'faith' Tagged Posts (Page 14)
Daily Devotions
Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven…” vss. 32-33a Luke 12:32-40 About 15-20% of the people who stop breathing and seem to be dying have reported what are known as Near Death Experiences as they recall their memories of what occurred. While reports vary as to what is remembered…
Daily Devotions
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” vs. 1 Hebrews 11:1-3 Whenever a loved one dies and we proclaim with conviction that they rest in peace or are safe in the arms of Jesus, we’re making an important statement of faith. We have no way of proving what we say and rationalists would likely scoff at our words, but we keep on making the claim because it’s the core of our faith.…
Daily Devotions
And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.” vs. 6 Genesis 15:1-6 Abraham’s response to God’s promise of many descendants was picked up by Paul as a proof that salvation comes through faith and not through obedience to the Law. Abraham didn’t have much going for him according to the scriptures. He never did settle down, was unbelievably cruel to the mother of his first son, and a big-time liar while he lived in…
Daily Devotions
So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.” vs. 9 Luke 11:5-11 Jesus, in teaching his disciples about prayer, does all that he can to assure them that God has an “open door” policy when it comes to interactions with those in need. Just as good parents can be counted on to give good things to their children, God will respond with…
Daily Devotions
On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul.” vs. 3 Psalm 138 Sometimes we wonder what good it does to pray. We’re told to offer prayers regularly, for victims of mass shootings, for people threatened by massive forest fires, for the people of Ukraine, for those afflicted with dread disease–the list goes on and on. And so we do, some of us faithfully day after day, but often there are questions, especially when nothing…
Daily Devotions
O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart; who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends, nor take up a reproach against their neighbors…” vss. 1-3 Psalm 15 As people of faith, we have learned from our ancestors that there are certain standards for human behavior that must be upheld at…
Daily Devotions
They said to him, ‘Where is your wife Sarah?’ And he said, ‘There, in the tent.’ Then one said, ‘I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.’” vss. 9-10a Genesis 18:5-10a Sarah wasn’t consulted when Abraham invited the three strangers to have a bite to eat in the shadow of the oak trees. It was all on him, but when he decided to serve some cakes, it was all on her.…
Daily Devotions
See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you.” vs. 19 Luke 10:16-20 Those who have discovered that they share their homes with scorpions are likely glad that they have been given authority from Jesus to tread upon them, preferably while wearing thick soled shoes. But it’s a bit of a mystery why such a verse should have made it into scripture. A few…
Daily Devotions
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.” vs. 6 Psalm 16:1-6 This psalmist has no complaints about his life and is seriously grateful for the serenity that accompanies his days. And it isn’t because he thinks he’s more clever than anyone else or that the Lord loves him more. It’s just the way life has worked out for him–he knows that what he has is a gift. He lives in a good…
Daily Devotions
Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed.” vs. 23 Galatians 3:23-26 Looking back, Paul now sees that his life before Christ, under the law, was like a rigid imprisonment. Strict adherence to the commandments and the ordinances kept him on the straight and narrow, but at a cost. He never experienced the freedom that comes with faith and grace. In this letter to the Galatians, he explores that new life…
Daily Devotions
I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask, to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am,’ to a nation that did not call on my name.” vs. 1 Isaiah 65:1-7 The prophet was amazed at the attitude of the returned people of Israel. They had been set free from captivity, but showed little interest in returning to their Lord. Instead they sought out exotic gods…
Daily Devotions
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.” vs. 11 John 14:8-11 Through the centuries Christians have put a lot of energy into figuring out how Jesus could be human and divine at the same time. Early on scholars, borrowing heavily from Greek philosophy, managed to cobble together some credal statements that have proved amazingly resilient. When some believers disagreed they…