Devotionals

Daily Reading: 5-11-16

Luke 9:18-27 New Living Translation 

 

Many people have opinions about God; who He is and how Jesus may or may not play a role in the divine Presence. Many religions acknowledge Jesus’ loving leadership in some form or another. Yet, Jesus was not just some amazing leader, prophet, teacher or healer. Jesus Christ strategically meets a lost humanity in a moment of authentic seeking; spiritual exploration to understand the God who claims to be Love. 

 

In our reading today, the disciples have just witnessed Jesus feeding 5,000 men with a sack lunch: five loaves and two fish. By the way, when everyone was fed there were still leftovers. Seriously? Peter and the other disciples are still shaking their heads and wondering who this Jesus really is and how this miracle fits with their image of Almighty God whose Presence they believe lives in the Temple. Jesus knows when we seek and he responds to help the disciples discover Truth.

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Daily Reading:  5-10-16

Acts 26:19-29  New Living Translation 

Paul returns to Jerusalem where he is told by his friends of the many rumors traveling around religious circles about him and his missionary ministry.  Paul is being accused by religious leaders of teaching things that are against the instructions of Moses; circumcision.  As well, Paul is accused of defiling the temple by bringing in non-Jews or Gentiles.  Paul spends the next seven days in prayer and fulfilling Jewish customs in order to demonstrate he is not against the leaders.   He still practices the Jewish lifestyle; he goes the extra mile to avoid offending the religious leaders.  However, there is still a huge uprising when Paul goes to the Temple.  The Jews try to kill him.  Well, the Romans hear about the altercation and go into the mob in order to identify Paul and the reason for the riot.

 

Jerusalem was the seat of Jewish government, but Caesarea was the Roman headquarters for the area.  Paul was a Jew and a Roman citizen, so he was sent to Caesarea to stand trial.  First, Paul stands trial before Felix, the Roman governor, but Felix avoids judgment in order to keep a level of peace.  The Jews are not happy with Felix’s decision.  Paul is kept in prison for two years until Felix is moved back to Rome and Festus becomes governor.  King Agrippa, descendent of Herod the Great and of Jewish descent, travels to attend the trial, because he is responsible for the Temple.  Agrippa and Festus are seeking to govern together.  Paul tells these men the story of his encounter with the resurrected Lord on the road to Damascus and Christ’s appointment for Paul to be a witness of what he has seen of the eternal Lord.  We pick up our reading with Paul’s trial before Festus and Agrippa.

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Daily Reading:  5-9-16

Acts 16:35-40  New Living Translation 

 

The Apostle Paul and his missionary companion, Silas, have been unjustly beaten and placed in jail while in Philippi.  The reason for this treatment is because Paul decides to cast a demon out of a young girl.  The demon in this girl speaks the truth about Paul, Silas, and God, but is doing so in order to make evil look godly—remember Satan comes as an angel of light to rob the glory from God.  Paul takes issue with the lie by casting out the demon.  He makes a lot of people angry, because they are making money from the evil in this girl; the evil fed money fountain becomes dry.

 

While Paul and Silas are in prison (unjust place) singing praises to God and witnessing about God’s glory to the fellow inmates, God sends an earthquake to bring them freedom.  The chains fall off and the cell doors open; the God of Justice moves in behalf of His children.  The jailer tries to kill himself because he is afraid all the prisoners have escaped; it’s what he would have done.  Yet, Paul and Silas remain in the jail in order to bring salvation to the jailer and his family.  We pick up our reading from there…

 

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Daily Reading:  5-6-16

Psalm 97 The Voice Version

 

This morning we will read from Psalm 97 from the Voice version.  I read it in three different translations and I just really liked this one and wanted to share it.  In a world where so many people focus on temporal things, this passage is a wonderful Word for turning our heads to recognize the power and work of the Eternal God.  

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Daily Reading:  5-5-16

Ephesians 1:15-23 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

In his letter to the church at Ephesus, the Apostle Paul exhorts the people for the growth of their love.  He praises God for them; he prays for them to receive a spirit of wisdom and revelation in their connection to Christ.

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Daily Reading:  5-4-16

Luke 2:25-38 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

In our reading from Luke, today, we are in Jerusalem at the Temple.  We meet Simeon; a Spirit-empowered man who is holding on to a promise from the Lord regarding Israel’s Messiah.  As, well, we find Joseph and Mary who have come to fulfill their sacred obligations by presenting Jesus to the Lord.  We meet Anna, a woman devoted to worshiping God.  In a divine appointment, the promise and the present (sign) intersect at a point of revelation; the prophecy is proclaimed to be fulfilled by two witnesses.

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Daily Reading:  5-3-16

Psalm 93 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

I have decided to spend more time this morning meditating on Psalm 93. God loves me and takes care of me; I am touched by His glory.  I believe it; yet, there is more here I need to understand.  

  

1 

The Lord is king! He is robed in majesty.

    Indeed, the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength.

The world stands firm

    and cannot be shaken.

2 

Your throne, O Lord, has stood from time immemorial.

    You yourself are from the everlasting past.

3 

The floods have risen up, O Lord.

    The floods have roared like thunder;

    the floods have lifted their pounding waves.

4 

But mightier than the violent raging of the seas,

    mightier than the breakers on the shore—

    the Lord above is mightier than these!

5 

Your royal laws cannot be changed.

    Your reign, O Lord, is holy forever and ever.

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Daily Reading:  5-2-16

Psalm 93 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

During my quiet times, I sometimes sit looking out over the beauty of creation and allow my thoughts to wander in the Love of God.  It is a special time where I give myself permission to let go of thoughts of pressing duties or expectations and I just enjoy the freedom to daydream about life.  If you know me at all, you realize this place of wandering is an exercise in discipline because I function by a to-do list and a schedule of order most of the time because the many responsibilities I carry require it. These quiet moments are gifts for Mary, because they allow me to focus on things beyond my influence and control; they allow me to remember Who is actually in control.

 

1 

The Lord is king! He is robed in majesty.

    Indeed, the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength.

The world stands firm

    and cannot be shaken.

2 

Your throne, O Lord, has stood from time immemorial.

    You yourself are from the everlasting past.

3 

The floods have risen up, O Lord.

    The floods have roared like thunder;

    the floods have lifted their pounding waves.

4 

But mightier than the violent raging of the seas,

    mightier than the breakers on the shore—

    the Lord above is mightier than these!

5 

Your royal laws cannot be changed.

    Your reign, O Lord, is holy forever and ever.

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Daily Reading:  4-29-16

Proverbs 2:6-8 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Yesterday, we read about gaining wisdom and how that is connected to the fear (reference and awe) of the Lord.  I always think about wisdom being applied truth. Honesty has to do with our behavior in action and in words; the goal is to convey truth.  The quality of honesty is extremely important for a Christ follower, because it is an essential aspect of God’s own nature and purposes.  Christ is Truth.  God is Love and cannot lie (Heb. 6:18).  Satan is the father of lies and our inclination without Christ is to follow Satan and remain lost to the Truth of God’s Love (John 8:44).  We either operate in truth with regard to representing God and our faith in His Love or we, by default, communicate lies.  This is why we must make a decision to stay in God’s Word and seek revelation and understanding.

 

In our reading from the Book of Wisdom today, our passage confirms that wisdom, knowledge and understanding are imparted by the Lord and our goal should be to honestly represent God’s Love with our words and actions.  Let’s read…

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Daily Reading:  4-28-16

Proverbs 2:1-5  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Sometimes asking for things is difficult, but God clearly desires that we would ask for wisdom.  In the Old Testament, wisdom is broken down and described in levels.  At one level, we can connect wisdom with skilled arts (weavers, architects, goldsmiths, etc).  Another level of wisdom is described as an insight into life and offering ways of dealing with life issues.  At still another level, wisdom is described as applied truth to the lives of men and women who represent a way of thinking and conduct that is orderly, socially sensitive, and morally upright.  In the New Testament, wisdom is filled with the elements of practical advice for Christian Living.  Jesus Christ is our role model and God has caused him to be revealed wisdom for us.

 

The Benefits of Wisdom

2 

My child, listen to what I say,

    and treasure my commands.

2 

Tune your ears to wisdom,

    and concentrate on understanding.

3 

Cry out for insight,

    and ask for understanding.

4 

Search for them as you would for silver;

    seek them like hidden treasures.

5 

Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,

    and you will gain knowledge of God.

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