Daily Readings – Articles – Devotions
Archive for June, 2012
Thought for the morning of Thu June 28, 2012
It is ever the Holy Spirit’s work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus; but Satan’s work is just the opposite of this, for he is constantly trying to make us regard ourselves instead of Christ. He insinuates, “Your sins are too great for pardon; you have no faith; you do not repent enough; you will never be able to continue to the end; you have not the joy of his children; you have such a wavering hold of Jesus.” All these are thoughts about self, and we shall never find comfort or assurance by looking within. But More >
Life Source – Week 11 – Day 1 ** John 20: 1
As we continue to relish “the story” … today read John 20: 1 – 10.
I want us to consider the three primary players in these verses today – Mary, Peter and John.
But to set the scene consider these historical and cultural insights: First …
“It was the custom in Palestine to visit the tomb of a loved one for three days after the body had been laid to rest. It was believed that for three days the spirit of the dead person hovered round the tomb; but then it departed because the body had become unrecognizable through decay. Jesus’ friends could not More >
Confident Speech
In Matthew 28:4, the guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.
Those who oppose God are overwhelmed when they come in contact with His work. Paul had this type of encounter too but he had it with Jesus Christ himself. If we have Christ living inside of us, why do people not fear God when they encounter us? Instead, they are most often annoyed by us. They ridicule us because we have done such a poor job providing the reason we have the hope that we have in Christ. We need to talk more confidently when we speak of our More >
Life Source – Week 11 – Day 2 ** John 20: 11
We are in John 20. Today focus on verses 11 – 18.
This is one of my favorite scenes in all of scripture. I love the tenderness of it … the incredulity of it … the overwhelming love that is portrayed. Rather than share any of my own limited observations … I want to share a reading with you today. In 1986 Mary Lou Carney wrote a little book titled: “Heart Cries – Prayers of Biblical Women”. In that book, Ms. Carney takes a few verses that set up a scene involving one of the women of the Bible … and More >
Thought for the morning of Wed June 27, 2012
This is a crafty word from the lip of the arch-tyrant Pharaoh. If the poor bondaged Israelites must needs go out of Egypt, then he bargains with them that it shall not be very far away; not too far for them to escape the terror of his arms, and the observation of his spies. After the same fashion, the world loves not the non-conformity of nonconformity, or the dissidence of dissent; it would have us be more charitable and not carry matters with too severe a hand. Death to the world, and burial with Christ, are experiences which carnal minds More >
Life Source – Week 11 – Day 3 ** John 20: 19
Read John 20: 19 – 31.
When Jesus appeared in the room with the disciples … His first greeting … “Peace”. We see that repeated 3 times: verses 19 and 21 and then in verse 26 when Jesus came to them a second time when Thomas was also present. Jesus knew “peace” was their greatest need. The had locked themselves away because they were afraid of the authorities. Their world had crumbled … their hope was gone … I can only imagine the confusion, the anxiety, the hopelessness they must have felt. And Jesus, risen, enters the room with the word, More >
Our True Identity
In Matthew 28:3, the angel’s appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
When it came to raising Jesus from the dead, God did not disguise His created angels who faithfully do His work. I’m sure the angel who was commissioned to roll away the stone from the tomb of Jesus took great pride and pleasure in doing so. He shined in the full light of His glory God had given Him. We should live our lives in the same manner. In every epistle of Paul, he calls the church he is writing to “saints.” We constantly identify ourselves More >
Life Source – Week 12
We have come to the end of our journey through the gospel of John. And I can close where I began … I love this book! For me, it paints the most beautiful picture of Jesus, Messiah … my Lord and my God.
I love to see again His compassion on people in pain. It genuinely cares about the hurting and the suffering that exist in this old fallen world. And it reminds me that He has that same compassion toward me … in the places of hurt … in the inflicted wounds which I suffer. I find comfort there. More >
Thought for the morning of Tue June 26, 2012
What must be the apostate professor’s doom when his naked soul appears before God? How will he bear that voice, “Depart, ye cursed; thou hast rejected me, and I reject thee; thou hast played the harlot, and departed from me: I also have banished thee for ever from my presence, and will not have mercy upon thee.” What will be this wretch’s shame at the last great day when, before assembled multitudes, the apostate shall be unmasked? See the profane, and sinners who never professed religion, lifting themselves up from their beds of fire to point at him. “There he More >
Day 98 | Read the Bible in a Year
read the bible in a year: day 98 Matthew 28
1 Now late on the Sabbath, when the dawn of the first day of the week was near, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the place where his body was. 2 And there was a great earth-shock; for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, rolling back the stone, took his seat on it. 3 His form was shining like the light, and his clothing was white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the watchmen were shaking, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel said to the More >
