Blog (Page 178)
Daily Devotions: June 27 , 2018
June 27, 2018 Psalm 30:1-7…“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 The psalmist was in a good mood as he composed these words of thanksgiving and praise. There had been a crisis, perhaps an illness that had brought him to death’s door, but then he had experienced healing, and he wanted everyone to know how happy he was. He…
Daily Devotions: June 26 , 2018
June 26, 2018 Lamentations 3:27-33…“Although he causes grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve anyone.” vss. 32-33 Those of us with parents who didn’t believe in sparing the rod may have heard them say these words, “This hurts me more than it hurts you.” Somehow hearing those words in that context failed to take away the sting or lessen the tears. While that mode of discipline…
Daily Devotions: June 25 , 2018
June 25, 2018 Lamentations 3:22-26…“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” vss. 22-23 The writer of Lamentations had endured the total destruction of Jerusalem and experienced first-hand the raw brutality of a powerful conqueror. The temple had been destroyed along with all the palaces and fine homes of the city. The people had experienced famine and starvation. The promised Day of the Lord…
Daily Devotions: June 24 , 2018
June 24, 2018 Mark 4:39-41…“And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’” vs. 41 The answer to the disciples’ question would have been readily apparent to Mark’s first century readers. They would have recognized the connection to Psalm 107:29, “he made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.” It was the Lord, the God of Israel, whose power…
Daily Devotions: June 23 , 2018
June 23, 2018 Mark 4:35-48…“But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’” vs. 38 Even though the Sea of Galilee wasn’t very large, barely four miles from one side to the other, it could be a scary place when the wind began to blow. Undoubtedly, those who lived in the little fishing villages along its shore had many stories of…
Daily Devotions: June 22 , 2018
June 22, 2018 2 Corinthians 6:4-13…“but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God…” vss. 4-7a We get a mini-memoir from Paul in this part of his second letter to the Corinthians. He’s gotten some negative news from Corinth; evidently some persons in the congregation have…
Daily Devotions: June 21 , 2018
June 21, 2018 2 Corinthians 6:1-3…“As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain.” vs. 1 As Paul heard the news from Corinth, he realized that some of those who had received the good news of Jesus with enthusiasm were beginning to drift away. It seems that they didn’t understand that God’s grace was more than a theological prescription for salvation, that it was actually intended to make a difference…
Daily Devotions: June 20 , 2018
June 20, 2018 Psalm 107:23-32…“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out from their distress;” vs. 28 The psalmist had no difficulty thinking of times in Israel’s history when the people were facing calamity of one kind or another. In these verses, he’s recounting the stories of sailors who braved the unpredictable and dangerous seas and who turned to God when the winds blew and waves engulfed their boats. Of course many boats sank…
Daily Devotions: June 19 , 2018
June 19, 2018 Psalm 107:1-3…“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those he redeemed from trouble…” vs. 2 Sometimes Christians imply that the only redemption worth talking about is that which comes through Jesus, that only those “washed in the blood of the Lamb” have the salvation of God. Such talk would have certainly surprised the psalmist. In his estimation there were countless examples of redemption in Israel’s history. The people had often fallen away from God and then…
Daily Devotions: June 18 , 2018
June 18, 2018 Job 38:1-11…“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.” vs. 4 People have long asked, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”–and have struggled to find suitable answers. The writer of Job is certainly familiar with the question and has presented a long narrative exploring various answers. In the course of his story, he presents God’s response to Job’s laments in colorful and provocative ways. His images…
Daily Devotions: June 17 , 2018
June 17, 2018 Mark 4:30-34…“With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.” vss. 33-34 As a teacher, Jesus regularly used parables to pass on the great truths of the kingdom of God. For the most part they’re short and uncomplicated, and use familiar examples to give glimpses of God’s work. They’re similar to…
Daily Devotions: June 16 , 2018
June 16, 2018 Mark 4:26-29…“He also said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how.’” vss. 26-27 From ancient times, those who till the soil and plant crops have generally had a strong appreciation of God’s role in the whole process, and, at harvest time, have led the way in making sacrifices and giving…