Blog (Page 2)
Daily Devotions
2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10… “…but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God;” vss. 4 ,6-7a Paul thought of himself and his partners in ministry as being ambassadors for Christ, and that through them the Corinthians were being reconciled to God. He knew that their conduct in that role was crucial, and he was proud that in every circumstance of suffering…
Daily Devotions
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17… “Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.” vs. 13b The prophet Joel responds to a devastating invasion of locusts by calling the people of Israel to repentance. It’s never been uncommon for people to make connections between the forces of nature and the actions of God. Even today, laments are regularly lifted up when weather events or other calamities come…
Daily Devotions
Matthew 17:5-9… “While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’” vs. 5 It was a great comfort for Jesus to know that God was pleased with him and that he was loved unconditionally. And as he regularly took time for prayer each morning, he likely remembered his Jordan baptismal experience, and soaked in just a…
Daily Devotions
Matthew 17:1-4… “And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became bright as light.Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.” vss. 2-3 The story of the transfiguration of Jesus sneaks up on us in the gospel of Matthew. Not only is there no hint that it is coming, no mention is made of it once it occurs. It’s almost as though Matthew has misplaced one of the resurrection…
Daily Devotions
2 Peter 1:19-21… “First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” vss. 20-21 There continue to be men and women in our world who believe that they can figure out everything they need to know by their own understanding and effort. They are particularly convinced of that in areas…
Daily Devotions
2 Peter 1:16-21… “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.” vs. 16 As Peter reflected on his life as a disciple, he wanted people to know that he “hadn’t just made this stuff up,” when he’d shared the good news of the Lord Jesus. He’d actually been there on the mountain and seen the transfiguration, the…
Daily Devotions
2 Peter 1:16-21… “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.” vs. 16 As Peter reflected on his life as a disciple, he wanted people to know that he “hadn’t just made this stuff up,” when he’d shared the good news of the Lord Jesus. He’d actually been there on the mountain and seen the transfiguration, the…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 2:7-11… “I will tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to me, ‘You are my son; today I have begotten you.’” vs. 7 This psalm was likely used when a new king ascended the throne in Jerusalem and these words were an indication that from this day forward the king was to be regarded as the Son of God. Just like on the inauguration day of a president the gathered crowd would have cheered and offered thanks…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 2:1-6… The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and his anointed, saying, ‘Let us burst their bonds asunder, and cast their cords from us.’” vss. 2-3 The rulers of every age bristle at the notion that there are any controls for their behavior. And ordinary people, like the psalmist, are filled with wonder. How could anyone be so foolish as to believe that there are no consequences for their unwillingness…
Daily Devotions
Exodus 24:12-18… “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.’” vs. 12 For the Israelites Moses was the man! According to their tradition, he had not only led them out of the bondage of Egypt, but God had chosen him to give them the law and the commandments at Mt. Sinai.…
Daily Devotions
Matthew 5:17-20… “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” vs. 20 Even though Jesus was not a new Moses, Matthew wanted his readers to know that Jesus did care about righteousness. In fact, the words from Jesus that Matthew recounted demonstrate beyond any doubt that Jesus wanted his disciples to live lives that were beyond reproach. They wouldn’t just be exemplary keepers of the law…
Daily Devotions
Matthew 5:13-16… “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.” vss. 14-15 Jesus had not come to bring a new law. Rather he had come to call disciples and to bless them with grace and truth. They would be the heralds of the kingdom of peace that…