Devotions
Brethren, we have entered a period of great deception and spiritual discernment is an imperative. False Messiahs and False teachers are among us. Matthew warns that many will come saying ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ Others will perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, ‘even the elect.’
I have a habit of judging people by what they say, do, or by what they look like. Quite often, I have to reprimand myself to make room for grace. For example, I was sitting in a restaurant one day, when I saw a young woman walking across the street, skimpily dressed and leaving very little to the imagination.
What does it mean to be a citizen? Currently, there is great upheaval in our nation surrounding the question of citizenship. There are numerous conversations and debates about who belongs and who does not. Some of us may even be drawn into taking a stance on this issue. But who do we really represent, are we citizens of heaven or citizens of earth?
I’ve been mulling a lot lately about what it means to walk in the Spirit. It is the way Jesus walked, and as followers of our Lord, we are called to follow him by walking in the same manner. Walking in the Spirit is more than mere piety. It is complete surrender to the Lordship of Jesus over every sphere of our lives.
Eons ago, the Salvation Army organization hosted an international conference for its employees. Their founder, William Booth, was supposed to give the keynote address, but he fell seriously ill days before the conference and could not travel. Those who had gathered for the conference were told he would not be attending but had sent a letter that would be read at the conference. As the envelope was opened, the employees waited with bated breath to hear what their revered founder was going to tell them.
Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines “courage” as the “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.” The Greek word translated “courage” in Mark 6:50 literally means to have “boldness and confidence.” Whenever God commands courage (boldness), he also provides a reason for that courage. The reason is God himself, his character, his promises, and his plans for his people.
A few weeks ago, I watched a heart-wrenching interview of a 75-year-old senior female who is scared to death of the future. As she spoke to the interviewer her distress was evident. Her lips quivered and her voice and body trembled as she shared her raw feelings concerning her fear. Hope, it seems, is in short supply these days.
As Jesus approached his trial, death and resurrection, his greatest concern was for the unity of his followers. He prayed for his community of disciples then and in the future, including us today. Specifically, he prayed that we would experience complete unity and be perfectly one. Jesus shared that Communities of Faith best show God’s love to the world when we live in unity.
In 2011 a great tsunami hit the coast of Japan. Every home in Anoyeshi Village that was built above the warning marker survived. But there were thousands along the coast who ignored that warning. Over 29000 were killed when the tsunami struck. They died because they ignored the warning signs they should have heeded.
One news station has called fatherlessness the biggest epidemic in America. According to the National Census Bureau, 18.3 million children in the US live in households without a father. This is 1 in every 4 children. The situation is dire, and the sirens are blaring loud and clear. The family is under Satanic attack, perhaps because it is the place where God’s word and Christian teaching is best passed on from one generation to the next.
As a local pastor, I know hundreds of people. I have met them through organizations I have worked for, through churches I have served or visited, and through community events I have attended. I would bet that similarly; you have met hundreds of people in your life. Yet how well do we know the people we have encountered?
Throughout the Bible, God’s people are instructed to stop and recall what God did for them. Psalm 105 is one such instance. It is a song of remembrance of God’s goodness to his people. The Psalmist captures how God directed, provided for and protected the Israelites throughout their history. And as believers in the 21st Century, we can look back and see how God’s plan…
As Jesus approached his trial, death and resurrection, his greatest concern was for the unity of his followers. He prayed for his community of disciples then and in the future, including us today. That means he prayed for me, and for you. Specifically, he prayed that we would experience complete unity and be perfectly one. Jesus shared that Communities of Faith best show God’s love to the world when we live in unity.
Mother’s Day conjures up images of breakfast in bed, bouquets of flowers and special meals surrounded by grateful children. Yet this is not always the way it is. Mother’s Day can also be filled with complicated emotions. Perhaps you are grieving the recent loss of your mother or child, or maybe you are estranged from your children, or you desire to have a child, but things have not worked out as you had hoped.
Serving other people is often a joyous and fulfilling calling. It is not a one-sided ministry but a mutually edifying ministry between caregiver and care receiver. However, there are occasions when it can also be frustrating, and exhausting. There are days when even the best of us may begin to question whether it is worth it. The simple answer is …
The day that changed human history was not a joyful one. Matthew records that there was a violent earthquake, and the guards were so afraid that they shook and became like dead men. The women who came to the tomb to perform the last rites were sad and somber. This Easter morning was not a time to celebrate, it was a time to weep
After a somewhat dreary winter, it is wonderful to see, hear, feel, taste, and smell the colors, sounds, textures and flavors of spring. No matter what else is happening around us, springtime brings a sense of newness, vitality and hope. This transition from winter to spring should remind us that no season lasts forever.
A few years ago, an acquaintance of mine was diagnosed with heart trouble. There was a sense of urgency in dealing with the problem. The doctor told her that if the situation deteriorated it would cost my friend her life. Fortunately, there was a medical procedure available immediately that would improve her quality of life and possibly extend it as well.
