'love' Tagged Posts (Page 9)
Daily Devotions
Jesus answered him, ‘It is said, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”’’ vs. 12 Luke 4:9-14 Jesus had already received affirmation of God’s love following his baptism. It was an experience that he could never forget–and now a voice was telling him to ask for more, just in case he’d misunderstood the first time. We know what that’s like. As humans it’s never enough to be told something once, and if our lover has said “You’re…
Daily Devotions
because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” vs. 9 Romans 10:8b-13 In his effort to help the Romans understand that salvation is by God’s grace Paul describes what happens as a person comes to faith. It’s really simple, a matter of confession and belief–nothing more is required. And everyone is included, there is no distinction between Jews and Gentiles. Unfortunately…
Daily Devotions
But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.” vs. 35 Luke 6:31-36 Jesus could say radical, eye-brow raising things to his disciples because he knew God’s heart. Most people, then and now, believe that God keeps track of wrong-doing and wreaks vengeance on the ungrateful and the wicked. Somehow, we’ve gotten the…
Daily Devotions
But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” vss. 27-28 Luke 6:27-31 Those who heard Jesus preach remembered his radical words, and Luke took pains to include them in his gospel. Later followers of Jesus took these words to heart and they became the identifying mark of the kingdom. This is how Jesus expected his disciples to treat others, and…
Daily Devotions
Then Judah said to his father Israel, ‘Send the boy with me, and let us be on our way, so that we may live and not die—you and we and also our little ones. I myself will be surety for him; you can hold me accountable for him.’” vss. 8-9a Genesis 43:3-11, 15 The ancestral stories we find recounted in the last half of Genesis are entertaining, but none of them are particularly uplifting. Each of the families portrayed…
Daily Devotions
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” vs. 1 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 No matter how many talented folks a congregation has, no matter how many ministry programs are available, unless there is a spirit of love within that congregation, everything else is pointless and worthless! Paul doesn’t mince words with the Corinthians. He spells out his most excellent way in terms that…
Daily Devotions
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts.” vss. 29-31a 1 Corinthians 12:27-31a As Paul describes the Church, using the human body as a metaphor, he tells the Corinthians that together we are the Body of Christ, and individually members of it. Within that one body each one has been equipped by the Spirit for…
Daily Devotions
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love.” vss. 3-4 Ephesians 1:3-10 There are some who teach and believe that humans have a heritage that stretches back to the very beginning, that we were created as spiritual children of God long…
Daily Devotions
Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.’” vs. 18 Genesis 2:18-24 The second of the two Hebrew creation stories paints a picture of God that is dear to our hearts. Here we see the Divine Presence, not as the transcendent creator of all things, but as a down-to-earth God who gives to humanity the breath of life. And more than that, those ancient…
Daily Devotions
You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.” vs. 8 Mark 7: 1-8 Jesus had harsh words for the Pharisees and their preoccupation with ritual and ceremony. He tells them that everything they considered so important, all the traditions they’d inherited from their ancestors–everything was purely human invention! Imagine the shock waves rippling through their community! Jesus was saying that all they held dear was rubbish, and that they had abandoned what really counted with God. Poor…
Daily Devotions
Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.’” vs. 26 John 6:24-27 Jesus was no fool. He had a pretty good understanding of human nature and he knew folks were more interested in free food than they were in him. For many that’s still how it is! They turn up at church or tune into religious services not to get a…
Daily Devotions
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us.” vss. 7-8a Ephesians 1:3-8a When soldiers die in battle we commonly say that they have shed their blood for the sake of their country, and that they died to maintain our freedom. And of course we set aside days to remember their great sacrifice. Early Christians had a similar regard for the death of Jesus…