pretty much the same thing. When the situation is out of control and our future health or prosperity is threatened, even agnostics will send up prayers for salvation. The phrase…
Daily Devotions: December 17, 2018
December 17, 2018 To read full passage click: Micah 5:2-5a …“But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.” vs. 2 During his ministry, Jesus was known as a Galilean from the village of Nazareth, it’s where he and his family had lived. But after his death and resurrection, stories of…
Daily Devotions: December 16, 2018
December 16, 2018 To read full passage click: Luke 3: 15-18 …“His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” vs. 17 John’s words about the work of the coming Messiah sound ominous. It seems that he’s looking toward a great separation in which the righteous will be saved and sinners burned with unquenchable fire. It’s more likely however, that…
Daily Devotions: December 15, 2018
December 15, 2018 To read full passage click: Luke 3:7-14 …“In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’” vs. 11 The crowds were shaken by John’s pointed words. He wasn’t impressed by piety and good intentions and preached that true repentance required fruits. And when the people asked him what he thought they should do, he told them plainly. And it wasn’t rocket science!…
Daily Devotions: December 14, 2018
December 14, 2018 To read full passage click: Philippians 4:6-7 …“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” vs. 7 Peace is one of those multi-faceted words that is used in a multitude of ways in scripture. Sometimes it’s simply a greeting, a shalom extended to a friend. Often, peace refers to an absence of warfare, a time when humans put away weapons and live together in harmony. Here…