Daily Devotions by Steve Holm (Page 70)
Daily Devotions
Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream.” vss. 7-8a Jeremiah 17:7-10 To emphasize the importance of trusting in the Lord Jeremiah used an amazing metaphor that is as apt for us as it was for his original hearers. He says that those whose trust is in the Lord are like trees planted by water, sending out their roots…
Daily Devotions
Thus says the Lord: Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the Lord.” vs. 5 Jeremiah 17:5-6 As a prophet Jeremiah believed that he had been sent to the people with a word from the Lord, so he often prefaces his comments with the words, “Thus says the Lord!” He wants his hearers to know that he’s not just sharing his opinions about life, but that God is…
Daily Devotions
But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!’…Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’” vss. 8, 10b Luke 5:6-11 As Luke tells the story, when Simon saw the magnificent catch of fish, he recognized that he was in the presence of holiness, and, like Isaiah, felt an immediate and overwhelming sense of unworthiness. Evidently…
Daily Devotions
Simon answered, ‘Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.’” vs. 5 Luke 5:1-5 The gospels present a couple of different scenarios to describe Simon’s introduction to Jesus. Luke was evidently aware of Mark’s brief account but chose to flesh it out with some helpful detail, e.g. we discover that Simon had let Jesus use his boat as a pulpit to address the crowd that had…
Daily Devotions
For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am…” vss. 9-10a 1 Corinthians 15:6-11 Paul still had to pinch himself when he considered his calling to be an apostle–he knew he didn’t deserve it–that he was unfit because of his prior record as a persecutor of Christians. But he had no doubt about his call, and when…
Daily Devotions
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures…” vss. 3-4 1 Corinthians 15:1-6 Paul has had a lot to say to the Corinthians and the nature of their life together. He’s told them the kinds of things that they should be focusing…
Daily Devotions
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” vs. 8 Psalm 138 It’s not unusual for us to wonder about our purpose in this world. We know that time is passing and that the years are speeding by, sometimes, it seems, at an ever-increasing rate. Once we were teenagers and, in our eyes, the possibilities were endless; but then middle age comes and many…
Daily Devotions
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I; send me!’” vs. 8 Isaiah 6:5-8 Initially Isaiah had been terrified to be in the presence of the Lord–the vision was too much for someone so undeserving. He was unclean–like everyone else he knew. But then, purely as a gift of God, he had been cleansed–he had been made clean, and it totally changed his…
Daily Devotions
Seraphs were in attendance above him;…and one called to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.’” vss. 2a-3 Isaiah 6:1-4 Isaiah traces his call to be a prophet to a vision that he had in the year 738 BCE and then describes the vision as having taken place in the temple in Jerusalem. As he recounts the hymn of praise sung by the six-winged attending seraphs he lets…
Daily Devotions
‘There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.’ When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage.” vss. 27-28 Luke 4: 24-30 At first the folks in the synagogue were pleased with what Jesus had to say but their mood changed when they heard the rest of the story. They knew their scriptures and they immediately got the point when Jesus…
Daily Devotions
Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’” vss. 21-22 Luke 4:21-24 Initially Jesus got positive reviews from the folks at the synagogue in his hometown. They knew him as Joseph’s son, and had heard that he had begun to develop a reputation as a healer and teacher.…
Daily Devotions
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.” vs. 12 1 Corinthians 13:7-13 Gifted futurists can make a good living with their projections about the direction of life on earth and in the universe. After all, no one can prove them wrong, and their computer modeling is often compelling. We won’t really know if…