'faith' Tagged Posts (Page 4)

'faith' Tagged Posts (Page 4)

Daily Devotions

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” vss. 6-7 Colossians 2:6-12 The saints in the little congregation at Colossae had heard the gospel and had begun to trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord. There was nothing more for them to hear or learn, all that the Apostle asked was that they…

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;” vss. 1-2 Psalm 15 This psalmist believed that the Lord had strict standards for all who were a part of the Jewish faith community. This strictness has long been a principal teaching for followers of Christ as well. Some know what it’s like to have every word and deed…

Daily Devotions

Then one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son. And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him.” vs. 10 Genesis 18:8-10a Once Abraham and Sarah take over the pages of Genesis her barrenness quickly becomes an issue. How could all the promises made to Abraham be fulfilled if the two of them have no son? The text implies that the problem is Sarah’s. Abraham seems to have…

Daily Devotions

In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” vs. 17 Acts 2:14-21 Luke decided that the best way to describe the explosion of Holy Spirit power that had occurred in Jerusalem after Jesus’ resurrection was to go back to the Hebrew scriptures and the words of the…

Daily Devotions

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.” vss. 1-2 Acts 2:1-13 It’s not surprising that John and Luke would describe the coming of the Holy Spirit in different ways. If accounts of such a mysterious and wondrous event written down decades apart were identical, we’d likely be suspicious.…

Daily Devotions

I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” vs. 26 John 16:24-26 From the time of his baptism Jesus was convinced that God loved him, and he described that love in very personal terms. It was like the love of a father for an only son, and he spent the rest of his life exploring the extent…

Daily Devotions

I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one.” vs. 20-21a John 17:20-23 Unity was one of the biggest challenges for the early Christian community, and John addresses that issue as he recounts what is known as Jesus’ “high priestly prayer” for his disciples. These words reflect Jesus’ deepest desires for all who would one day believe in him. Simply put,…

Daily Devotions

The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let everyone who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.” vs. 17 Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 The book of Revelation ends with a warning and an invitation. Typically, the warning, found in verse 18 of chapter 22, is not included when this lesson is read in our congregations. It’s a kind of boiler plate warning that most…

Daily Devotions

Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!” vss. 11-12 Psalm 97:8-12 Jesus wasn’t comfortable with people being labelled as being either “sinners” or “righteous.” In fact, when people insisted on using those terms, he showed by his actions that he preferred the company of sinners, which is one of the reasons people of faith really love Jesus. But even if we…