Tag: DEVOTIONALS

  • THE ART OF DISCIPLINE

    Connect The TestamentsIsaiah 5:1–6:13; Luke 1:67–2:21; Job 2:1–10 Jesus didn’t die for us so that we could continue to sin—He sacrificed Himself so that we could have sinless lives. God is patient, but His patience does not last forever. We wouldn’t test His patience so often if we had not lost sight of the notion…

  • SMALL PLAYERS

    Connect The TestamentsIsaiah 2:6–4:6; Luke 1:39–66; Job 1:13–22 A priest should know better. A man representing the spiritual state of God’s people shouldn’t be so quick to question God’s promises. But for Zechariah, obedience became complicated. When the angel Gabriel told him he’d have a son, he responded with doubt: “By what will I know…

  • CONNECTING THE STORIES

    Connect The TestamentsIsaiah 1:1–2:5; Luke 1:1–38; Job 1:1–12 The connections between the Testaments aren’t readily apparent, but a closer reading—empowered by the Spirit—can reveal them. Such is the case with the connections among Isaiah, Luke, and Job. The authors of each of these books begin by introducing a person, and then they invite us into…

  • COSMIC, CREATION, CHAOS

    Connect The Testaments2 Samuel 23:1–24:25; Jude 1:17–25; Psalm 148:1–150:6 Psalm 148 is cosmic in scope and comforting in message. It’s a depiction of how Yahweh brought order to chaos in the very beginning. Yahweh put the heavens, heights, angels, hosts (His armies), sun, moon, stars, and waters in their place—each a sign of His rule…

  • DESTRUCTIVE PEOPLE

    Connect The Testaments2 Samuel 22:1–51; Jude 1:1–16; Psalm 147:1–20 Some destructive people don’t realize the carnage they leave in their wake. Others intentionally cause rifts and pain, driven by selfish motives. Jude’s letter, which contains succinct prose, startling imagery, and a swift warning, is unlike anything we read in Scripture. The letter equipped early Christians…

  • WHEN IT’S REALLY URGENT

    Connect The Testaments2 Samuel 20:1–21:22; 2 Peter 3:14–18; Psalm 146:1–10 The urgency of God’s work is easily lost on us. But to the early church, Jesus’ return seemed imminent. We get a sense of this urgency in Peter’s second letter, where he writes that every moment between now and when Jesus returns is a moment…

  • I WILL LAUD YOUR DEEDS

    Connect The Testaments2 Samuel 19:1–43; 2 Peter 3:1–13; Psalm 145:1–21 I grew up in a family of stoics. Through example, my siblings and I were taught to keep our emotions to ourselves. Displays of excessive affection or sorrow were regarded with some suspicion, and this played out in our expressions of faith. Psalm 145 directly…

  • THE TRICKS WE PLAY ON OURSELVES

    Connect The Testaments2 Samuel 18:1–33; 2 Peter 2:12–22; Psalm 144:1–15 A great deal of leadership is based on consistency. King David is a prime example: He struggled most when he was inconsistent. David’s son, Absalom, committed horrific acts against David and others (2 Sam 14–17). David repeatedly responded in a manner unbefitting a king, finally…

  • COURTROOM DRAMA, DAYTIME TV, AND GOOD DIETY

    Connect The Testaments2 Samuel 16:1–17:29; 2 Peter 2:1–11; Psalm 143:1–12 I remember old television courtroom episodes where people beg for forgiveness from a cynical judge when they should seek forgiveness from the person they’ve wronged. Usually these shows take the irony to the next level: The judge shows less mercy to those who beg, viewing…

  • THE DIFFICULT ISSUES OF THE HERETICS

    Connect The Testaments2 Samuel 14:1–15:37; 2 Peter 1:16–21; Psalm 141:1–142:7 Distinguishing between correct and false teaching has plagued nearly every church. We ask questions such as, “Are we venturing too far in that direction?” “Is this just my personal theological issue, or is this actually a big deal?” “Should I be concerned about that, or is it…