Daily Devotions by Steve Holm (Page 240)

Acts 1:6-14 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” vs. 8 According to the book of Acts, a continuation of Luke’s gospel, during the 40 days after Easter, the disciples had a number of encounters with the risen Jesus before he met with them for a final time on the Mount of Olives just…

John 14:18-21 ”I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.” vs. 18 To be orphaned is to be deprived of the guiding, protecting, and nurturing presence of parents, and when it happens at an early age, the experience can be devastating. Young orphans will feel unwanted, adrift on a treacherous sea, and easy prey for predators. Jesus uses that kind of language as he prepared his disciples for life without him. He promises that he won’t leave…

John 14:15-17 “This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.” vs. 17 Those who are called into the community of Christ enter a whole new environment, one that is dominated by love, addicted to the teachings of Jesus, and empowered by the presence of the Holy Spirit. This community will come together for worship and…

1 Peter 3:18-22 “And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” vs. 21 As early Christians pored over the Hebrew scriptures they found many passages which helped them understand the new thing that was happening in Christ Jesus. The flood mentioned in Genesis was reinterpreted and even found its way into the baptismal liturgy. The connection…

1 Peter 3:13-17 “But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated,” vs. 14 Early Christians were not naive about what might happen to them if they were called by the Holy Spirit to be a part of the Church. Even though their aim was to do what was right, their actions could easily spark resentment, jealousy, and persecution. Here the Apostle tells them…

Psalm 66:13-20 “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for me.” vs. 16 This psalmist was convinced that his prayers had been answered and that God had delivered him from a multitude of difficulties. Things had gotten so bad that he’d even made some vows…and he wants the whole community to know that he keeps his promises. So he’s brought his offerings and made the appropriate sacrifices, and he doesn’t stop…

Psalm 66:8-12 “For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried.” vs. 10 As the Israelites reviewed the stories of their ancestors they had a particular fondness for recounting the tough times…and there were plenty of such tales to tell. As a people they had gone through so much. Often their very survival had been threatened. What’s interesting is that, while they see the guiding hand of God in their history, they don’t blame…

Acts 17:22-31 “The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands,” vs. 24 Paul realized that he needed to change his strategy in dealing with the Athenians. Instead of quoting from Hebrew scriptures he begins with more of a philosophical approach, hoping that he can get them into a conversation about the nature of God. His point is clear: God is more…

John 14:8-14 “Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’” vs. 8 It’s ironic that the assigned lectionary verses for Mother’s Day are all about our desires for an intimate connection with the Father. Many sanctuaries will be filled this week. Mother’s Day ranks right after Easter and Christmas when it comes to church attendance…and way ahead of Pentecost. It has become customary, at least in the United States, for people to make worshipping…

John 14:1-7 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.” vs. 1 Over and over again we have savored these words when death has come to a loved one. The pain and the sadness may be overwhelming. We mourn the loss of a dear companion and our hearts ache at the prospect of life without them. And then come these words, and Jesus tells us as he told his disciples the night before he…

1 Peter 2:7-10 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” vs. 9 As Martin Luther, armed with his fresh understanding of grace and faith, continued to search the scriptures, he began to describe the Church as the “priesthood of all believers.” That insight eroded the influence and authority of what had…

1 Peter 2:2-6 “Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house,” vss. 4-5a When people sign up for a trip to the Holy Land, they are likely anticipating a brief tour of ancient archeological sites and looking forward to “walking in the footsteps of Jesus.” And indeed that’s a part of the experience. Tour groups do see a lot…