'faith' Tagged Posts (Page 11)
Daily Devotions
Happy are those whose hope is in the Lord, who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry, and sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind, he lifts up those who are bowed down; The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow.” vss. 5,7, 8a, 9a Psalm 146:5-10 When the psalmist warned his readers not to trust mortal rulers and to put their hope in God, he…
Daily Devotions
So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you toobserve, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you.” vs. 1 Deuteronomy 4:1-2 As the community of our faith ancestors began to emerge from the tangle of tribes occupying the deserts of the Middle East, their leaders began to compile a legal code that would govern their behaviors and ensure their…
Daily Devotions
Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’” vss. 63-69 John 6:63-69 In the end, when we’ve considered all the options and checked out all the alternatives, there are many who come to the same conclusion as Simon Peter. There just isn’t anything out there that can come close to offering anything better than the gospel…
Daily Devotions
Now therefore revere the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.” vs. 14 Psalm 34:9-14 Most people have a curiosity about their ancestors. Some spend years in genealogical research to figure out their family tree. Others send in saliva samples to testing companies like 23andme or Ancestry to find out what an analysis of their DNA can tell them about…
Daily Devotions
Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me.” vs. 57 John 6:54-58 Some of us can remember a time when the celebration of Holy Communion was infrequent in some of our congregations. There was a sense that what really counted was a good sermon, and direction on how believers ought to live in this broken world. And at the same time, in the majority of…
Daily Devotions
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” vss. 1-2 Proverbs 9:1-3 Those who wonder how they shall relate to others in these cantankerous times have an abundance of guidance from scripture. These words from Ephesians capture perfectly the actions and attitudes that will govern our words and behavior. Paul says, “Be imitators of God…and live in love, as Christ…
Daily Devotions
Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.” vs. 29 Ephesians 4:25-29 During the election cycle it’s interesting to see how many politicians clamber to paint themselves with a Christian veneer. They make campaign speeches from the pulpits of churches, talk about their love for the bible, and claim that by their policies they will return…
Daily Devotions
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love…” vss. 1-2 Ephesians 4:1-10 Sometimes, when we break out of the protective cocoons we build for ourselves in the course of our lives, the comfortable neighborhoods and the predictable friends, we discover that there is a whole myriad of ways in which it’s possible…
Daily Devotions
Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven; he rained down on them manna to eat, and gave them the grain of heaven.” vss. 23-24 Psalm 78:23-29 As he reminded his readers of Israel’s history, this psalmist could scarcely restrain himself as he recounted the insolent and treacherous behavior of the multitude that followed Moses through the wilderness. In his estimation their whining and complaining was nothing short of despicable. They deserve destruction, but instead they received…
Daily Devotions
In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’” vs. 6 Jeremiah 23:3-6 It’s unlikely that Jeremiah was thinking of anyone other than a new king as he preached to the Israelites, but he did have a definite idea about what this king should be like. It would be someone from the house of David, a righteous ruler who would…
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
He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’” vs. 34 Psalm 23:1-3 In case you missed it, there is a presidential campaign going on, one of the most divisive in generations, with both major candidates framing the election as a choice between good and evil. Of course that’s not true, and we should know better. Both men have been created in the image of God, both have goodness…