'love' Tagged Posts (Page 3)
Daily Devotions
Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” vss. 36-37 Luke 10:29-37 Jesus subtly expanded the world of the kingdom seeking lawyer with the short story we know as “The Parable of the Good Samaritan.” The man had asked, “Who is my neighbor?” But after telling the parable, Jesus asked, “Which…
Daily Devotions
Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God.” vs. 6 Colossians 1:1-8 We’re not sure who brought the gospel to Colossae. It was not visited by Paul during his missionary journeys, but there were many traveling preachers in those days, and their labors bore fruit. A congregation had sprung up in this city in Asia…
Daily Devotions
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!” vs. 7 Psalm 25:6-10 Even as the psalmist affirmed his trust that God was full of mercy and had been that way from the beginning, he knows that his behaviors have not always been proper or prudent. Perhaps he even fears that the record of his deeds and words is disqualifying. At any rate he launches…
Daily Devotions
Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away…No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.” vss. 11, 14 Deuteronomy 30:9-14 There are a lot of rules, commandments, and ordinances in the Hebrew scriptures. It can be mind-boggling to try to keep track of them all. Indeed, at times people were driven to distraction in…
Daily Devotions
He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.’” vs. 2-3 Luke 10:1-7 Paul closes his letter to the Galatians by pointing to the cross of Jesus Christ and affirming that cross as the center of his life. Nothing else mattered–even the debate over circumcision…
Daily Devotions
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!” vs. 7 Psalm 25:6-10 Even as the psalmist affirmed his trust that God was full of mercy and had been that way from the beginning, he knows that his behaviors have not always been proper or prudent. Perhaps he even fears that the record of his deeds and words is disqualifying. At any rate he launches…
Daily Devotions
As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” vs. 13 Isaiah 66:13-14 When a child falls and sustains some sort of injury, often the first impulse is to run for mama! A mother’s hug and embrace have amazing healing qualities, and if a crying boy or girl can somehow snuggle for some extra moments and be held close, the tears will often subside. The prophet was familiar with that sort of…
Daily Devotions
Daily Devotions
Daily Devotions
Daily Devotions
Daily Devotions
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?” vss. 3-4 Psalm 8:3-9 Some might think that, of course, the psalmist would be in awe of the creation, he lived well over 2000 years ago and had a relatively primitive understanding of the universe and how it worked. He’d be bound to have…
Daily Devotions
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” vs. 14 Romans 8:14-17 When we read Paul’s letter to the Romans it’s not easy to understand his carefully reasoned arguments and admonitions. Even when we engage in serious study there are some things that we miss–the words he uses are not familiar to us and we may not even care much about the things he’s passionate about. In general, what he wanted his readers to…
Daily Devotions
When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground.” vs. 30 Psalm 104:27-34, 35b From the beginning believers have associated the gift of life with the breath of God. Certainly, that’s the central theme of the creation story in Genesis 2, where the Lord, having formed the man from the dust of the earth, breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. The psalmist goes further and credits that same breath or…