'truth' Tagged Posts
Daily Devotions
Micah 3:5-10…“But as for me, I am filled with power, with the spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.” vs. 10 When God called prophets to bring a word of judgment to the rulers of Israel and Judah they seldom found a sympathetic ear at the court. Instead they were uniformly opposed and even persecuted. The prophets who served as the king’s advisors were totally in lockstep…
Daily Devotions
Matthew 22:18-22..“They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’ Then he said to them, ‘Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’” vs. 21 Just when the Pharisees thought their “gotcha” was going to work, Jesus turned the tables on them again. His response to their question was brilliant, and they could do nothing but creep away shaking their heads. Later, as they reconvened they may have wondered what his enigmatic statement meant.…
Daily Devotions
Matthew 22:15-17..“Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” vs. 17 The Pharisees and the Herodians were likely quite pleased with themselves. Ever since Jesus had started teaching on the Temple Mount his parables had honed in on them and left them on the defensive, and they were tired of it. As they schemed together they came up with a “gotcha” question. These are the seemingly innocuous questions that are asked…
Daily Devotions
1 Thessalonians 1:6-10..“And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.” vss. 6-7 During his ministry in Macedonia Paul and his companions knew that they were being watched carefully, not only by their opponents but by those who had come to believe in their message. At this time…
Daily Devotions
1 Thessalonians 1:1-5..“We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” vss. 2-3 So far as we know this is the first line of Paul’s first letter to any of the congregations that he had ever visited. It’s touching that the first thing he says is that he is…
Daily Devotions
Philippians 4:7-9… Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” vs. 8 As the election season stumbles into its final week in the midst of a remarkable run of slanderous, misleading, and lying campaign commercials and mailings, the anonymous billionaire influencers are getting ready to double and triple their contributions. That…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 25:1-9… “Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.” vss. 8-9 The psalmist has nothing but praise for the Lord. God is good, the epitome of loving kindness, and wants nothing more than for sinners to learn the way and walk on the path of righteousness. In other words, we are accompanied in our brokenness by the Lord, and not…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 119:129-132…“The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. With open mouth I pant, because I long for your commandments.” vss. 130-131 Psalm 119 is the longest of the psalms and is devoted to lifting up the law as God’s most loving gift to Israel. Today’s chosen verses call to mind an image of little birds opening up their mouths to receive food brought by a parent. They crowd the nest, their little beaks open…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 86:11-13…“Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name.” vs. 11 The psalmist was aware that there was a way to live and that it was connected to God’s truth. The trick was to figure out exactly what that truth was. Indeed, that’s been the mystery of the ages, and humans have concocted a multitude of religions that purport to shine light on that path. Even…
Daily Devotions
Isaiah 44:6-8…“Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.” vs. 6 As the prophet brought the word of the Lord to the exiles in Babylon, he was well aware that there was an abundance of visible gods for the people to choose among. There was a well established pantheon of deities with Marduk as their chief. Temples for…
Daily Devotions
Jeremiah 28:5-9…“As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes true, then it will be known that the LORD has truly sent the prophet.” vs. 9 There were other prophets in Jerusalem at the time of Jeremiah, all claiming to have a word from the Lord for the people. One of them, Hananiah proclaimed that within two years the yoke of Babylon would be broken and the exiles and the temple treasures would return to…
Daily Devotions
Exodus 19:5-8a…“The people all answered as one: ‘Everything that the LORD has spoken we will do.’” vs. 8a Moses had reported to the gathered crowd of Israelites the words that the Lord had given him on the mountain. They would indeed be God’s treasured possession and a holy nation but there was a condition: they would need to obey God’s voice and keep God’s covenant. And the people are supremely confident, answering as one: “Everything that the Lord has spoken…