'cross' Tagged Posts (Page 2)

'cross' Tagged Posts (Page 2)

Daily Devotions: April 7, 2018

April 7, 2018 John 20:19-23…”Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” vss. 21-22 In John’s gospel, the commissioning of the disciples happens just prior to the giving of the Holy Spirit. It’s a vivid reminder that those who follow Jesus have a mission that is identical to his. We too, have…

Daily Devotions: April 6, 2018

April 6, 2018 1 John 1:8-2:2…“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 These verses from First John are a perfect synopsis of what faithful followers of Jesus believe about sin and forgiveness. It really isn’t complicated! No matter what we might believe about healthy egos…

Daily Devotions: April 5, 2018

April 5, 2018 1 John 1:5-7…“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 Often we use the word “God” with little thought to its meaning. For some, it’s simply an expletive or an interjection, an expression of surprise or astonishment. Others attach anthropomorphic images and imagine an exalted human-like being who lives in heaven or someplace “up there.” Their God…

Daily Devotions: April 4, 2018

April 4, 2018 1 John 1:1-4…“We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” vs. 4 Those familiar with the different social media platforms know all about sharing. Anytime we see a photo or an article that we like, we can hit “share” and immediately all our friends and contacts will see what we’ve seen–and sometimes they’ll even “like” what we have sent. The writer of First John didn’t have the capacity to pass on ideas via…

Daily Devotions: April 3, 2018

April 3, 2018 Psalm 133…“How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!” vs. 1 Our rugged individualism can be a big problem when it comes to our relationship with God. Often it leads us to emphasize our personal connection to Jesus, as though that were the only thing that mattered. Obviously, there is a personal element to faith that cannot be denied, but scripture consistently stresses the importance of life in community. The psalmist, writing…

Daily Devotions: April 2, 2018

April 2, 2018 Acts 4:32-35…“There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold.” vs. 34 For many American Christians, capitalism and individualism have become central tenets of faith. Among some, there is even a general suspicion of welfare and governmental programs to help the poor and needy. According to them, people have to learn how to take care of themselves without outside assistance.…

Daily Devotions: April 1, 2018

April 1, 2018 Mark 16:1-8…“So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.” vs. 8 The three women, two Mary’s and Salome, were completely flummoxed by their Sunday morning encounter with the young man at the tomb. Since Saturday had been the Sabbath, this was their first opportunity to do one final act of love for Jesus. They’d awakened before dawn, purchased spices,…

Daily Devotions: March 31, 2018

March 31, 2018 Isaiah 12:2-6…“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.” vs. 2 For some, the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter is undefined and we’re not quite sure what to do with it. In our culture, because Easter is usually given holiday status, it can be a day to deal with families, spring break, play-off games, and any…

Daily Devotions: March 30, 2018

March 30, 2018 Isaiah 52:13-53:12…“But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.” vs. 5 The message of Good Friday can be overwhelming and it’s hard to know what to make of the central story of our faith. Each of the gospels tells the story in slightly different fashion, and much has been made of those differences, but there is no denying…
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