'truth' Tagged Posts (Page 4)
Daily Devotions: July 14, 2020
July 14, 2020 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 There are some who would say that the truth is relative, and that it really doesn’t make any difference what we believe, that one person’s truth is as good as any other’s. The Psalmist would be appalled! In his estimation, the truth was a part of the Lord’s essence, and…
Daily Devotions: June 23, 2020
June 23, 2020 Jeremiah 28:7-9 … 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 Upon hearing the words of Jeremiah, the prophet Hananiah upped the ante by repeating his prediction that peace was just around the corner for Judah, and Jeremiah went away in silence. He didn’t believe the prophecy of peace, but only time would reveal the…
Daily Devotions: June 15, 2020
June 15, 2020 Jeremiah 20:7-10 … “For whenever I speak, I must cry out, I must shout, ‘Violence and destruction!’ For the word of the Lord has become for me a reproach and derision all day long.” vs. 8 Jeremiah gives us a glimpse of his mindset in today’s passage and he obviously wasn’t enjoying his work as Prophet. The message given him by the Lord sparked resentment in all that heard it, and he was regularly mocked on all…
Daily Devotions: May 16, 2020
May 16, 2020 John 14:15-17 … “This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.” vs. 17 Spirit-talk is almost always mysterious; it’s the language we use when we try to describe the everyday nearness of God, and that’s close to an impossible task. Some people, many people maybe, never seem to get what we’re saying…
Daily Devotions: February 21, 2020
February 21, 2020 For full passage click: 2 Peter 1:19-21 … “First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” vss. 20-21 Interpretation of Scripture is a notoriously difficult enterprise. Some say it can only be done reliably by trained and skilled biblical scholars, men and women who understand fully…
Daily Devotions: February 13, 2020
February 13, 2020 For full passage click: 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 … “And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.” vs. 1 When Paul came to Corinth, he did not bring Christ to the people–Christ was already there–the Divine Spark that resides in every human. But he did see them as infants in Christ, a people unfamiliar with matters of the Spirit and fully…
Daily Devotions: February 7, 2020
February 7, 2020 For full passage click: 1 Corinthians 2:6-12 … “But we speak God’s wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.” vs 7 Whenever we try to wrap our heads around the Gospel it doesn’t take long to discover that there is a great mystery involved. What may have seemed simple at one point in our lives is actually deeper than we had ever imagined. It’s not that the message is enormously complicated–Paul…
Daily Devotions: January 28, 2020
January 28, 2020 For full passage click: Psalm 15:1-2 … “O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart;” vss. 1-2 Just so we don’t get the idea that Micah was the only person in ancient Israel who believed God cared about behavior and conduct, this Psalmist added his perspective. Who is a friend of God? One who…
Daily Devotions: October 20, 2019
October 20, 2019 For full passage click: Luke 18:5-8 … “And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night?” vss. 6-7a Jesus was not above using examples from the world to give encouragement to his followers. His parable reflects one of the realities of our justice and political systems. Sometimes leaders who care nothing for God and have no respect for…
Daily Devotions: October 18, 2019
October 18, 2019 For full passage click: 2 Timothy 4:1-5 … “For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires…” vs. 3 Timothy, the young pastor, is advised in this letter to proclaim the Gospel with conviction in every season and to have patience in his teaching. He’s warned that there will be a time when his little flock would…
Daily Devotions: October 16, 2019
October 16, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 12 … “Help, O Lord, for there is no longer anyone who is godly; the faithful have disappeared from humankind. They utter lies to each other; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.” vss. 1-2 It’s hard to overestimate the gifts that the various Psalmists have given us. They write from a variety of experiences and their words are a treasure trove for our reflection and meditation. Sometimes their laments…
Daily Devotions: August 17, 2019
August 17, 2019 For full passage click: Luke 12:49-53 … “From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three…” vs. 52 We’ve all become aware of the increasing divisiveness in our country as opinions have become polarized, and it’s been more difficult to find common ground. In some instances, life-long friendships have been threatened, family members have stopped speaking to one another, congregations have splintered, and we’re finding it harder and harder…