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Posts tagged Devotions
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” is one of the most beloved Christmas hymns of all time. The lyrics were written by Charles Wesley in 1739 while the music was composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1840. Let’s look at a few stanzas of this beautiful carol:
Hark! The herald angels sing, ”Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”
“God and sinners reconciled” through Christ. This is the true meaning of Christmas and the true meaning of Christianity. Jesus Christ was sent “through the tender mercy of our God to give light to those who sit More >
Judas – the Tragedy (Matthew 26
Matthew 26 contains what detail we have about Judas. Today, as we continue our walk through Matthew, let’s consider all the passages about Judas together. Read …
Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve – designating them apostles – that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. (Mark 3: 13 – 15)
It is much more likely that Judas kissed Jesus as a disciple kissed a master and meant it, and that More >
The Core – Hosea 4:1 – 6:3 (Week 8
We are in Hosea’s second message … Hosea 4:1 – 6:3.
In Lesson 1 of our Hosea study, we observed that the people were perishing because there was no knowledge of God in the land. Today, let’s consider the responsibility carried by the priests for that condition. I am not sure if the religious leaders go the way of the people … or if the people go the way of the religious leaders. In the NIV, verse 9 says, “Like people, like priests” which makes me think that the religious leaders just made themselves say and do whatever the people More >
Spiritual Adultery – Hosea 1:10 – 3:5 (Week 7
Read Hosea 1:10 – 3:5.
Hosea 1:10 begins chapter 2 in the Hebrew Bible so begin there as you read today’s passage.
Adultery is an horrific sin. Any of you who have walked there know the pain. Any of you who have watched people you love walk there know something of the pain. Relationships are torn apart … families are ripped wide open … it is all about loss. That is just on the physical level. Hosea lives out the physical form so that Israel will have a live demonstration of the spiritual form. As a nation … as God’s chosen More >
Extravagant Love (Matthew 26
As we enter Matthew 26, we become witnesses to the last act in the story of Jesus’ physical life in our space-time continuum. The prophecies have been fulfilled … the scene has been established … the pattern has been set … the teaching has been done … the sacrifice has been prepared … it is time.
This chapter is long – 75 verses. The individual events happening in rapid-fire momentum are many – at least 9. I plan to organize thoughts around character studies. Therefore, we may jump around a bit in the text rather than read straight through. As More >
About Service (Matthew 25
We are in the middle of a discourse by Jesus about the kingdom of heaven. He has just told 2 stories to try and illustrate what seems hard for us to understand. He told the parable of the 10 Virgins to illustrate the necessity of our being ready and prepared for his coming. He told the parable of the Talents to illustrate the necessity of our being productive, using God given gifts for the benefit of the kingdom. And then He says … “When the Son of Man comes in his glory …”
One cold winter day, as Martin was More >
Use It or Lose It (Matthew 25
Jesus was in his final teaching discourse and was focused on the kingdom of heaven. He has just told the story about the ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom … teaching his followers to stay prepared and ready. Then he began another story … we have called it “the parable of the talents.” If you know the story … read it again today … praying for fresh eyes.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. … All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives the More >
Visual Aid? – Hosea 1 (Week 7
Read Hosea 1.
I can’t help but wonder what in the world Hosea thought when this message came to him from God. He knew the message was God given. And so he did it! He had to have been a remarkable man of faith. Often God used symbolism through His prophets to hammer home a lesson. And it always required sacrifice on their part. Think about Hosea … think about his decision … think about marrying and knowing what was coming. We learn later in our book that Hosea loved Gomer.
I suspect there may be some of you reading this More >
I’m Ready (Matthew 25
How do you describe something that is indescribable? We generally default into word pictures … we use phrases like “Well, it is sort of like …”. We use similarities. We use the familiar in hopes of getting a glimpse into the unfamiliar. Jesus does the same. Chapter 25 of Matthew begins with two stories … told by Jesus … stories that attempt to describe what is indescribable with our human limitations. So Jesus begins with … “the kingdom of heaven will be like …” We will read the first one today.
- a shooter walks into a school
- an explosion happens at More >
The Meaning of Trust – Habakkuk 3 (Week 6
Read Habakkuk 3 today. If it has been several days since you were in Habakkuk, it would be advantageous to begin at the beginning of the book to refresh your mind on the flow of the dialogue. Then come back …
In chapter 1 of this book, we observe Habakkuk wondering and questioning. He doesn’t doubt God, he just doesn’t understand.
In chapter 2, we observe the prophet watching and waiting for God’s response and activity. He knows that the righteous live by faith and he is willing to watch and wait – to live by faith.
Then we come to chapter 3 More >
