'faith' Tagged Posts (Page 21)
Daily Devotions: June 6, 2020
June 6, 2020 Matthew 28:16-17 … “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.” vss. 16-17 Right at the end of his Gospel, after his long account of Jesus’ teaching and ministry, having reported the resurrection and an angel visitation, Matthew says that some of the eleven had doubts. While he doesn’t mention what the doubts were, he does imply that the…
Daily Devotions: May 11, 2020
May 11, 2020 Acts. 17:22-25 … “For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.” vs.23 The people Paul encountered in Athens were proud, sophisticated, and tolerant of a variety of religious views. They had a long history of debate and philosophical conversation and loved to hear scholarly presentations…
Daily Devotions: March 31, 2020
March 31, 2020 Psalm 31:9-16 … “I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.” vs 11 The Psalmist didn’t know it but his words are a pretty good description of what it’s like to be infected with the Coronavirus. Thankfully that hasn’t happened for many of us but it’s certainly something that we fear. We carefully practice social…
Daily Devotions: January 14, 2020
January 14, 2020 For full passage click: Psalm 40:1-5 … “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.” vs. 3 Sometimes we underestimate the impact of our testimony in the lives of others. We imagine that our influence is minimal and that people are unaffected by what we say about faith and our relationship to God. Actually, nothing could be further…
Daily Devotions: January 10, 2020
January 10, 2020 For full passage click: Acts 10:39-43 … “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” vs. 43 The book of Acts gives us a sense of the early Christian message through sermonic vignettes from Peter and Paul. In this one from Peter, we learn that the chief gift available to believers was the forgiveness of sins through the name of Jesus. Most of us have no…
Daily Devotions: December 14, 2019
December 14, 2019 For full passage click: Matthew 11:2-6 … “When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’” vss. 2-3 “Are you the one who is to come?” John wanted to know. He’d heard what Jesus had been doing, and while it didn’t quite accord with what he thought the Messiah would do,…
Daily Devotions: December 6, 2019
December 6, 2019 For full passage click: Romans 15:7-13 … “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” vs. 13 Paul’s life had changed in amazing ways and we can imagine that at times he found it hard to believe that he, a devout Jew, would be writing a powerful Epistle of inclusion to Gentiles. At one point, he had…
Daily Devotions: November 17, 2019
November 17, 2019 For full passage click: Luke 21:10-19 … “This will give you an opportunity to testify.” vs. 13 When early Christians were arrested and hauled before courts and judges, they rejoiced at the opportunity they had been given to testify concerning the living presence of Christ Jesus in their lives. That’s generally how it has always worked for people of faith. No matter what disaster or trial may come our way in the course of our journeys, it…
Daily Devotions: November 1, 2019
November 1, 2019 For full passage click: Ephesians 1:15-23 … “I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ…may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you” vss.17-18 When Paul was called to faith by the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus, he had no idea what God was up…
Daily Devotions: October 6, 2019
October 6, 2019 For full passage click: Luke 17:5-10 … “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ The Lord replied, ‘If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you.’” vss. 5-6 Jesus’ response to the apostles’ demand that he increase their faith is enigmatic at best. It seems that he’s telling them that faith is not quantifiable. We…
Daily Devotions: October 3, 2019
October 3, 2019 For full passage click: 2 Timothy 1:1-7 … “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.” vs. 5 Timothy was a leader in the early church, and had a relationship with Paul that went back to the early missionary journeys. According to this letter, Paul knew the family. Evidently it was Lois, Timothy’s grandmother, and his mother,…
Daily Devotions: August 30, 2019
August 30, 2019 For full passage click: Hebrews 13:8,15-16 … “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” vs. 8 The writer of the book of Hebrews knew the history of his people as far back as the Scriptures recorded it. He was familiar with the stories of the matriarchs and patriarchs and believed that the many examples of their faithfulness could both inspire and console. But the most important truth he passed on was his insight regarding…