Daily Devotions by Steve Holm (Page 61)
Daily Devotions
The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let everyone who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.” vs. 17 Revelation 22:16-17, 20-21 As the book of Revelation draws to a close, we see that the author’s final word is invitational. Not only do believers invite the Lord Jesus to come into their lives, there is a heartfelt invitation for the thirsty to come and…
Daily Devotions
See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” vss. 12-13 Revelation 22:12-14 From the beginning, Christian believers realized that there was a huge discrepancy between the peaceable kingdom promised by Jesus and the actual realities of life. And while they could in their faith communities experience the joy that came with loving and serving, they…
Daily Devotions
The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.” vss. 1-2 Psalm 97:1-2 A long time ago, as our faith ancestors began to articulate their image of God they were adamant in claiming that the Lord was greater than all the gods of the nations. They believed that it was foolish for people to worship idols made of…
Daily Devotions
At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay.” vs. 33 Acts 16:25-34 There are some who wish that the Church could return to its first century roots as described by Luke in the Acts of the Apostles. They would love to see men and women following the guidance of the Holy Spirit as they establish congregations and proclaim the good news of Jesus. And…
Daily Devotions
She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And it came out that very hour.” vs. 18 Acts 16:16-24 In the Roman world, slavery was a way of life. Paul likely encountered the practice everywhere he went–in fact, as he preached and his words were taken to heart, slaves listened too and some became a part…
Daily Devotions
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” vs. 27 John 14:25-27 World peace has proven to be elusive. There’s a dismal rhythm in human history–devastating wars are fought, peace conferences are held, participants are hopeful, some years pass… and then we’re ready to fight again! Tens of millions of casualties in one…
Daily Devotions
Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.’” vs. 23 John 14:23-24 It’s obvious from the gospel of John that loving Jesus is synonymous with loving others in the same way that he poured out his sacrificial love on us. Most of us have discovered, however, that his commandment is easier said than done. We tend to have the…
Daily Devotions
On either side of the river [of life] is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” vs. 2 Revelation 22:1-5 As he describes the river of life that flows through the holy city of his vision, John puts his finger on a truth that many will find compelling. Along its banks grows the tree of life, which not only…
Daily Devotions
But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” vs. 27 Revelation 21:10, 21-27 As the book of Revelation draws to a close, its writer describes the holy city of Jerusalem as the center of God’s new creation. The vision brings to mind the great castles of Fantasyland, a place where there is no night, death will be no more, and everything is suffused…
Daily Devotions
Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command! … Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds! … Young men and women alike, old and young together!” vss. 7-8, 10, 12 Psalm 148 The psalmist understood that all things have their origin in the Great Mystery, Almighty God, the Creator of the Universe, and that humans are a part of the web of…
Daily Devotions
When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.’ And she prevailed upon us.” vs. 13 Acts 16:11-13 When Paul and his companions arrived in Philippi after crossing the Aegean Sea, there wasn’t an established synagogue but there were some Greek women who were God-fearers; i.e., they had been attracted to Jewish teachings but had not become converts. Paul found them…
Daily Devotions
During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’” vs. 9 Acts 16:9-12 When Paul began his missionary journeys he didn’t have an outreach plan or an executive assistant. Guided by the Holy Spirit he flew by the seat of his pants, moving from one city to the next, totally dependent on the hospitality of strangers. Most often he would seek out the synagogues…