'Peace' Tagged Posts
Daily Devotions
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” vs. 3 1 Corinthians 1:3-6 Paul began his letters to the congregations by wishing them God’s grace and peace and his words have found their way into worship liturgies as an ultra-familiar part of the ritual. Preachers frequently begin their sermons in the same way, almost as a signal to folks in the pews to settle down and start listening because the homily is about to…
Daily Devotions
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.” vs. 6 Psalm 23:6 The psalmist knew that he continually lived in the Divine Presence. There was never a day when he was apart from God, and as a result goodness and mercy were his constant companions. He had the kind of close connection that many crave, and few seem to have. It…
Daily Devotions
But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?” vs. 14 Romans 10:12-15 Paul believed with all his heart in universal salvation, that there is no distinction between Jews and Gentiles, and that God’s love extends to all. But he also feared that until people believed this, they would not…
Daily Devotions
Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.” vs. 8 Psalm 85:8-13 All of the prophets felt a call to bring the word of the Lord to the people of Israel and Judah. Most of the time it came as a warning of impending doom if idolatrous behavior didn’t come to an end. Again and again the prophet would…
Daily Devotions
Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.” vs. 12 1 Kings 3:9-12 After Solomon had ordered the death of his older brother and thus consolidated his power, the ancient court history recounts in a scene reminiscent of the Arabian Nights that the Lord, like a genie, appears to him in a dream and offers to give him whatever he wants. Solomon…
Daily Devotions
He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations…” vs. 10a Zechariah 9:9-12 After their return from captivity, the returning Jews devoted their energy to rebuilding the temple and the walls of Jerusalem. The prophet Zechariah encouraged them with a vision of restoration: a new king would come and reign victoriously, not with arrogance, but with a humility that…
Daily Devotions
For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” vs. 5 Psalm 100:4-5 In the midst of the current tumult regarding war, nuclear weapons, climate disaster, and the resurgence of hate speech, we can find amazing consolation in the words of this 2500 year-old psalm. The psalmist, inspired by the Spirit, knew the core of what humans need to flourish. First is a firm conviction that God is good and so is the…
Daily Devotions
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.” vs. 33 Psalm 104:31-34 The psalmist didn’t know how many more years he would have to enjoy God’s marvelous creation. None of us do! In our early years we assume that there’s a lot more time allotted to us–some even appear to believe that they will live forever. There’s not a hint in their talk or demeanor that…
Daily Devotions
You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” vs. 11 Psalm 16:7-11 The psalmist knew that the recipe for the good life in this world was not rocket science. He says plainly that everything depends on our God-connection. Because the Lord is always at our side night and day, an ever-present source of strength and comfort in every difficult situation, we can live with confidence and…
Daily Devotions
Easter Day Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” vss. 5b-6 Matthew 28:1-10 As we come to the end of Holy Week, it is fascinating to see the shifting emphasis of the gospel message. It started with our Good Friday remembrance of Jesus’ death on the cross, a sign of God’s great love…
Daily Devotions
He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.” vss. 2-3 Isaiah 42:1-9 Isaiah’s descriptions of the Servant have been an inspiration to people of faith for centuries. While he likely intended them to refer to Israel’s mission and purpose as the called people of God, they obviously impacted Jesus’ understanding…
Daily Devotions
To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God…” vss. 6-7a Romans 8:6-9 There is a huge variety of television and movie programming available to us in these days of Netflix, Hulu, and Youtube. Everyday we have dozens of new options for our viewing pleasure–it’s virtually impossible to keep up! And it doesn’t…