'Peace' Tagged Posts (Page 2)
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…
Daily Devotions
He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, ‘You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.’” vss. 2-3 Isaiah 49:1-4 In spite of external appearances like the destruction of Jerusalem and the ensuing captivity in Babylon, the prophet continued to believe that Israel would one day bring glory to God.…
Daily Devotions
May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!” vs. 11 Psalm 29 Technologically speaking, we are the most advanced civilization ever! Many people could never have dreamed of the devices and tools that they have at their daily disposal, and it’s hard for them to even imagine that life could get any better. Yet given the recent history of our country and the deep divisions in the world, even those who live…
Daily Devotions
Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it….” vs. 5 Isaiah 42:1-9 The prophets of Israel understood that the Creator God who had brought all things into existence had given the breath of life to all people. This breath, which could also be called “spirit,” is what animates humans…
Daily Devotions
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.” vss. 24-26 Numbers 6:22-27 In most of our congregations the pastor’s last words to the gathered people are some form of the Aaronic Benediction. And while for some this is a welcome signal that the end is in sight, most worshippers are touched by this familiar blessing.…
Daily Devotions
Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient.” vss. 7-8a James 5:7-8 Waiting for Christmas during Advent is not particularly difficult. Neighborhoods signal its nearness when the ladders come out and decorations go up. Even the smells around the household, cookies coming out of the oven and lefse hot off…
Daily Devotions
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” vs. 13 Romans 15:7-13 One of the signs of God’s presence in our lives is the appearance of hope in the most unlikely times. Hope confounds us with its elusiveness. It comes and goes with maddening irregularity and resists our most determined manipulation. Paul tells us that hope has a connection with…
Daily Devotions
They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” vs. 9 Isaiah 11:6-11 Having lived through a virtual two-year shutdown of our country, and now, another contentious election, hope is a precious commodity. For some reason leaders of all kinds have been led to sow a message of fear and distrust that has found its way into too many hearts.…
Daily Devotions
He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks…” vs. 4a Isaiah 2:1-5 In reading the Hebrew scriptures, it’s easy to get the idea that God was an advocate of war and encouraged the people of Israel to engage in ferocious combat in defense of their land and to subjugate their enemies. More than that, it’s often implied that the Lord assisted in those…
Daily Devotions
He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” vs. 17 Colossians 1:17-20 Early Christians came to believe that the Christ who had been made visible in Jesus of Nazareth was the incarnate Word of God, described in the prologue to John’s gospel. Through the Christ, present in the Beginning, all things had come into existence, and the writer of Colossians adds that, “in him all things hold together.” In other words, Christ is the…