Blog (Page 202)

Blog (Page 202)

Daily Devotions: September 7, 2017

Romans 13:8-10 “Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” vs. 8 Paul echoes the words of Jesus as he recommends that the Roman community fulfill the law by loving one another. It’s obvious from the context, that he is speaking of the way members of the church should treat each other within the largely pagan culture, and some have questioned whether that same injunction can be applied to…

Daily Devotions: September 6, 2017

Psalm 119:33-40 “Turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selfish gain. Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; give me life in your ways.” vss. 36-37 There is a way to live that is pleasing to God and that gives life to the community of faith. The contour of that way is no mystery and has been made plain to believers for thousands of years. It was summarized in the Ten Commandments and clarified in the teachings of…

Daily Devotions: September 5, 2017

Ezekiel 33:10-11 “Say to them, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?” vs. 11 Ezekiel had a word from the Lord for the house of Israel, a declaration of tough love that would require turning away from their evil ways. Modern self-styled prophets…

Daily Devotions: September 4, 2017

Ezekiel 33:7-9 “So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.” vs. 7 Ezekiel, prophet to the exiles in Babylon, believed that he had been made a sentinel for the house of Israel, and understood rightly that his calling was crucial. It would be his responsibility to issue a warning from the Lord if the people engaged in wicked behavior. If…

Daily Devotions: September 3, 2017

Matthew 16:24-28 “For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.” vs. 27 Those who love the regular assurances of God’s steadfast love and faithfulness in scripture can become a bit uncomfortable with verses indicating that one day there will be payback for all that we have done. The problem is that the verses are there…if we just ignore them we’re…

Daily Devotions: September 2, 2017

Matthew 16:21-23 “But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’” vs. 23 From a human perspective Peter was right. The scenario laid out for the disciples by Jesus was preposterous. Oh, they knew that these awful things could certainly happen; they were aware of the fate suffered by prophets who had run up against the religious…

Daily Devotions: September 1, 2017

Romans 12:16-21 “Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” vss. 16, 18 Paul continues his description of life in the Body of Christ with a plea to the Romans to live in harmony with one another. “If it is possible,” he says, “so far as it depends on…

Daily Devotions: August 31, 2017

Romans 12:9-15 “Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.” vss. 11-12 Having shared some difficult theological insights with the Romans, Paul moves on to a series of imperatives that he believes will guide that community’s life together. Those recommendations seem routine to us…there’s nothing out of the ordinary about any of them…but taken together they are a good description of a vibrant congregation. Imagine a…

Daily Devotions: August 30, 2017

Psalm 26:1-8 “Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.” vs. 1 The psalmist has lived an exemplary life, full of integrity and faithfulness, and now he would like some recognition. There’s no reason to doubt his words. Even though there’s a lot of talk about sinners and sin in the world, there are also many people who live with integrity and decency. Some of us are blessed…

Daily Devotions: August 29, 2017

Jeremiah 15:18-21 “Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail.” vs. 18 Jeremiah had been thrilled to be chosen as a mouthpiece for the Lord but his joy and delight quickly faded. People paid no attention to his words and it becomes apparent that the Lord’s judgment will fall on him as well as his country. In pain he cries out, accusing the…

Daily Devotions: August 28, 2017

Jeremiah 15:15-17 “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” vs. 16 Not only did Jeremiah have a special name (in Hebrew Jeremiah means “Yahweh exults”), but he had a special calling: he ate the words of the Lord and proclaimed them to the people. Strangely, given the content of his message and the…

Daily Devotions: August 27, 2017

Matthew 16:17-20 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” vs. 19 Jesus’ promise to give the keys of the kingdom of heaven to Peter has had enormous consequence in the history of the Church. Since popes have considered themselves to be the successors of Peter, many believe that they have inherited the keys, and…