Weekly Devotions

02 May

Posted at 14:17h in Weekly Devotions

It is Sunday morning. Mary Magdalene, longtime follower of Jesus, is still in shock over his death. To make matters worse, she discovers that his tomb is now empty....

25 Apr

Posted at 14:15h in Weekly Devotions

In the Middle East, it is common to greet one another by saying, “Peace.” That was true already at the time when Jesus rose from the dead. So when he appeared to his disciples and said, “Peace be with you,” it could have been understood as a simple greeting....

17 Apr

Posted at 18:00h in Weekly Devotions

What brings you joy? Does it come when you run a mile in under ten minutes? Perhaps it is when you are flush with cash. Or it may simply be when you are with the people you love. Interestingly, in all of these examples, joy is the product of outward circumstances in your life....

10 Apr

Posted at 18:10h in Weekly Devotions

It feels good to know, doesn't it? If you are among a group of friends or coworkers, and everyone is wondering about something, it feels good to be the one in the know. As everyone fixes their eyes on you in silence, just waiting to hear what you have to tell them, you smile to yourself and relish the opportunity to share the news. It feels good to be the one in the know....

03 Apr

Posted at 18:24h in Weekly Devotions

As Jesus speaks words of peace and commissioning, remember the setting. His disciples were cowering behind locked doors. They had just heard from a resurrection eyewitness, yet doubts still echoed. But suddenly there was Jesus: speaking peace to their doubting hearts and sending them to a world where doubt and fear still ruled many hearts....

29 Mar

Posted at 14:28h in Weekly Devotions

For some of us, if we are so blessed, "father" is among the warmest of words. For others, "father" names an emptiness, a familiar ache for someone who combines soul-calming strength with tenderest affection, take-to-the-grave wisdom with predictable grace. Someone who is completely yours....

20 Mar

Posted at 16:42h in Weekly Devotions

"Finished" the sound trailed from Jesus' lips as he gasped for breath on the cross. There was purpose behind that word. Earlier in his ministry-according to John's gospel account-when Jesus said that he had "food to eat that you know nothing about," he explained to his confused disciples, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work." A short while later, Jesus affirmed that "the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me." In both the original text and in our English translation, the same verb is used in each of these statements: "finish." The work of Jesus was to finish his Father's will. ...

13 Mar

Posted at 14:14h in Weekly Devotions

We should not pass over those words in the middle, "and so that Scripture would be fulfilled," too quickly. They are not an incidental aside: they are at the heart of Jesus' life and ministry, and they reveal the heart of our Messiah to us....

06 Mar

Posted at 18:27h in Weekly Devotions

I jumped offside once in junior high football. It was a "double go," and I jumped on the first "go." I gave the other team a first down. Another player came running in and said, "Thomford, you're out!" I ran to the sidelines and stood by the coach. He did not yell at me. He did not speak to me. He didn't even look at me. I knew he was angry at my foolish mistake. But he just ignored me. That was tough. But I deserved it....

28 Feb

Posted at 18:39h in Weekly Devotions

Thirty-three years before this day, an elderly prophet held this same Jesus in his arms and spoke Spirit- given words to his mother, "And a sword will pierce your own soul, too."...