Daily Bible Devotions
Archive page 14 of 27.
Deuteronomy 5:1
Testing Jesus
The Pharisees came to ask Jesus for a sign even though they had witnessed the many miracles of healing he had performed. They had heard him preach and knew the authority with which he did it. Why didn
Reviewed February 12, 2025
1 Kings 11:4
God is There When We are at our Lowest
Have you ever been the victim of another's lies or worse? If it's a friend or relative, you feel betrayed. If it's someone else, you can feel disbelief, anger, all sorts of emotions. For David or any
Reviewed February 12, 2025
Genesis 1:1
We Have Been Saved by the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus
This is the primary message of the Good News; the basis of our faith. Paul is telling the Corinthians that this is the teaching that they must hold fast to. We have been saved to the death and resurre
Reviewed February 12, 2025
Proverbs 20:2
Have Reverence for the Holy
By this time in Jesus' ministry, the chief priests, the scribes and the Jewish leaders were getting worried about him and his influence over the people. They were concerned on many different levels.
Reviewed February 11, 2025
1 Samuel 9:5
A Tree is Known by its Fruit
We have often heard the phrase, "By their fruits you shall know them." Perhaps you weren't aware that it comes from Luke's gospel. But this phrase refers to much more than trees, as you can see. The
Reviewed February 9, 2025
Judges 7:15
Yahweh Want Good for his People
God has crowned the Israelites with victory, and even though they celebrate the victory, they need to be prepared for future challenges. They are fine for a while and then forget about God and repent
Reviewed February 9, 2025
Proverbs 20:1
We are Called to be Generous With What We Have
In the beginning days of Christianity, the people would still gather in the synagogues on Saturday, the Sabbath, to listen to the reading of the Torah and the prophets. On Sunday, the first day of th
Reviewed February 9, 2025
1 John 5:2
The Knowledge of Good and Evil
With one small act of disobedience, sin entered the world. Do you ever wonder what induced Eve and then Adam to eat of the forbidden fruit? You have to admit that the serpent was sneaky! He didn't sa
Reviewed February 8, 2025
Proverbs 20:4
May We be Humble As Jesus was Humble
In the Common Lectionary, today is dedicated to the Triumph of the Cross. We don't necessarily think of this as a triumph, but Jesus' death on the cross was our salvation. For us, this was a triumph.
Reviewed February 8, 2025
Deuteronomy 5:4
Salvation for All
For all those who might think that Jesus only listens to Christians, this should give them pause. Of course the people listening to this exchange were Jews, who thought that the Messiah was only for
Reviewed February 6, 2025
2 Kings 12:3
Jesus Judges the Heart
I have read the story of Jesus' meeting with Zacchaeus many times, and each time I hear something new. Today, I decided that Zacchaeus has been wrongly accused. He was considered a sinner because he
Reviewed February 6, 2025
Joel 3:4
We Must Forgive as God Forgives
I'm sure you are familiar with the parable of the unjust servant. The servant in this story owes the king a lot of money but when he begs the king for mercy and promises to pay it all back if he will
Reviewed February 6, 2025
James 5:1
Clean or Unclean
Mark's gospel continues with a list of those things that make defile the man: evil thoughts, sexual sins, thefts, murders, adulteries, coveting, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasp
Reviewed February 5, 2025
Jeremiah 6:1
Don't be Afraid
Many people stay away from the Book of Revelation because they find the symbolism frightening or confusing, or both! But the Book of Revelation was meant to be a book of comfort to those caught up in
Reviewed February 5, 2025
1 Chronicles 13:5
Thank You Lord for Your Mercy
We are so grateful that God listens to us and is merciful to us when we cry out for help. I am especially grateful when I know that I am in trouble through my own fault. Don't you hate it when you do
Reviewed February 5, 2025
Joshua 6:6
We Need to Use Our Gifts
We know the end of the story. The first two men used their talents wisely and increased their value. For their good work, the master rewarded them. The third, buried his talent and when the master ret
Reviewed February 3, 2025
James 5:8
Be Merciful to Me, Oh Lord
There is nothing new in these verses, but they are certainly ones we need to reflect upon often. Jesus would not keep repeating these reminders so often, if they were not important. What is mercy? We
Reviewed February 3, 2025
Malachi 4:6
The Healing Continues
Jesus continues his journey proclaiming the Good News of the coming of the Kingdom and his fame spread throughout the area. Word of the healings that had taken place encouraged people to bring their s
Reviewed February 2, 2025
2 Peter 3:14
The New Commandment Contains the Old
John is reminding the new Christians that the "new" commandment is nothing new, but an affirmation of the law. Love covers all the bases. As we're mentioned before, if we always choose love, we cannot
Reviewed February 2, 2025
James 5:5
My God, I Trust in You
This is another psalm that reminds us of the steady presence of God in our world. No matter what happens, God is there in the midst of it. Whether the problem is a national or international disaster,
Reviewed February 2, 2025
Malachi 4:6
We All Need Healing
Jesus wants to heal us. What kind of healing do you need? There are days when I wake up with a terrible sinus headache. There are times when I grieve for and with others. There are times when I wond
Reviewed January 31, 2025
2 Peter 3:14
We Live What We Believe
After giving Titus a list of qualities for the leaders of this new community, and telling them that the older generation needs to be good examples to the next generation, he lists the virtues that the
Reviewed January 31, 2025
2 Peter 3:3
Shine Your Light into our Lives
Everyone suffers what some have called "the dark night of the soul" at some point in their lives. It can happen when a tragedy strikes or when you just feel that God isn't listening. Saints have wri
Reviewed January 31, 2025
Jeremiah 6:15
Being Family
What does it take to be "Family?" For me, it means love, forgiveness, compassion, courage and sacrifice. Today we see Mary and Joseph bringing the baby Jesus to the temple to complete the purificati
Reviewed January 30, 2025
Deuteronomy 5:1
Living As a Witness to Christ
Paul is writing to Titus in Crete. Titus had been with Paul on his journeys and is being trusted to build up the church in Crete and appoint leadership for the community. In the first chapter, he giv
Reviewed January 30, 2025
John 21:25
May We be the Yeast Bringing the Good News
We have reflected on the importance of being the yeast of goodness and justice in our community, and now we read of Paul's concern about being the yeast of malice and wickedness. Think about the pers
Reviewed January 30, 2025
1 Kings 11:2
Do As I Say, Not As I Do
Of course, this could also be called, "Practice what you preach!" This week's gospel reading gives us several directions in which to go. Humility would be another direction from the one I have chose
Reviewed January 28, 2025
2 Peter 3:4
Who is Worthy
The last line of his translation didn't make much sense to me so I checked a couple of other translations: ",..who seek the face of the God of Jacob" was in two of them. I only checked this so that t
Reviewed January 28, 2025
Genesis 1:6
I Am in Your Midst
Jesus is speaking to us today from his Jewish tradition that had a similar statement, that if two were sitting together and the words of the Torah were between them, there was also the presence of God
Reviewed January 28, 2025
1 Kings 11:4
All is Vanity
Today we have one of my favorite books in the Old Testament – Ecclesiastes! It is second only to Psalms. What are riches? What is so important about having things? Now, I'm not talking about necessi
Reviewed January 27, 2025
Genesis 20:7
Are We Wise or Foolish
Today's Gospel concerns a group of bridesmaids waiting for the bridegroom to come and whether or not they will be prepared. Five are pretty sure that the bridegroom will show up when expected and so d
Reviewed January 27, 2025
Genesis 1:19
To Be a Disciple is to Suffer For Christ
As we read this passage from Paul's letter to the Corinthians, we are looking at a catalogue of the difficulties of being a disciple. Makes it easier to see why people don't drop everything and follow
Reviewed January 27, 2025
1 John 5:2
The Problem with Guilt
Does anyone sin anymore? We have a problem with admitting the existence of sin in our world today. We feel little responsibility to ask for forgiveness or to acknowledge that our actions have conseque
Reviewed January 25, 2025
James 5:5
Trust in the Goodness of God
When we have God, we have everything we need. God guides us in doing what is right and we are rewarded by others doing well by us. It really is true that we reap what we sow. Yes, I know that there w
Reviewed January 25, 2025
Jeremiah 6:1
I Will Follow Jesus
The apostles dropped everything and followed Jesus even though they felt that they were sinners. I'm sure they didn't have a clue what would be expected of them, but they still said yes. We are calle
Reviewed January 25, 2025
1 Kings 11:4
We Are Not Alone
When I read this passage, the first thing that popped into my mind was support groups. Whether the groups are encouraging us, comforting us, or challenging us, we are with people who understand who we
Reviewed January 24, 2025
Zechariah 14:1
We Share Our Faith, to Bring Others Our Joy
We should give no one a reason to misjudge our intentions when we speak about God. We are not trying to impress anyone. We are not trying to infer that we who believe are better than those who don't.
Reviewed January 24, 2025
2 Peter 3:3
Eternal Life is Worth More Than Anything on Earth
Most of us probably think that we haven't lost anything by choosing to be a Christian. Most of all Paul has lost his freedom, and lost it more than once as he was imprisoned more than once. He had be
Reviewed January 22, 2025
James 5:5
Our Heart Rejoices in the Lord, Our God
Where can we place our trust? Trust is an interesting thing. We learn trust from our parents and those who are first entrusted with us. When I was a young mother with four children and pregnant wit
Reviewed January 22, 2025
Judges 7:15
Proudly Proclaim the Good News!
Jesus knew that the apostles would be persecuted for proclaiming the Kingdom of God and was warning them. It is also a warning for us. The apostles would proclaim the message risking death and were o
Reviewed January 22, 2025
2 Peter 3:3
Be a Light in Today's World
I love the line that tells us to do all things without complaining and arguing! If you have children, you know how difficult it is to get them to do their chores, their homework, empty the garbage, e
Reviewed January 21, 2025
2 Peter 3:10
We Recognize Authority When We Hear It!
Teachers are an interesting lot. We have all experienced teachers who really didn't know their subject very well as well as teachers who knew their subject inside and out. The teachers who know their
Reviewed January 21, 2025
Genesis 1:6
Who Do We Listen to?
Why do we listen to people who just want to lure us away from God? King Joash had reigned since he was seven years old, having been protected as an infant and saved because of the actions of Jehoiada
Reviewed January 21, 2025
James 5:5
We Trust Because We Remember
Most of us are familiar with Psalm 22 even though we may be less familiar with this portion of the psalm. This is the psalm that Jesus quoted while hanging on the cross. It contains phrases that descr
Reviewed January 19, 2025
James 5:20
Where is Your Treasure?
What do you value? What are the things you treasure? We have considered these questions in another context, but it's worth considering again as we read these words from Matthew's Gospel. I have noti
Reviewed January 19, 2025
John 21:10
Fear Not, Have Confidence with Christ
Paul doesn't care how the Good News is proclaimed or who proclaims it as long as people hear about Jesus. It didn't matter if someone was trying to be a big deal or not. Paul wanted everyone to get th
Reviewed January 18, 2025
Proverbs 20:1
The Simplicity of Wisdom
Paul came to preach the Good News – of the Cross! How many of us would wear a guillotine or an electric chair, or a noose, or any other form of execution around our necks? And yet we proudly wear a c
Reviewed January 18, 2025
Genesis 1:6
Heaven is in Our Hearts From the Beginning
I often read Ecclesiastes because I enjoy its philosophy. I found this passage interesting because of the line in it that states that God has "set eternity in their hearts." It reminds me of a saying
Reviewed January 18, 2025
Ecclesiastes 12:2
We Must Stand Firm in the Face of Temptation
The introduction of Paul's letter to the Philippians echoes many of the same sentiments as in his letter to the Ephesians. He is praying for them to stay firm in their beliefs and to grow in knowledge
Reviewed January 16, 2025
James 5:20
We Must Be Ready
"Be prepared," is the motto of the Boy Scouts, and Jesus is telling us that it should be our motto as well. This week, we've reflected a few times on the importance of living each day prepared to mee
Reviewed January 16, 2025