Daily Devotions by Steve Holm (Page 171)
Daily Devotions: October 26, 2018
October 26, 2018 Romans 3:26-28 …“Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith.” vs. 27 Because of his conviction that salvation came through faith and not by works of the law, Paul insisted that there was no room for boasting. And he’s right! When everything is based on grace we have nothing to brag about. As he had earlier written to the Galatians, “May I never…
Daily Devotions: October 25, 2018
October 25, 2018 Romans 3:19-25 …“But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” vss. 21-22a For most of us, these words from Paul are familiar. This is the core of the gospel: we’ve heard the message in a variety of ways for our entire lives and we know it well. For that reason, it’s…
Daily Devotions: October 24, 2018
October 24, 2018 Psalm 46:6-11 …“He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.” vs. 9 Often we think of the God of the Hebrews as being a warmonger, one who brings devastation and ruin through force of arms. At the very least, their God is portrayed as urging the people to do battle against their enemies and to wipe them out completely. But that’s…
Daily Devotions: October 23, 2018
October 23, 2018 Psalm 46:1-5 …“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” vs. 1 Martin Luther loved Psalm 46 and used it as the inspiration for his famous hymn, A Mighty Fortress is Our God. For him, the psalm was a source of comfort in a time of conflict and challenge. And doubtless that’s what it was for its writer too. Jerusalem was a tough place to live, constantly beset by enemies, and full of…
Daily Devotions: October 22, 2018
October 22, 2018 Jeremiah 31:31-34 …“No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.” vs. 34 This is the dream! Jeremiah expressed it well. He was an eye-witness to the fall of Jerusalem and became a refugee in the land of Egypt. In his heart…
Daily Devotions: October 21, 2018
October 21, 2018 Mark 10:41-45 …“But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.” vss. 43-44 When the other disciples found out about the request of James and John for positions of power in the coming kingdom, things did not go well and Jesus had to call a team meeting. His desires could not have been more…
Daily Devotions: October 20, 2018
October 20, 2018 Mark 10:35-40 …“James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’” vs. 35 When James and John decided to follow Jesus, leaving their father sitting in the boat, they weren’t nearly so altruistic as we sometimes think. Judging by this text, they had given up the family business for the sake of personal gain–they were hoping to get…
Daily Devotions: October 19, 2018
October 19, 2018 Hebrews 5:1-10 …“Every high priest…is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness;” vss. 1a-2 High priests were mediators between the people and God. They had responsibility for making sure offerings and sacrifices were made in an orderly way that was pleasing to God. The writer of this letter had observed that the best of the priests dealt gently with the ignorant and the wayward because they themselves were…
Daily Devotions: October 18, 2018
October 18, 2018 Psalm 91:13-16 …“When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.” vs. 15 The psalmist is convinced that those who love the Lord will be rewarded in a big way. Their prayers will be answered and they will be rescued and honored in the time of trouble. This isn’t a matter of believing in God, that’s not what the writer is talking about…
Daily Devotions: October 17, 2018
October 17, 2018 Psalm 91:9-12 …“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” vs. 11 Ever since ancient times, people of many cultures and belief systems have testified to the existence of angels who have been assigned by God to particular people or even countries. Even when not convinced by evidence, many Christians hold that each of us have guardian angels. Some even believe that they are alive today because their angel stepped…
Daily Devotions: October 16, 2018
October 16, 2018 Isaiah 53:10-12 …“Out of his anguish he shall see light; he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge. The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.” vs. 11 The primary salvation stories of the Old and New Testament have suffering at their core. In each of them, the hero faces unparalleled pain and anguish. And in each of them there is ultimate light and forgiveness. That pattern has continued for the…
Daily Devotions: October 15, 2018
October 15, 2018 Isaiah 53:4-9 …“But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.” vs. 5 The prophet was speaking in the context of the greatest disaster that the people of Israel had ever experienced. The temple had been destroyed and large numbers of them were now living in exile. Trying to make sense of what had happened the prophet paints an…