'expectations' Tagged Posts (Page 2)

'expectations' Tagged Posts (Page 2)

Daily Devotions: April 12, 2018

April 12, 2018 1 John 3:1-3…“And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.” vs. 3 John is happy to tell his readers that God loves them and that they are God’s children. He writes, “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are.” What a powerful affirmation! This really is the core of the good news. Just think of it,…

Daily Devotions: April 11, 2018

April 11, 2018 Psalm 4…“When you are disturbed, do not sin; ponder it on your beds, and be silent.” Vs. 4 It’s impossible to live without becoming disturbed about some encounter or experience, and we can never predict what sort of thing might set us off. It could be some major calamity or just some small thing, a conversation or maybe a text that provokes our anxiety receptors. In these moments our minds go wild, blood pressure may increase, and…

Daily Devotions: April 10, 2018

April 10, 2018 Acts 3:15-19…“And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer.” vss. 17-18 Once the disciples had come to believe that the suffering messiah was a part of God’s plan for salvation, it was relatively easy for them to give the leaders of their people the benefit of the doubt. Since those leaders had…

Daily Devotions: April 9, 2018

April 9, 2018 Acts 3:12-14…“When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, ‘You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk?’” vs. 12 Healing was an important part of Jesus’ ministry and it’s not surprising that the disciples, too, became known as healers. They did not hesitate to lay on hands and ask that people be healed of their infirmities. And…

Daily Devotions: April 8, 2018

April 8, 2018 John 20:24-31…“But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.” vs. 31 John bares his soul as he makes plain his intention for writing his gospel. He tells us that every word has been chosen to help us believe that Jesus is the Christ. Notice that he doesn’t use the past tense–to believe that Jesus…

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,…