'hope' Tagged Posts (Page 6)
Daily Devotions
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” vs. 10 Matthew 5:7-12 Jesus has already mentioned that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness sake will be blessed, but sometimes we forget just who those folks are. It’s the word righteousness that throws us off. We generally think of that in moralistic terms, but really these are the people who yearn for justice. They want the poor to be lifted up, they…
Daily Devotions
For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live.” vs. 32 Ezekiel 18:25-32 Bad things had been happening to the people of Israel and many of them had concluded that all of this was the Lord’s fault and that the Lord could not be trusted. Ezekiel reminded them that all the bad stuff that had happened in the life of the Israelites was their own fault. If they wanted a better…
Daily Devotions
Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions.” vs. 1 Romans 14:1-6 Some of the early followers of Jesus had become vegetarians because the meat available in the markets came from animal sacrifices at pagan temples. So as a matter of conscience they abstained from eating meat, and felt that others should do the same. Paul, who liked his steak medium rare, disagreed, but he was appalled that such a thing had…
Daily Devotions
Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today.” vs. 20 Genesis 50:15-20 The date September 11, or more familiarly, 9/11, has an iconic quality to it, and,like December 7, 1941 for a prior generation, quickly brings back a whole flood of memories. Many can easily recount what they were doing on that Tuesday morning and can remember what it was like to…
Daily Devotions
The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us. May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him.” vss. 6-7 Psalm 67:4-7 The psalmist is right! God has indeed blessed humanity with this incredible planet. Even though it had been around for billions of years before we arrived, it has been a garden of delights for humans and we have been blessed as our species has spread throughout the globe. We’ve…
Daily Devotions
For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh.” vs. 3 Romans 9:1-5 Midway through his letter to the Romans, after having described justification by faith in excruciating detail, Paul offers a section on Israel’s election as the chosen people of God. He tells the church in Rome that it breaks his heart that so many of his kindred, according to the…
Daily Devotions
For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” vss. 24-25 Romans 8:19-25 Paul’s letter to the Romans is not easily understood. He pours out his heart and his convictions about the new life in Christ, and many times his arguments seem forced and repetitive. He knows that the Spirit of God…
Daily Devotions
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth…” vss. 10-11a Isaiah 55:10-11 The prophet had made some bold promises to the exiles in Babylon. Speaking for the Lord, he tells them that they will return to their native land…
Daily Devotions
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted.” vss. 29-30 Matthew 10:29-34 Outside of God there is nothing. Inside of God there is everything. Jesus teaches a view of God that challenges our minds and gives peace to our souls. Even the hairs of our heads are all counted, no one of us is beyond God’s…
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
Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth.” vs. 3 Hosea 5:15-6:3 During the 8th century BCE, Hosea was called to bring a word from the Lord to the rival kingdoms of Israel and Judah. They had begun to think they were pretty special and had become enamored of wealth and power. In…
Daily Devotions
Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence.” vss. 15b-16a 1 Peter 3:13-17 It’s not unusual in these days of political division and constant turmoil for our conversations to reflect despair and pessimism. We get a full dose of bad news with every news cycle, and each day brings reports of mass shootings and border turmoil. Disaster seems just…