'Brokenness' Tagged Posts
Daily Devotions
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!” vs. 7 Psalm 25:6-10 Even as the psalmist affirmed his trust that God was full of mercy and had been that way from the beginning, he knows that his behaviors have not always been proper or prudent. Perhaps he even fears that the record of his deeds and words is disqualifying. At any rate he launches…
Daily Devotions
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” vs. 17 Revelation 7:13-17 While we would love for everyone to enjoy the blessings of this life in all their fullness, there are many who seem to reap a full measure of brokenness in the course of a lifetime. They never catch a break, no…
Daily Devotions
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.” vs. 18 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 It gave Paul great joy to announce the good news of the new life in Christ to the Corinthians, and he delights to write about the salvation that is ours by grace. But he then moves quickly to remind his readers that this great gift of grace is also an invitation and a call to…
Daily Devotions
Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life.” vs. 4 Isaiah 43:4-7 Even though the people of Israel had regularly engaged in idolatry and their kings had been inept, in their captivity the prophet brought them words of encouragement and hope. In their brokenness he tells them they are precious in the sight of the Lord and that they are loved. That…
Daily Devotions
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love.” vss. 3-4 Ephesians 1:3-10 Early Christians continued to use the language of election to describe their relationship to God, but now, instead of linking it to Abraham, as the Jews had done, they…
Daily Devotions
Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.” vs. 3 Psalm 80:1-3 Ever since the beginning humans have been deeply aware of the brokenness that is a part of life in this incredibly good world. We can easily grasp the magnificence of the creation with our senses. We see how everything fits together and how each little thing has its place. The beauty of sunrises and sunsets continues to amaze, and the scents of blossoming…
Daily Devotions
For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle.” vs. 2 James 3:1-6 In a moment of candid reflection our old friend James hints that perhaps even he makes mistakes in the course of living a Christ-centered life. His problem, as with so many of us, seems to have been his mouth, but his own struggle with his tongue doesn’t keep him…
Daily Devotions
And what other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this entire law that I am setting before you today?” vs. 8 Deuteronomy 4:6-9 Even though the world is good, brokenness has also been a part of the human experience from the beginning. One of the first great spiritual insights of our faith ancestors was that a system of laws and commandments would make it possible for them and their children to bring healing to their broken world.…
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 There is a lot to be troubled about in our good but broken world. Even if we don’t believe in climate change, global warming cannot be denied, and we’re feeling its effects in a myriad of ways. The war in Gaza continues with little prospect of even a ceasefire agreement to…
Daily Devotions
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” vs. 16 John 3:13-17 Most people have at least a passing familiarity with this most famous verse from John’s gospel. Even those who don’t know the words can recall having seen the chapter and verse. With that kind of notoriety, it’s unlikely that we’re going to discover anything new in its words. This…
Daily Devotions
Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.” vss. 11-12 Psalm 51:6-11 For a couple of generations these verses were regularly sung as a part of liturgical worship in many congregations. We probably didn’t intentionally memorize them, but they became embedded in our brains nonetheless. For many they were a reminder that one of the main…
Daily Devotions
Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” vs. 8 Isaiah 64:1-9 The prophet was no fool. He knew that the people of Israel had not been living up to divine standards. In fact, no one was even praying anymore and even good deeds were no more than filthy rags. So he recognizes that the Lord has a right to indignation, and may be…
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