'faith' Tagged Posts (Page 9)
Daily Devotions
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” vss. 1-2 Romans 8:1-6 Even though it drove Paul crazy to keep on doing the things that he didn’t want to do, and he couldn’t stop doing them no matter how hard he tried, he did not despair. He knew that God would not…
Daily Devotions
Happy are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your countenance…” vs. 15 Psalm 89:15-18 There’s something to be said for familiarity in worship. While it is true that the old hymns can seem boring and often lack the spirited tempo of contemporary music, simply dropping traditional liturgies in favor of those that change from week to week doesn’t always make our hearts sing. The psalmist knew from experience the joy that…
Daily Devotions
And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…” vss. 3-4 Romans 5:1-5 Paul was indomitable! While he obviously enjoyed the peace of heart and mind that were a by-product of faith in Christ Jesus, he also rejoiced in his sufferings. It wasn’t that he was a masochist, but he had come to know that suffering is a part of life, and that it can’t…
Daily Devotions
For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” vs. 5 Psalm 100:4-5 In the midst of the current tumult regarding war, nuclear weapons, climate disaster, and the resurgence of hate speech, we can find amazing consolation in the words of this 2500 year-old psalm. The psalmist, inspired by the Spirit, knew the core of what humans need to flourish. First is a firm conviction that God is good and so is the…
Daily Devotions
While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, ‘My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.’” vs. 18 Matthew 9:18-26 When his daughter died, the leader of the synagogue, presumably a Pharisee, wasn’t the least bit concerned about Jesus’ association with sinners. Instead this righteous man humbled himself, knelt down at Jesus’ feet, and pleaded with him to…
Daily Devotions
No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” vss. 20-21 Romans 4:18-25 We all know believers whose faith seems to grow stronger as they age, not because they have had prayers answered or seen miracles, but simply because they have continued to trust in the promises of God. And where do such…
Daily Devotions
For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham…” vs. 16 Romans 4:13-17 As Paul searches the scriptures in his attempt to communicate the wonder of the gospel to the Romans, he decides to use Abraham and not Moses as the model for the new life in Christ.…
Daily Devotions
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.” vs. 13 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 It would be another 300 years or so before church leaders would get together to formalize a primitive notion of the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. And some would argue that we’d be better off if those ecumenical creeds had not been formulated. After all, in their attempt to compose one statement…
Daily Devotions
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” vs. 12 1 Peter 4:12-14 From the beginning, people have tended to believe that if they began to walk in the Way of Jesus, life would be immeasurably better for them. That’s not a surprising assumption, because often that’s what they’ve been told. But Peter was not that kind of teacher. Instead of promising…
Daily Devotions
Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.” vs. 5 Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 Redemption is one of those words that is used regularly by Christians and often connected with Jesus’ death on the cross. It describes the process by which we are made right with God through grace. It’s interesting that the psalmist, long before Jesus, also knew about redemption and claimed it as his own, a gracious gift from his faithful…
Daily Devotions
Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” vs. 24 Luke 24:13-24 It’s really hard for any of us to believe in things that we have not experienced. And if we are going to believe in them, we will need to have supporting evidence. According to Luke, that’s what disciples of Jesus were looking for when they were told by some women…
Daily Devotions
You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.” vs. 23 1 Peter 1:21-23 Early believers thought of themselves as having been born anew by the implanting of the living Word of God in their hearts through faith. They had then been gathered by the Holy Spirit into small communities where they were bound together in mutual love, where, in this writer’s words, they were “to love one another…