'salvation' Tagged Posts
Daily Devotions
1 Peter 2:22-25…“For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.” vs. 25 According to the gospel of John the resurrected Jesus had told Peter three times, in a touching scene of love and restoration by the Sea of Galilee, to feed and care for his sheep. And three times Peter responds with a passionate “yes.” And that’s what Peter did! As he writes he tells his readers that,…
Daily Devotions
1 Peter 1:21-23…“Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart.” vs. 22 When the Christian community was established in Jerusalem after the resurrection of Jesus they were known for the deep love that they had for one another. And when missionaries like Paul brought the good news of Jesus to distant lands, that same characteristic was observed. Peter refers to that…
Daily Devotions
i Peter 1:17-20…“If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile.” vs. 17 From Peter’s perspective the people to whom he was writing were like exiles, people living in a land that was not their own who had been united by their invocation of God as Father. Here he also implies that one day their God will judge all people impartially according to…
Daily Devotions
1 Peter 1:3-5…“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead..” vs. 3 This little letter was probably sent from the Christian community in Rome and carried the name of Peter, who Roman Catholics regard as the first pope. It’s addressed to the large community of believers living in Asia Minor, present day Turkey.…
Daily Devotions
Acts 2:14a, 22-24…“But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power.” vs. 24 Luke reports that Peter assumed leadership of the little community of believers in Jerusalem and summarizes the content of his teaching in just a few paragraphs. Here Peter addresses those he calls Israelites, those Jews living in Judea and in Galilee who were familiar with Jesus. He doesn’t pull punches and accuses them of…
Daily Devotions
Isaiah 42:1-9…“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 After centuries of devastating wars and incompetent rulers, the prophet, residing in captivity, had a vision for a new nation, one that was modeled on the Suffering Servant. Now there would be a new governance, and Israel would be…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 95… “O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!” vs. 1 According to recent surveys 83% of Americans say that they believe in God but only about 30% participate in regular worship services. Now it is true that you don’t have to be a part of a worshipping community to worship God. Since God is not confined to buildings it’s quite possible to worship in a variety…
Daily Devotions
Matthew 4:1-11… “Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! for it is written, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” vs. 10 Having savored the love and the goodness of God in his baptism Jesus was led into the wilderness for a taste of the world’s brokenness. And as he prayed and fasted, he pondered the direction of his ministry. There were so many possibilities. We know this part of the story well. Everywhere we look there…
Daily Devotions
Isaiah 49:5-7… “He says, ‘It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.’” vs. 6 As the prophet considered the mission of Israel he had come to believe that the Lord had a larger vision for his Servant. He tells the people…
Daily Devotions
But his servants approached and said to him, ‘Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, “Wash, and be clean”? vs. 14 2 Kings 5:7-15c Naaman had an elevated sense of his own importance. But when he came with his entourage to Elisha’s house, Elisha didn’t even come out to see him–he just sent out a messenger with instructions to go…
Daily Devotions
And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises…” vss. 32-33 Hebrews 11:29-40 The writer of Hebrews believed that all the heroes and heroines of Israel had lived by faith, just as had the ancestors of them all, Abraham and Sarah. It was a proud history. Yet even though those people had been commended for their…
Daily Devotions
Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.” vs. 5 Psalm 25:1-5 Humans have always had a sense that there is a way to live that is particularly pleasing to God and that will be of benefit to them. In fact, the great religions of the world have been planted by those who had a sense of what such a life might be like and…