“But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, ‘You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You […]
05/08/23 Daily Devotion – Be mindful of the enemy!
“It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.” (Acts 12:1–3, […]
03/16/23 Daily Devotion – Something’s wrong!
“When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away.” (Luke 23:48, NIV84) Jesus had given up His life. The three hours of darkness had ended. The cursing, shouting and accusations had stopped. What seemed to have been a tsunami of rage and emotion […]
03/15/23 Daily Devotion – Jesus did not die by crucifixion!
“Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last.” (Luke 23:46, NIV84) I get a lot of comfort from Jesus’ final statement from the cross. He no longer says, “My God, My God…”, but once again the deeply relational “Father” […]
03/08/23 Daily Devotion – Their shouts prevailed!
“But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that He be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant them their demand.” (Luke 23:23-24) This verse alone disproves the idea of majority rules. Why? Because the majority isn’t always right. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the minority or in the majority. What matters […]
03/04/23 Daily Devotion – The hour of darkness!
“Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, ‘Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this […]
03/02/23 Daily Devotion – Sweat like drops of blood
“And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” (Luke 22:44, NIV84) In one of his books C. S. Lewis talked about temptation with a clarity I will never forget. He talked about how Jesus underwent temptation just like you and me. He faced […]
02/28/23 Daily Devotion – Praying about temptation
“Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’ ” (Luke 22:39–40, NIV84) Two to three times Jesus warned the disciples to pray about not falling into temptation during this short period of […]
02/27/23 Daily Devotion – He knows what’s coming!
“‘Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’” (Luke 22:31–32, NIV84) For the first time, I draw comfort from these verses. Previously when I read them, my mind would jump directly to […]
02/13/23 Daily Devotion – The contrast of the two kingdoms!
“Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.” (Luke 19:47–48, NIV84) These two verses, once again, show […]
