'Holy Spirit' Tagged Posts (Page 10)
Daily Devotions
and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Marytreasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.” vss. 18-19 Luke 2:8-20 As Luke tells the story, when the shepherds arrived at the manger and shared their tale of shining glory and herald angels they caused quite a stir. Evidently the birth had attracted notice—which makes sense—there’s going to be some hustle and bustle when a child is born. Passersby hearing Mary’s laboring cries…
Daily Devotions
Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.” vs. 38 Luke 1:34-38 Mary has come to be revered for many different reasons all around the world. For the Easter Orthodox she is the Theotokos or Mother of God. For some Roman Catholics she is Co-Redemptrix, the redeemer together with Christ of all peoples. For the indigenous people of South America, she is…
Daily Devotions
The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.’” vss. 30-31 Luke 1:26-33 So how was it that Mary had found favor with God? She was likely quite young, maybe even a teenager, but no one knows much about her. Our scriptures say nothing–only that she had found favor with God. Of course that…
Daily Devotions
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” vss. 48b-49 Luke 1:46b-50 It didn’t take long for Mary to receive an exalted position among believers in the early church. By the time Luke wrote his gospel, about 50 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection, there was already an anticipation that she was going to be remembered as a rock star of the Jesus…
Daily Devotions
May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” vs. 23 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 This is a tough time of year for us to be worrying about being pure and blameless in the eyes of God. Temptations abound, and we are faced with an endless stretch of eating, drinking, and buying that is unparalleled at other times of the…
Daily Devotions
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” vss. 16-18 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 At first glance it appears that Paul is giving the Thessalonians a new set of impossible rules for their new life in Christ, that it would be their duty to rejoice, pray, and give thanks continually. That would be a grim set of directives indeed, a whole new series of things to feel…
Daily Devotions
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” vs. 10 Isaiah 61:8-11 The prophet’s testimony is exactly what we need to hear as we move through this second week of Advent Toward Pink Candle Sunday. He used…
Daily Devotions
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners…” vs. 1 Isaiah 61:1-4 After Jesus was baptized by John, and when he had come out of the river, the spirit of the Lord God came upon him, and he realized that in his baptism with water he…
Daily Devotions
I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” vs. 8. Mark 1:5-8 Our scriptures indicate that there is a difference between water baptism and spirit baptism. The one is connected with John the Baptist and the other with Jesus. Jesus himself received both, being baptized in the Jordan River by John, and then anointed with the Holy Spirit when he came up out of the river. The early church adopted baptism with water…
Daily Devotions
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” vs. 4 Mark 1:1-4 When Mark wrote his gospel, very likely the first of the four we have in the New Testament, he didn’t include any stories about angels or shepherds or the birth of a baby in Bethlehem. Perhaps he hadn’t heard of such things. But he does know about John the baptizer and his ministry in the wilderness of Judea, and…
Daily Devotions
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. 7-8a Ephesians 1:15-23 Paul doesn’t seem to have known the people that he was writing to, but he has certainly heard of their faith, and he regularly includes them in his prayers…
Daily Devotions
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.” vss. 2-3 Psalm 95:1-7a Thanksgiving is on everyone’s minds today. At least the eating and drinking part! Most of us are preparing for an amazing feast, and in most of our homes we’re going to be eating pretty much the same things. It seems we all…