'Jesus' Tagged Posts (Page 3)
Daily Devotions
Then they prayed and said, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’” vss. 24-25 Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 Judas had been one of the disciples and later was commissioned by Jesus as one of the twelve apostles. During Jesus’ ministry these Twelve were sent to towns and villages as missionaries, bringing the good…
Daily Devotions
You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.” vs. 16 John 15:13-17 When we hear that Jesus has chosen us to be his disciples we are not surprised. It’s a familiar part of the gospel story that we’ve grown up with. We know that we have been called to proclaim the good…
Daily Devotions
I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” vs. 11 John 15:9-12 These words are said in the context of Jesus’ last conversation with the disciples and indicate that he was well-pleased with them, and that their presence brought him joy. We know that feeling, that sense of satisfaction that a parent can have in looking around a festival table at the gathered faces of children…
Daily Devotions
for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.” vs. 4 1 John 5:4-6 We’ve gotten a good look at the ways of the world in recent years, and it’s not been a pretty sight! The environment is taking a beating, tensions between nations explode into wars, thousands are being killed, starvation and hunger are rampant and millions of refugees are on the move. In that scenario John’s optimism…
Daily Devotions
For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome…” vs. 3 1 John 5:4-6 It’s really not that difficult to be a follower of Jesus! All that is necessary is that we keep God’s commandments! And what are God’s commandments? Well, John’s not talking about the Ten Commandments that we learn in Sunday School or the 613 commandments that we can dig up out of the Hebrew Scriptures. He’s talking about…
Daily Devotions
Those who say, ‘I love God,’ and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.” vs. 20 1 John 4:17-21 During these last decades it’s been stunning to see people who claim to be Christians joining the choruses of hate that masquerade as public discourse in our country and around the world. Claiming to possess freedom of speech they…
Daily Devotions
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.” vs. 39 Acts 8:36-40 Jesus had twelve disciples but Luke doesn’t say much about the majority of them in his Acts of the Apostles. The Acts stories are mostly about Peter, John and Paul–and Paul wasn’t even one of the Twelve. But the story Luke tells about Philip is a gem. Out…
Daily Devotions
So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ He replied, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him.” vss. 30-31 John 12:16-18 There has been a Jewish presence in Ethiopia for thousands of years, and some of them regularly traveled to Jerusalem to worship at the temple. Luke here recounts how an official of Queen Candace…
Daily Devotions
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” vs. 16 John 12:16-18 We can’t be sure what is intended by this reference to sheep of another fold. Like other obscure verses in scripture though, people have had a field day making various speculations. Some say it refers to the original inhabitants of North America, an idea popular…
Daily Devotions
How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?” vs. 17 1 John 3:16-19 A couple of weeks ago, on Easter Day, we celebrated the sacrificial love of God with hymns of thanksgiving and praise. For John this is the only true love, and in imitation of God, John teaches that believers will gladly lay down their lives for one another. This is a teaching…
Daily Devotions
There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.” vs. 12 Acts 4:5-12 According to Luke, all the leaders of the Jerusalem hierarchy were present at the trial of Peter and John. And when Peter is questioned about his authority, unlike Jesus, he does not remain silent before his accusers. Instead, he doubles down and makes an assertion so audacious that many contemporary followers of…
Daily Devotions
But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” vs. 33 Jeremiah 31:33-34 Laws have a life of their own. As soon as they are established they begin to be amended and to proliferate. Soon every area of human behavior and enterprise…