Blog (Page 194)
Daily Devotions: December 30, 2017
Luke 2:22-35 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation…” vss. 29-30 According to witnesses, as Martin Luther lay dying in Eisleben, the town of his birth, he repeated these words from Simeon’s song over and over. After a long (for those days) and tumultuous life he yearned for the peace that he knew death would bring. In Luke’s story Simeon sings because after a lifetime of waiting…
Daily Devotions: December 29, 2017
Galatians 4:4-7 “And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’” vs. 5 As we continue our Christmas celebration of Jesus’ birth these words from Paul remind us of what that birth actually means for our daily existence. He’s writing to Jews living in the Roman province of Galatia and wants them to know that what happened in Jesus has given them adoption as children of God. They are no…
Daily Devotions: December 28, 2017
Psalm 148:7-14 “Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command!” vss. 7-8 Because everything was connected the psalmist couldn’t imagine any part of the creation that couldn’t praise the Lord…even snow and frost! What a blessing it is to have such an expansive view of the universe! Even those of us who are hunkered down in blankets and warm clothes in protection against sub-zero weather…
Daily Devotions: December 27, 2017
Psalm 148:1-6 “Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!” vss. 3-4 The psalmist was full of joy and was searching for ways to offer thanks and praise to God. His words reveal a connection that many have last as populations abandon the soil in favor of concrete jungles and high-rise buildings. As we continue to lose ourselves in our Google searches and smart-phone connections we move…
Daily Devotions: December 26, 2017
Isaiah 61:10-62:3 “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch.” vs. 1 In recent weeks we’ve been reading about the city of Jerusalem and the controversy that has erupted over whether it should be recognized as the capital of Israel, given that it is also the most important city in the Palestinian territories. Of course this isn’t…
Daily Devotions: December 25, 2017
John 1:1-14 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” vs. 5 We’re not sure how it is that Christmas came to be celebrated right at the darkest time of the year (at least in the Northern Hemisphere) but the symbolism could not be better. There are times when darkness closes in on our lives in deep and profound ways. It could be a divorce, the ugly end of a once beautiful relationship…or maybe it’s…
Daily Devotions: December 24, 2017
Luke 2:1-14 “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” vs. 7 Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth is one of the best known stories in all the world. While it’s easy to find holes in the narrative and raise questions about its historicity, the message of truth at its core has found a home in the hearts…
Daily Devotions: December 23, 2017
Luke 1:26-38 “And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’” vs. 28 When we read Luke’s description of the Annunciation carefully we can’t help but chuckle at Mary’s response to Gabriel’s greeting, “she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.” We know the reaction! If a stranger were to come to us with words of praise and over-the-top affirmation we too would wonder what was…
Daily Devotions: December 22, 2017
Romans 16:25-27 “Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages…” vs. 25 Paul finishes his letter to the Romans with a benediction that lifts up and glorifies God. He wants them to know that this new gospel they’ve heard from him is really the revelation of an ancient mystery. In other words, the good news…
Daily Devotions: December 21, 2017
Luke 1:51-55 “He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.” vss. 52-53 As Mary continues to magnify the Lord she remembers the true nature of God as revealed through the history of Israel. Her God is no friend of the rich and the powerful and has regularly acted to undermine their attempts at domination and suppression. Her song assumes that…
Daily Devotions: December 20, 2017
Luke 1:46-50 “And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord…’” vs. 46 Each year we marvel at Mary’s response to the angelic annunciation but sometimes we miss the significance of these opening words of her song. Her soul magnifies the Lord! Our tendency is frequently the opposite…our souls diminish the Lord in every way that we can. We want so badly to control our world and as a consequence God gets smaller and smaller. In fact that’s the biggest problem…
Daily Devotions: December 19, 2017
2 Samuel 7:8-11, 16 “Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.” vs. 11b David had been successful in hunting down his enemies and had even captured Jerusalem and made it his capital. And now he had been intending to complete his conquest by taking control of the Lord. He would build a house for his god…and there he would come to get prayers answered and receive guidance. He would have his own personal…