Tag: redemption
-
Otherly Holiness
Psalm 22:23-31; Genesis 15:1-21; Romans 3:21-31 (read online ⧉) In Genesis, we read of the covenant God made with Abram. When we look at the blood and sacrifices from a modern perspective, it is easy to be repulsed or disgusted by the concept. In Abram’s time, this was a normal way to seal a covenant.…
-
Who Gets In?
2 Kings 21: 1–18, Luke 13:31–35, Romans 11:1–12 (read online ⧉) Scripture leaves no question as to Manasseh. He was not a man after God’s own heart. While the image of God was in him, he in no way honored it. He led his people even further away from God. He is not alone in…
-
Blowing Smoke Into Our Own Eyes
Isaiah 30:8–13 (read online ⧉) Hearing the truth about ourselves is often uncomfortable. We like to hear good stuff, but do our best to avoid that feels bad, or might cause us to look at ourselves badly. We are not alone. When Isaiah is sent to confront the Israelites with a bad report, you can…
-
Look at Me! Or Not…
Luke 18:10–14, 1 Corinthians 1:26–31 (read online ⧉) This passage in Luke, rightfully, is often used in the church to admonish the people about how they view other Christians. This passage speaks truth to the world, no matter their beliefs. Almost every person is a Pharisee. It is part of the fallen human condition. We…
-
Do Black Sheep Stay Black?
Genesis 49:1–2 and 49:8–12, 2 Samuel 7:12–16, Luke 1:67–79, Revelation 5:2–14 (read online ⧉) You might have gathered from all the scriptures that this is about the lineage of Judah. The lineage of the same guy from yesterday’s devotion who seem to not particularly care about those of his lineage that followed him. Despite that,…
-
Why of Baptism
John 1:19–28, John 3:22–28, Acts 19:1–7 (read online ⧉) Baptism holds a central place in the Christian church from its very beginning. The only other act that is of equal or perhaps greater importance is the Eucharist (i.e., Communion). Today, it is the ceremony/event by which people are welcomed into the church universal. Over the…
-
Synaxis of John the Baptist
John 1:24-34, John 3:27–30 (read online ⧉) John the Baptist is one of those interesting characters of Scripture. He wore camel hair and ate locust-honey “cakes”. He called everyone to repent. People came from miles around to see him, and many were baptized by him. He was definitely a famous person. Was it the show,…
-
Wednesday after the Third Sunday of Advent
Job 33:14–30, Nehemiah 12:31–43, Luke 15:3–7 (read online ⧉) Elihu (from Job) is probably the most enigmatic person in the Book of Job. He just appears and disappears. It is almost as if there is something more going on than just a tirade. Now, Elihu definitely said things that were wrong, but many of his…