'hope' Tagged Posts (Page 8)
Daily Devotions
Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.” vs. 2 1 John 3:1-3 Much to our chagrin, many of us have discovered that as we grow older, we begin to resemble our parents. In fact, it’s not unusual for a person who has known our father or mother, and who…
Daily Devotions
You have put gladness in my heart more than when their grain and wine abound. I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.” vss. 7-8 Psalm 4 The psalmist was content. Even though the people around him were yearning for a glimpse of light and some sign of good, he had all that his heart could desire. The Lord had put gladness in his heart and he was…
Daily Devotions
When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, ‘You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk?’” vs. 12 Acts 3:12-16 Many believers have a mixed attitude toward miracles. We will gladly pray for healing whenever asked, but then when healings actually occur we are reluctant to call them miraculous. That wasn’t the case among the apostles in Jerusalem during the…
Daily Devotions
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” vss. 8-9 1 John 1:8-2:2 For some these words are so familiar that we’re almost surprised to see them pop up in a portion of mostly unfamiliar scripture. For congregations that use a weekly service of confession and absolution to…
Daily Devotions
If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true;” vs. 6 1 John 1:5-7 Evidently there were some folks in the communities John was writing to who believed that our behavior as disciples of Jesus really didn’t make that much difference. They reasoned that perfection, walking in the light, was too high a standard and that people shouldn’t beat themselves up if they wandered from…
Daily Devotions
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us…” vs. 1 Hebrews 12:1-3 In chapter 11 the writer of Hebrews gave a definition of faith that is worthy of memorization. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” He had then gone on…
Daily Devotions
And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…” vs. 21 1 Peter 3:21-22 The story of Noah and the Ark had special significance for early Christians. It was here that they saw the first evidence of God’s saving grace, and they began to use the Ark as a symbol for the Church. In their estimation baptism…
Daily Devotions
The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, ‘Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?’ And he answered, ‘Yes, I know; be silent.’” vs. 5 2 Kings 2:1-8 Elijah was remembered as the first of the great prophets of Israel, one who vigorously defended the Lord against the prophets of Baal. As he grew older he was given an associate, Elisha, who became his partner…
Daily Devotions
Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.” vss. 1-2 Psalm 111:1-5 From the beginning the wonders of the universe have been admired by all humans! The psalmist calls them the great works of the Lord and adds that they are studied by all who delight in them. Through the centuries…
Daily Devotions
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’” vss. 14-15 Mark 1:14-15 According to Mark, the first gospel written, Jesus had been in Judea, near where John was baptizing, and when John was arrested he headed north to Galilee, his home territory, and began his ministry. Though he seems not to have…
Daily Devotions
For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.” vs. 5 Psalm 62:5-8 There are some who had occasion this holiday weekend to reflect on the life and ministry of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. While in his lifetime many considered him to be a troublemaker and a threat to national security, we now see more clearly his intent and his purpose. He had a dream of a world in which divisions based on race…
Daily Devotions
Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’” vs. 46 John 1:43-46 Nathanael was quick to dismiss the idea that Jesus was the messiah. For one thing he was from a town that had no standing in tradition. It wasn’t even mentioned in the scriptures. Nathanael wasn’t the only one to make such snap judgments. Most of us do the same sort of thing when introduced to someone whose geographic…