NALC Advent Devotions – December 3, 2017
Sunday of the Week of Advent I Lift up your heads, O Gates; lift them high O everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. “Who is this King of glory?” “The LORD, strong and mighty, the...
Sunday of the Week of Advent I Lift up your heads, O Gates; lift them high O everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. “Who is this King of glory?” “The LORD, strong and mighty, the...
Today’s readings: Isaiah 24:14-23; 1 Peter 3:13–4:6; Matthew 20:17-28 It is a bold request that the mother of the sons of Zebedee made of Jesus: asking for places of honor for her sons within the kingdom of God. Amazingly, Jesus did not...
Today’s readings: Zephaniah 3:1-13; 1 Peter 2:11-25; Matthew 20:1-16 Wait for the Lord; he will accomplish the day’s goal. Entrust yourself to him, not to your own industry and diligence. Consider the parable in today’s gospel reading. Early in...
Obadiah 15-21; 1 Peter 2:1-10; Matthew 19:23-30 I have sometimes been accused of using Jesus as a crutch. I admit I have definitely learned to lean on him. He is the rock on which I depend for my life and for...
Today’s readings: Nahum 1:1-13; 1 Peter 1:13-25; Matthew 19:13-22 We find very little in Scripture about little children. Most biblical stories speak about the adults in God’s plan of salvation. In some cases, like in the story of the feeding of the...
Today’s readings: Joel 3:1-2, 9-17; 1 Peter 1:1-12; Matthew 19:1-12 In the past several years, much has been said about marriage. Many folks argue who should be allowed to marry and who has the right to define marriage. For the record, Jesus, who...
Today’s readings: Isaiah 19:19-25; Romans 15:5-13; Luke 19:11-27 I remember working years ago at a lumber company for a rather disagreeable boss. He was very demanding and expected a lot out of me and certain other employees. I watched as others did...
Today’s readings: Nehemiah 4:1-23; Revelation 7:4-17; Matthew 13:31-35 Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown...
Today’s readings: Nehemiah 2:1-20; Revelation 6:12–7:4; Matthew 13:24-30 Many years ago, while on family vacation, I decided to take a detour to visit a plantation that had acre upon acre of original Victorian gardens. Once there, I was overcome with joy to...
Today’s readings: Nehemiah 1:1-11; Revelation 5:11–6:11; Matthew 13:18-23 Is there any hope for this world? See the horses and their riders? First comes greed and its cousin, war. Then comes the bloody violence of war. Lack of food follows. And finally, Death...