Blog (Page 191)
Daily Devotions: February 3, 2018
Mark 1:29-32 “As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.” vs. 29 Even though the old city of Capernaum is in ruins, it’s a favorite stopping point for pilgrims and tourists intent on walking in the footsteps of Jesus. The old synagogue is here. Archaeologists say it’s from the first century, and it’s easy to imagine Jesus teaching here…and casting out a demon. Not far away, there’s a church…
Daily Devotions: February 2, 2018
Corinthians 9:16-23 “I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.” vss. 22b-23 Paul would not compromise on the gospe–the good news of God that is ours by grace through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But he was willing to adapt to every changing situation that he encountered. He was chameleon-like in the…
Daily Devotions: February 1, 2018
Psalm 147:7-11, 20a “His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner; but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” vss. 10-11 In a few days the attention of the country will be focused on Minneapolis, not because it has beautiful lakes and pedestrian skyways, but because that’s where the Superbowl is being played. It’s the biggest single day sporting event…
Daily Devotions: January 31, 2018
Psalm 147:1-6 “He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.” vss. 3-4 Deism and theism are often held up as two contrasting ways to understand the existence of God. From a deistic perspective God is the creator of the universe, the first cause of all things, but not the source of inspiration or revelation. It’s a mechanistic rational approach to existence…God never intervenes and…
Daily Devotions: January 30, 2018
Isaiah 40:27-31 “Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” vss. 30-31 Sometimes it seems as though the young have a leg up on the rest of us in today’s tech dependent world. They’re the ones who have grown up with computers and who…
Daily Devotions: January 29, 2018
Isaiah 40:21-26 “It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in; who brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing.” vs. 22-23 For a thousand years or more the people of Israel had had a ringside seat as they watched a whole string of great powers flex their muscles, exercise…
Daily Devotions: January 28, 2018
Mark 1:25-28 “They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, ‘What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.’” vs. 27 Occasionally we hear people talk of their inner demons, those voices that speak from our dark side, and that seek to divert us from our intended goodness. For some those spirits are uncontrollable and cause every manner of difficulty. Our experiences with such persons are usually uncomfortable…and we…
Daily Devotions: January 27, 2018
Mark 1:21-24 “They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” vs. 22 The scribes were the guardians of the Jewish law and for centuries had dedicated themselves to preserving and passing on the ancient texts. We might call them legal experts or lawyers, important leaders whose opinions mattered and who could be trusted to teach with integrity. Many of them were Pharisees and adhered to a strict observance of…
Daily Devotions: January 26, 2018
1 Corinthians 8:1-13 “But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.” vs. 9 Some of us grew up in rather legalistic faith communities with many restrictions with regard to Christian behavior. In such environments, failure to comply with the rules meant quick censure and sometimes severe punishment. Believers learn quickly to be careful about what they say and do. Many times those who have grown up in a rule-based church…
Daily Devotions: January 25, 2018
Psalm 111:6-10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.” vs. 10 There is at the core of our DNA a strong desire for wisdom. As a consequence, we’ve developed amazing systems of education so our children can grow up to be savvy, well-formed, and lovers of knowledge. In our schools, young boys and girls are encouraged to learn to the limits of their abilities…and…
Daily Devotions: January 24, 2018
Psalm 111:1-5 “Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.” vs. 1 With the exception of a few hermits through the centuries, the people of God have always enjoyed coming together for worship. While it’s possible to serve God in isolation, being part of a congregation provides a huge benefit for the faithful. Often we don’t notice how precious those times together really are, but…
Daily Devotions: January 23, 2018
Deuteronomy 18:17-20 “But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak—that prophet shall die.” vs. 20 When the Israelites began to review their history and write it down they recognized how important it was have leaders who brought them genuine words from the Lord. They needed prophets with integrity, not charlatans who spoke to enrich themselves or to ingratiate…