'politicians' Tagged Posts
Daily Devotions
But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’” Matthew 16:21-23 Matthew’s irony is unmistakable! The “Rock” on which Jesus intended to build his church had become a stumbling block to him, and the Rock’s error has been a lesson for Christians of every age, and the mistake is so clear it’s a wonder that anyone can…
Daily Devotions
Then he asked, ‘Why, what evil has he done?’ But they shouted all the more, ‘Let him be crucified!’” vs. 23 Matthew 27:1-25 According to Matthew, the chief priests and the elders were not able to convince Pilate that Jesus deserved the death penalty. The case they had presented was full of half-truths and malicious gossip, and Pilate believed that they were motivated primarily by jealousy. But they had convinced the crowd, and ultimately that was enough. It’s still easy…
Daily Devotions
Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish.” vss. 3-4 Psalm 146:1-4 We don’t know exactly when this psalm was written, but the writer had obviously been around the track a few times. He’d lived long enough to know that princes were not to be trusted–and in our day we could probably add politicians to that list.…
Daily Devotions
My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.” vss. 27-28 John 10:27-30 We’ve entered into the primary season in our election cycle and politicians of every stripe are spending millions of dollars to craft messages that they believe will attract the most voters to their cause. Sometimes the process isn’t pretty. It doesn’t seem to be necessary…
Daily Devotions
‘Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!’ says the Lord.” vs. 1 Jeremiah 23:1-3 The Hebrew scriptures abound with references to shepherds and their flocks. Whenever a writer was looking for an analogy to describe the relationship between a sovereign and the nation, this was the go-to metaphor. Jeremiah uses it here to blame the kings of Judah and Israel for the sorry condition of God’s chosen people. They were the ones in charge…
Daily Devotions
for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him.” vs. 20 Mark 6:14-20 Herod ruled over Galilee and Perea (a territory east of the Jordan and the Dead Sea) on behalf of the Romans and was involved in a series of clashes with the king of Nabatea. He had arrested John because of his comments about…
Daily Devotions
So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.” vs. 15 Mark 15: 1-15 When we take time to look at the gospel record of Jesus’ ministry in a more objective fashion it seems preposterous that he could have been crucified for his actions as a preacher, teacher, and healer. And he really posed no threat to the Roman forces stationed in his country–he had no weapons…