Daily Devotions by Steve Holm (Page 200)
Daily Devotions: November 13, 2017
Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18 “At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the people who rest complacently on their dregs, those who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good, nor will he do harm.’” A century earlier Amos had a word of warning for Israel…and the country was destroyed. Now Zephaniah warns the people of Jerusalem, his hometown, that the same fate awaits them on the coming day of the Lord. Prosperity has…
Daily Devotions: November 12, 2017
Matthew 25:7-13 “Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’” vss. 11-12 This is a parable that the upright and prepared can give a hearty “Amen” to. They particularly like the part where the wise bridesmaids say to the foolish, “Go buy your own oil!” That sentiment appeals to those who have lived life the right way and who would relish the chance to…
Daily Devotions: November 11, 2017
Matthew 25:1-6 “When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.” vss. 3-4 Matthew remembers a story that Jesus told and uses it to address the problem of Christ’s delayed return. Evidently some in his community were like the five foolish bridesmaids. They were ready to greet the returning bridegroom…but they hadn’t expected to wait…and their lamps burned out…and they have no reserves. That can easily happen…
Daily Devotions: November 10, 2017
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 “For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” vs. 16 There are references throughout the New Testament to an imminent return of Christ. It seems to have been a universal expectation for Christians. Believers were confident that the work that was begun in the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus would be brought…
Daily Devotions: November 9, 2017
1 Thessalonians 4: 13-15 “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” vs. 13 Early in his missionary journeys, Paul believed in the immanent return of the Lord Jesus. But, as time passed, he began to hear that some believers had concerns. They were wondering about loved ones who had recently died. Would they miss out on the…
Daily Devotions: November 8, 2017
Psalm 70 “But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!” vs. 5 There’s nothing like tough times to kindle a spark of faith in us. During the good years…when the stock market is up, our health is good, and family is doing well…we can go for long periods without even thinking about God. Months pass without a serious prayer…we can go for decades without darkening…
Daily Devotions: November 7, 2017
Amos 5:22-24 “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream.” vs. 24 These words, directed by the prophet Amos to the leaders of Israel, have a contemporary ring to them and remind us of the inspired oratory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Like Amos, King saw clearly the inequities of society and made an eloquent plea for an end to injustice in segregated America. Prophets like Amos and Dr. King generally are not well…
Daily Devotions: November 6, 2017
Amos 5:18-21 “(The Day of the Lord) is darkness, not light; as if someone fled from a lion, and was met by a bear; or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall, and was bitten by a snake.” vss. 18b-19 The people of Israel were supremely arrogant as they enjoyed their unprecedented economic prosperity. They knew that they were God’s people and that God had even greater things in mind for them. One day the Lord…
Daily Devotions: November 5, 2017
Matthew 5:7-12 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” vs. 11 Jesus told his disciples to expect persecution if they were bold enough to take up his cross and walk in his way. And that’s exactly what happened! In the early years, many disciples were derided and ridiculed…and many suffered and died for being believers. Even today, in parts of the world, to be a…
Daily Devotions: November 4, 2017
Matthew 5:1-6 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” vs. 5 In the context of today’s political climate and the general trend of culture this word of Jesus to his disciples seems more of a joke than anything else. A glance at the dictionary tells us that the meek are submissive and unassuming, willing to put up with injury, and unwilling to speak up or offer any kind of resistance. In our world the meek aren’t even…
Daily Devotions: November 3, 2017
1 John 3:1-3 “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are.” vs. 1a Folks in the early Christian communities lived precariously as they waited for the promised revealing of the Lord Jesus. There were a multitude of forces arrayed against them, ranging from the erratic cruel Roman despots to the insidious false prophets who tried to undermine the gospel of grace. Believers found solace in faith,…
Daily Devotions: November 2, 2017
Psalm 34:5-10, 22 “This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord, and was saved from every trouble.” vs. 6 The little bit of personal testimony in today’s verse provides an intriguing backdrop for this psalm of thanksgiving. It reminds us that our scriptures emerged from an historical context that was not much different from our own. Like many of us, the psalmist had experienced suffering. It could have been any number of things: health, relationships, persecution…we really don’t…