'Corruption' Tagged Posts
Daily Devotions
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” vss. 1-2 Matthew 3:1-6 John felt it inside first. Something new was in the wind and he knew beyond a doubt that God had broken into the world. He’d been railing against the corruption of the temple for years, and had joined the Essenes in the wilderness as a protest. In solitude he had prayed, and now God…
Daily Devotions
Pilate replied, ‘I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?’” vs. 35 John 18:33-35 There are some differences in the gospel accounts of Jesus’ death and crucifixion, but they are in general agreement that the Romans were the ones responsible. John implies that Pilate had some sympathy for Jesus and wonders why charges had been brought. Since Pilate had a reputation for cruelty and…
Daily Devotions
Ah, you that turn justice to wormwood, and bring righteousness to the ground!” vs. 7 Amos 5:6-7 Amos, a shepherd from Judea, had heard a call from the Lord to go to Israel (the Northern Kingdom) during their golden years. He came first to observe, and he was not impressed. The nation was experiencing unprecedented prosperity and the wealthy were rolling in cash–many were having to use their imaginations to figure out how to spend it all. Building programs were…
Daily Devotions
You must observe them diligently, for this will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!’” vs. 6 Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6 Even in its best years Israel was not a particularly imposing country. It lacked size and resources and wasn’t in a position to rule or conquer. Through most of its history it was subject to the whim of its more…
Daily Devotions
1 Samuel 3:1-10 “Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.” vs. 1 Corruption was rampant in the days of Eli. People were bringing sacrifices to Shiloh where an altar to the Lord had been set up but the priests, even Eli’s sons, were nothing but scoundrels. And in the midst of the chaos the word of the Lord came to a child,…
Daily Devotions: August 6, 2019
August 6, 2019 For full passage click: Isaiah 1:16-20 … “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.” vss. 16-17 Isaiah not only railed against the political and religious leaders in Jerusalem, he told them in no uncertain terms what God required of them. It couldn’t have been hard for them to understand,…
Daily Devotions: April 22, 2019
April 22, 2019 For full passage click: Acts 5:29-32 …“But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than any human authority.’” vs. 29 Peter and the apostles didn’t hesitate when they were challenged by the high priest and told to stop ministering to the sick and teaching in the temple. They had a higher calling, their allegiance was to Jesus and not to any temporal or religious authorities. Through the centuries, the faithful have continued to model…