Suffering Servant Isaiah 61:1-11 Monday, Suffering Servant “The spirit of the Lord is upon me” (Isaiah 61:1a). In this passage of Isaiah, the servant is talking. Who the servant is has been a hotly debated topic. The Church has appropriated this passage and applied it to Jesus. The writer of Isaiah probably didn’t have […]
Year 1, Narrative Lectionary, Matthew.
Isaiah 40:1-11–Comfort
Comfort Devotions for Isaiah 40:1-11 Monday–Comfort “Comfort, O comfort my people, says the Lord” (Isaiah 11:1) Parents with seriously sick children are a wonder to behold. Most of them, after watching all of the medial procedures their children had to endure and seeing their children sick and in pain, would change places with their children […]
Acts 2:1-21, The Holy Spirit Comes
The Holy Spirit Comes Devotions on Acts 2:1-4 Monday–The Holy Spirit Comes “They were all together in one place” (Acts 2:1). The panorama of the Serengeti in Tanzania was magnificent. Wildlife was everywhere. There were thousands of herds of wildebeests, zebras and various species of gazelle. The lions traveled in prides and the hyenas […]
Genesis 1:1-2-4, God’s Image
God’s Image Devotions on Genesis 1:1 – 2:4a Monday–God’s Image “In the beginning God created” (Genesis 1:1). Things weren’t going right for Carlota; life was a struggle. She felt she was battling forces that were bigger and more powerful than she was—and she was losing. Luck and fate were against her. Bad karma was adversely […]
Song of Solomon 2:10-13, 8:6-7, Deep Love
Deep Love Devotions on Song of Solomon 2:10-13, 8:6-7 Monday–Deep Love “My beloved speaks and says to me” (Song of Solomon 2:10a). The Song of Solomon is a love poem about the love between two people. Most commentators justify its existence in the Bible by making it an allegory for God’s love. Though I don’t […]
Ecclesiastes 3:1-17–Seasons
Seasons Devotions for Ecclesiastes 3:1-17 Monday–Seasons “For everything there is a season” (Ecclesiastes 3:1a). People in Minnesota and Wisconsin enjoy four distinct seasons. There’s spring when the snow melts, trees bud and flowers start to peek out of the ground. Summer follows with its warm days, green grass and time spent by a lake. […]
Proverbs 1:1-7, 3:1-8, Wisdom
Wisdom Devotions on Proverbs 1:1-7, 3:1-8 Monday–Wisdom “For gaining instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice and equity” (Proverbs 1:3). One of the most precious gifts that God has given us is the ability to learn. We are all blessed with an innate curiosity. We use this ability to gain knowledge and understanding about what we […]
2 Peter 3:1-18–Waiting
Waiting Devotions on 2 Peter 3:1-10, 17-18 Monday–Waiting “This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you; in them I am trying to arouse your sincere intention by reminding you ….” (2 Peter 3:1). How do you wait? Many people grab their cell phones and play the latest video games. Some pace, […]
2 Peter 1:16-2:19–Watch Out
Watch Out Devotions on 2 Peter 1:16-2:2, 15-19 Monday–Watch Out “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16). The men’s breakfast club was made up of seven young men […]
2 Peter 1:1-11–Everything Needed
Everything Needed Devotions on 2 Peter 1:1-11 Monday—Everything Needed “Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1). How do you describe yourself? Often, we do so by telling people what we do—physicians, teachers, construction workers, etc. At other times we may identify who we are related to—Miguel’s partner, Alicia’s parent, or […]