Blog (Page 175)
Daily Devotions: July 25 , 2018
July 25, 2018 Psalm 145:15-18…“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” vs. 18 The psalmist has a compelling perspective. Not only is the Lord the awesome ruler of the universe, one who provides for the needs of every living creature, the Lord is also the intimate source of strength and life, as near to us as our breath. It’s important for us to remember this, particularly when we struggle…
Daily Devotions: July 24 , 2018
July 24, 2018 Psalm 145:10-15…Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.” vs. 13 The psalmist likely lived in Jerusalem and was familiar with the trappings of power and the influence exerted by national interest. He was a Jew and perhaps hoped for a return to the glory days of David. But he was also more than that! His God was…
Daily Devotions: July 23 , 2018
July 23, 2018 2 Kings 4:43-44…“He set it before them, they ate, and had some left, according to the word of the Lord.” vs. 44 Many people don’t realize that there was a miraculous feeding story connected to Israel’s ancient prophet, Elisha. It’s only a couple of verses and recounts the time a servant is told by Elijah to feed 100 people with 20 barley loaves and a few ears of grain. Of course that wasn’t nearly enough to feed…
Daily Devotions: July 22 , 2018
July 22, 2018 Mark 6:53-56…“When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.” vs. 54 Over the last decade, there has been a vigorous debate about healthcare in our country and there haven’t been many satisfactory solutions proposed. We continue to search for the best way to deal with the manifold diseases and illnesses that cause such…
Daily Devotions: July 21 , 2018
July 21, 2018 Mark 6:30-34…“As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.” vs. 34 Jesus saw that his disciples needed a break. They’d been working hard in ministry and were getting worn out, so he made plans to go off to a quiet place. Evidently there were retreat centers even in those days! There was however, an…
Daily Devotions: July 20 , 2018
July 20, 2018 Ephesians 2:15-22…“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.” vss. 19-20 It’s so easy to get caught up in the strident nationalism of our day and begin to believe that illegals threaten every aspect of our future. According to current rhetoric, all our problems will…
Daily Devotions: July 19 , 2018
July 19, 2018 Ephesians 2:11-14…“For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.” vs. 14 The earliest division in the Body of Christ was between the circumcised and the uncircumcised, and it took years of debate and argument before the issue could reach even an initial stage of reconciliation. The circumcised were so proud of their identity as the children of…
Daily Devotions: July 18 , 2018
July 18, 2018 Psalm 23…“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.” vs. 6 In the course of a lifetime there are moments that invite reflection, times when we can think back on twists and turns of our journey, and perhaps consider the impact of important decisions. Always there will have been a point on the way when we adopted, either…
Daily Devotions: July 17 , 2018
July 17, 2018 Jeremiah 23:4-6…“The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.” vs. 5 Even though Jeremiah was relentless in pointing out the sins of Judah and the inevitability of its destruction, he remained hopeful about future prospects. He believed that, having gotten rid of the old kings, the Lord would raise…
Daily Devotions: July 16 , 2018
July 16, 2018 Jeremiah 23:1-3…“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord.” vs. 1 When Jeremiah speaks of shepherds, he has in mind the corrupt and power hungry kings of his nation. Their leadership had meant the dissolution and scattering of the people; already many had been led away into exile. He himself would soon be taken against his will to Egypt. It was a terrible time. Leaders bore the blame and…
Daily Devotions: July 15 , 2018
July 15, 2018 Mark 6:21-29…“When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.’” vs. 22 There’s some confusion in the ancient documents about this dancer’s name (Josephus says she was called Salome), but there’s no doubt that this was probably the favorite biblical scene for medieval and renaissance artists. They loved to paint the seductive, sexy girl,…
Daily Devotions: July 14 , 2018
July 14, 2018 Mark 6:14-20…“for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him.” vs. 20 Generally we can say that most people share Herod’s feelings about prophets. We know that they speak passionately for justice and that their motives are generally pure. And we like it that, in our country, they have protected first amendment rights…