'hope' Tagged Posts (Page 9)
Daily Devotions
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.” vss. 6-7 John 1:6-8 As the gospel writers retold the stories about John the Baptist, they all refer to his baptismal ministry in the wilderness and his interaction with Herod, an encounter that eventually led to his death. But the gospel writer John also writes that the Baptizer was sent from God…
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
May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.” vss. 5-6 Psalm 126 Most of us are well aware of the awful things that can happen in the course of a lifetime. We read about them in the papers, see the reports on the news, and hear the sad tales from our network of friends and acquaintances. We…
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
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
But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.” vs 13 2 Peter 3:11-13 Prior to the testing of the atomic bomb in New Mexico in 1945, hundreds of scientists were working in labs all around the country to see if such a bomb could be built and delivered. Using mathematical formulas a few physicists projected a doomsday scenario in which the unknown forces generated by an atomic explosion…
Daily Devotions
But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.” vs. 8 2 Peter 3:8-10 Climate change has been accelerating in recent years and there is continuing debate around the world about what needs to be done. Some say that the survival of humanity is at stake, and that unless drastic steps are taken to eliminate the use of fossil fuels there will…
Daily Devotions
See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him…He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.” vss. 10a, 11 Psalm 85: 1-2, 8-13 In spite of Israel’s ongoing dysfunction, the psalmist was optimistic about her future, not because the people were behaving so well, but because God had freely showered forgiveness on them. We too live…
Daily Devotions
So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.” vs. 29 Mark 13:24-31 We don’t need to be particularly alert to know that Christmas is near. Black Friday with all its sales and promotions has come and gone. All the best trees have already disappeared from the well-lit lots on the strategic corners near shopping centers. Yards are being decorated with blow-up sleighs and reindeer–men and women are risking their…
Daily Devotions
O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers? You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure.; vss. 4-5 Psalm 80:1-7 The psalmist believed that Israel was God’s chosen people. In fact, most people with any degree of familiarity with the bible would likely agree. For generations this is what we’ve taught our children. For the most part it can be a helpful teaching,…
Daily Devotions
And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’” vs. 40 Matthew 25:37-45 There are a growing number of believers around the world who are beginning to refer to themselves as Matthew 25 Christians. For them that closing parable in chapter 25 of Matthew’s gospel is the defining teaching of Jesus’ entire ministry. In their estimation…