Daily Devotions by Steve Holm (Page 94)
Daily Devotions
So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ He replied, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him.” vss. 30-31 Acts 8:26-31 The Ethiopian, evidently a descendent of Jews who had settled in Ethiopia centuries before, had come up to Jerusalem to worship at one of the festivals. And now, as he was going home, he…
Daily Devotions
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” vs. 16 John 10:16-18 The early church had an expansive view of Christ’s flock. The disciples loved the good shepherd imagery and they realized that Jesus had come for the whole world and not just his early followers. There were never any limits on the size of crowds during…
Daily Devotions
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.” vss. 14-15 John 10:11-15 Shepherds were a familiar sight to the people of Jesus’ day. Someone had to watch the thousands of sheep that wandered the rocky hills around Jerusalem, and everyone knew that some shepherds didn’t give a rip about the sheep. They would lead…
Daily Devotions
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” vss. 8-9 1 John 1:8-2:2 For some these are familiar words. They were once said by pastors as an invitation to confession in nearly every regular worship service. We might not have known them as bible verses, but we…
Daily Devotions
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.” vs. 5 1 John 1:1-7 Some of those who have experienced what are sometimes called “near death experiences” report having had a sense of being drawn to a light, and that it gave them a great feeling of peace. Skeptics, upon hearing those stories, dismiss them quickly, saying that this is just what happens…
Daily Devotions
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.” vs. 4 Psalm 23:4-6 It’s no mystery why Psalm 23 is so frequently read at funerals and memorial services. Death is probably the darkest valley that we can endure. No matter what our religious beliefs might be, or even if they’re non-existent, death packs a powerful punch. Our friends and loved ones leave the land…
Daily Devotions
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” vs. 1 Psalm 23:1-3 It’s doubtful that the psalmist thought of himself as a sheep. But there’s no doubt that he thought of the Lord as his shepherd! He’d had plenty of opportunity to watch shepherds out in the fields with their flocks. Since there were no fences, and sheep can’t care for themselves, each flock needed constant care. The shepherd went out with them from the fold in the morning,…
Daily Devotions
let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.” vs. 10 Acts 4:5-12 The early disciples were unabashed name-droppers! Whenever they were in a tough spot or needed a spiritual power boost they dropped the name of Jesus and were amazed at the results. People of faith…
Daily Devotions
Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day…’” vss. 45-46 Luke 24:44-48 When Matthew and Luke wrote their gospels they weren’t just interested in compiling a narrative of Jesus’ life from beginning to end. They also wanted their readers to know that what had happened in Jesus was a fulfillment of the scriptures. His…
Daily Devotions
They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?’” vss. 37-38 Luke 24:36b-43 According to the stories that Luke had investigated, the disciples were not expecting Jesus to rise from the dead. At first they dismissed the women’s report of an empty tomb as an idle tale, but Peter’s verification of the story got them thinking. And when Jesus showed…
Daily Devotions
You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him.” vss. 5-6 1 John 3:4-7 Just a few paragraphs earlier John had told his readers that anyone who said they did not sin was a liar, and we would heartily agree. That certainly fits our experience! But he doesn’t mean to imply that we should…
Daily Devotions
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” vs. 1 1 John 3:1-3 Love is the most powerful force in the universe! It’s been there from the beginning and defines the very nature of God. Love has been breathed into our lives from the moment of birth and sustains us until…