Devotional

Read the Word: Judges 4:17-23 Meditate on the Word: Sometimes, what the world needs is a well-placed woman of God. In a lather-rinse-repeat episode from the book of Judges, the people have done evil in the sight of God and are being oppressed by an enemy. This time, Deborah is serving as their judge. Deborah sends… Read More »

Read the Word: Psalm 118:14-24 Meditate on the Word: Every victory is celebrated for a time. Whether it’s a victory in a sporting contest or winning a war, people will celebrate for a day or so, then usually return to their normal lives. Most people I know spend the day after Easter going back to… Read More »

Read the Word: Psalm 22:1-31 Meditate on the Word: Written nearly a thousand years before the crucifixion, this psalm very clearly pictures the suffering of Christ on the cross. We have often heard that shortly before His death, our Lord quoted the beginning of this psalm (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34). The physical agony that Jesus… Read More »

Read the Word: John 13:1-17 Meditate on the Word: Many of our high church brethren know today as “Maundy Thursday.” The word “maundy” comes from the Latin word mandatum, which means commandment. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples in a grand act of service to them, then commanded that they do the same to each… Read More »

Read the Word: Hebrews 12:1-3 Meditate on the Word: The author of Hebrews had just spent chapter 11 telling us about various heroes of the faith throughout history: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Moses. These were people who did not have an easy time. Their lives were hard, but they persevered. These (and… Read More »

Read the Word: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 Meditate on the Word: Years ago, I worked at a nursing home in the unit that housed Alzheimer’s patients. I observed the entire cycle from being slightly confused to full-on combativeness to finally being bedridden. It was very tough for their families, and of course, emotionally and physically draining… Read More »

Read the Word: John 12:1-11 Meditate on the Word: Judas and the chief priest are proof that someone can see the works of our Lord and yet work against Him. Judas, who had followed Jesus for His entire earthly ministry, saw the miracles, heard the teachings, and had even gone on a mission trip, found it… Read More »

Read the Word: Hebrews 2:10-18 Meditate on the Word: Have you ever, when going through a situation, been told, “I know what you’re going through.”? Has this ever been told to you by someone that you know has absolutely no idea what you’re actually going through? Sometimes when people want to be helpful, they can say… Read More »

Read the Word: Isaiah 53:1-12 Meditate on the Word: Over 700 years before the birth of our Lord, Prophet Isaiah was telling people about His suffering for our sin. This can be very hard to read, because it seems rather violent. Being despised (v. 3), afflicted (v. 4), pierced and crushed (v. 5), oppressed, afflicted,… Read More »

Read the Word: Luke 18:31-34 Meditate on the Word: Many older Christians, who have followed Christ long-term, have shared a similar experience with me. That experience is, when reading a very familiar passage, they will suddenly see and understand it in a way that they never have before. God reveals something fresh to them at… Read More »