'truth' Tagged Posts
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…
Daily Devotions
Acts 17:22-31…“For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ’For we too are his offspring.’” vs. 28 There were Jews living in Athens and Paul went first to the synagogue to argue and debate with them about Jesus as the messiah. But when some of the Athenian sages heard what Paul was talking about they invited him to come and speak to them on Mars Hill near the…
Daily Devotions
Matthew 5:13-16… “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.” vss. 14-15 Jesus had not come to bring a new law. Rather he had come to call disciples and to bless them with grace and truth. They would be the heralds of the kingdom of peace that…
Daily Devotions
In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit;” vs. 13 Ephesians 1:11-23 “You have been sealed with the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.” We hear these words regularly in the baptism rituals of our congregations. They are said following the washing with water and are a precious reminder of the grace…
Daily Devotions
Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’” vss. 31-32 John 8:31-33 We live in a time when truth doesn’t seem to matter. As AI makes it possible to put out media posts that are not only digitally enhanced but pure inventions we can no longer have confidence in what we see or…
Daily Devotions
Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much.” vs. 10 Luke 16:10-13 Occasionally a person will excuse the telling of a mistruth by saying, “It was only a white lie!” Such an attitude, unfortunately common among believers, is sadly misguided. It’s the little things that count in the journey of faith, and whenever we tell a lie, however inconsequential it may seem, we’re…
Daily Devotions
This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” vss. 3-4 1 Timothy 2:3-7 The early Christians had no problem praying for the leaders of the Empire because they believed that God desired everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. There were no exceptions! Sometimes in our efforts to combat the brokenness of this world we…