'love' Tagged Posts (Page 3)
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
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
Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, andcry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she hasreceived from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” vss. 1-2 Isaiah 40:1-8 There are times when we want to throw up our hands in despair and cry out,“Enough, O God, I’ve had enough, and I’m tired of being treated like refuse in thisbroken world.” Those moments don’t come to everyone…
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
God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” vs. 9 1 Corinthians 1:7-9 The faithfulness of God has been so woven into the fabric of the universe that we often don’t even see or recognize it. It’s just there: the sun rises, the earth continues on its journey through space, the rains and snows come, and life flourishes in spite of our careless stewardship. Most of the time we don’t…
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…
Daily Devotions
Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan.” vss. 15-16 Luke 17:11-19 The ten lepers were not healed instantaneously. Jesus had only told them to go and show themselves to the priests, and it was as they were on the way that healing came. And then only one of them came back to give thanks…
Daily Devotions
When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them…Do not say to yourself, ‘My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth.’” vss. 12, 17 Deuteronomy 8:7-18 The book of Deuteronomy, presented in the form of a sermon by Moses as the Israelites are about to enter the promised land, anticipates that the people will enjoy a rich and full life. They are reminded to regularly give Thanksgiving to…
Daily Devotions
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.” vss. 2-3 Psalm 95:1-7a Thanksgiving is on everyone’s minds today. At least the eating and drinking part! Most of us are preparing for an amazing feast, and in most of our homes we’re going to be eating pretty much the same things. It seems we all…
Daily Devotions
I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.” vs. 16 Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 Ezekiel describes the Lord as a loving shepherd who one day will seek out the lost and strayed sheep, and bind up the injured and the weak. But then he adds these disquieting words, “the…
Daily Devotions
Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.” vs. 11 1 Thessalonians 5:6-11 Paul knew that all would be well with that little congregation in Thessalonica because they understood that life is communal. We’re not on our own in this world, a bunch of singles laboring toward a celestial goal, but we are one body in Christ. The Holy Spirit has called us into a community of faith, and for better or worse, we…
Daily Devotions
Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever.” vs. 17 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 Some people love the image that Paul chose to describe the great reunion of the living and the dead with the Lord. When taken literally these verses call to mind stories of the rapture that we’ve read about in popular novels…