Devotional

Read the Word: Isaiah 30:15-18 Meditate on the Word: We live in an age of commoditized panic. Competing interests market disaster and fear, then present themselves as the only possible salvation from the fear they have generated. This industrialization of fear only serves those who profit from it. But fear does not lead to great… Read More »

Read the Word: Psalm 107:1-3 Meditate on the Word: This short introduction to this psalm is packed with great reminders. I love that this psalm starts with a reminder to “give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.” Of course the psalm goes on to list great things that the Lord has done, but… Read More »

Read the Word: Psalm 107:10-16 Meditate on the Word: It doesn’t take going very far into a cave before it becomes completely dark. If you are deep into the earth with no light and narrow walls, it doesn’t take very long for the feeling of being trapped to take over. When you’ve reached the point… Read More »

Read the Word: Mark 14:66-72 Meditate on the Word: Hours before this episode, Jesus warns Peter in Mark 14:30 that Peter will deny his Lord. We see that Peter is very confident in his ability to stand strong. Yet, after a night of falling asleep instead of praying, then angrily drawing his sword, then hiding… Read More »

Read the Word: Psalm 107:17-22 Meditate on the Word: There once was a woman who was sick for a very long time. Every time she went to the doctor, she would tell him what symptoms she was having and he would prescribe something new to take care of this particular set of symptoms. At one… Read More »

Read the Word: Luke 22:66-71 Meditate on the Word: This week, we have been looking at the different gospel accounts of the trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin. Luke’s account doesn’t focus on the false witnesses, but instead on the Sanhedrin’s question of whether or not Jesus will claim to be the Messiah. Jesus’ response… Read More »

Read the Word: Matthew 26:57-67 Meditate on the Word: Matthew’s account of the religious trial of Jesus gives us details that add to Mark’s account. For instance, Peter’s motivation for following, “to see the outcome (or the end)” is mentioned here. Matthew’s account makes it more clear that there were many false witnesses who came,… Read More »

Read the Word: Mark 14:53-65 Meditate on the Word: Pay attention to Jesus’ words in v. 62, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Do these words fill you with excitement about the return of Christ? For those… Read More »

Read the Word: Mark 14:53-65 Meditate on the Word: When reading about those who gave false testimony about what Jesus had said, I find myself asking a simple question. How could the stories of these false witnesses not agree? Did they not rehearse them? There was no defense questioning, because Jesus remained silent. It seems… Read More »

Read the Word: Psalm 19:1-14 Meditate on the Word: I recently saw a news article about a group that takes disabled veterans on excursions out into nature. The idea was that these vets would build comeraderie during the excursion, each not feeling quite as alone with their injuries. It was also noted several times during… Read More »