Daily Devotions by Steve Holm
Daily Devotions
Matthew 18:15-17..“If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one.” vs. 15 Matthew is likely thinking of his own community of believers as he recalls these words of Jesus about reconciliation. Because life is communal it’s been natural for humans to find their identity as families, clans, tribes, and nations. So when the Spirit called the…
Daily Devotions
Romans 13:11-14..“Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; let us live honourably as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy.” vss. 12b-13 There’s a reason parents worry when their children miss their nightly curfews. Despite what their teens might say, there’s not much good that can happen after midnight! Darkness has a way of loosening moral convictions and increasing mayhem.…
Daily Devotions
Romans 13:8-10..“Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8 There is nothing better in this flawed world than to love one another! That was Paul’s conclusion as he neared the end of his long and sometimes tedious letter to the Romans, and it has been the central teaching of every authentic religious leader ever since. Of course, having affirmed the centrality of love, there remains a lot…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 119:37-40..“Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; give me life in your ways.” vs. 37 The psalmist could not be more clear! He asks the Lord to preserve his eyes from looking at vanities, which we could probably translate as “keep me from wasting my precious time looking at my phone!” It is estimated that the average person spends about five hours a day squinting at those little screens we carry with us through every waking hour and that…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 119:33-37..“Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selfish gain.” vss. 35-36 Like most of us the psalmist had a deep desire to walk in the way of righteousness. He knew that this was the way to true delight, and we can relate. It does feel good to lead good and decent lives and we bask in those beautiful, and sadly rare, moments in which…
Daily Devotions
Ezekiel 33:7-11…“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 had been taken to Babylon with the first group of captives in the early 6th century BCE. There he had been called to be a prophet to all those in exile. It was not a good job! Being a prophet seldom is! He understood himself as being compelled to…
Daily Devotions
Matthew 16:24-28…“For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose theirlife for my sake will find it.” vs. 25 While these challenging words of Jesus have sparked countless debates among his followers, they also touch on the essential teachings of all the major religions. Humans know intuitively that the divine spark is the essence of life and that it resides in the heart of every person. Through the centuries authentic spiritual leaders from many…
Daily Devotions
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 Peter, obviously basking in the recognition given him by Jesus, mistakenly assumes that his new role gave him permission to question the dismal picture of the future painted by Jesus. Like most Jews he strongly believed that the messiah would restore the kingdom of Israel. So…
Daily Devotions
Romans 12:14-21…“No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” vss. 21-22 One of the ways in which countries can gain control of others is through a process that has been called “immiseration,” the act of gaining victory through impoverishing one’s opponents. This can be done in a variety…
Daily Devotions
Romans 12:9-13…“Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.” vss. 12-13 After giving the Roman faithful a healthy dose of doctrine and complex legal arguments Paul moves on to what seems to be the core of his message. He wants them to know what is really important for their community of faith, and it isn’t having proper theology! What counts is the cohesiveness of their little congregation…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 26:1-8…“Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and mind.” vss. 1-2 This psalmist has the utmost confidence in his own righteousness. If there were any entrance requirements for temple worship, he has no doubts about passing the test. He is a man of integrity and has nothing to hide from the Lord. There is no question…
Daily Devotions
Jeremiah 15:19-21..“Therefore, thus says the LORD: If you turn back, I will take you back, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth. It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them.” vs. 19 Jeremiah had had enough. He had answered the call of the Lord and spoken the words that had been put in his mouth, and the…