Posts with the category “all-things-new”

The LORD raised up judges, who saved them from the power of their marauders, (Judges 2:16) This chapter is a dark turning point in Israel’s story. After all they’d been through since Egypt, they’d alr...  Read More

May my prayer be set before you as incense, the raising of my hands as the evening offering (Psalm 141:2) Psalm 141 brings us the beautiful language of worship. As a covenant people of God, He is form...  Read More

He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. (Matthew 22:37) One of the things Jesus was good at, as if He wasn’t good at everything, was mo...  Read More

I delight to do your will, my God, and your instruction is deep within me. (Psalm 40:8) From Sinai to Jesus, God has declared His people a Kingdom of priests, spiritual ambassadors in a dark and broke...  Read More

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 P...  Read More

“and you will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.” (Exodus 19:6) By the time the Israelites arrive at Mount Sinai, they’ve seen alo...  Read More

“Judah became his sanctuary, Israel, his dominion.” (Psalm 114:2) Psalm 114 is a song full of wonder and awe. It paints a picture as Israel comes out of Egypt, the sea flees, the Jordan turns around, ...  Read More

“They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:31) I love the story of the experience on the Mount of Transfiguration. It’s full of...  Read More

 “their hearts were insincere toward him, and they were unfaithful to his covenant.” (Psalm 78:37) Psalm 78 tells a very familiar story; God does might works then His people forget and rebel. We see t...  Read More

“Wasn’t it you who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made the sea-bed into a road for the redeemed to pass over?” (Isaiah 51:10) Isaiah 51 speaks in a powerful way to a people who n...  Read More

 “He answered, “I will certainly be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I am the one who sent you: when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will all worship God at this mountain.”” (Exo...  Read More

These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents ...  Read More

Then he touched their eyes, saying, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” (Matthew 9:29) In Matthew 9, we find two blind men following Jesus crying out "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" Bu...  Read More

Lord, who can dwell in your tent? Who can live on your holy mountain? (Psalm 15:1) We've spent considerable time discussing that righteousness comes through trusting God and not ourselves. Then, today...  Read More

He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what God had promised he was also able to do. (Romans 4:20–21...  Read More

Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6) At this point in the story, Abram has heard the promise of God, obeyed His call, and walked with God to an unfamilia...  Read More

May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him. (Psalm 67:7) As we've noted before, we seem to have a bend towards turning things in on ourselves. We pray for our own churches...  Read More

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad. (John 8:56) For the Jews of Jesus' day, there were few things which would infuriate them more than for someone to claim an inappropr...  Read More

For he remembered his holy promise to Abraham his servant. (Psalm 105:42) In Genesis 12 we saw the promise, the covenant of God to Abraham. Galatians 3 reminded us just how far reaching that promise r...  Read More

Consequently, those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith. (Galatians 3:9) There's a saying that says "Go big, or go home". This idiom comes to mind when I think of the call of Abraha...  Read More

All the peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (Genesis 12:3) As we look to this week's readings, it is fitting the transition from a groaning creation to dawning plan of redemption come just a...  Read More

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the trash heap. (Psalm 113:7) From an emotional standpoint, this has been a tough week of devotions! Creation is groaning, our own hearts are ...  Read More

Jesus wept. (John 11:35) The story of Lazarus is arguably one of my favorites in all the Bible, but probably not for the reasons you think. Most people identify with the triumph of Lazarus being raise...  Read More

My days are like a lengthening shadow, and I wither away like grass. (Psalm 102:11) At this point, it's pretty clear; all of creation is groaning. Our hearts are longing for more. This Psalm gives us ...  Read More

He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but no one can discover the work God has done from beginning to end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) Yesterday we saw all ...  Read More

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. (Romans 8:22) In this life there are times when we become keenly aware deep in our bones that things aren't w...  Read More

Praise the LORD, all nations! Glorify him, all peoples! (Psalm 117:1) If dynamite comes in small packages, this Psalm packs quite the wallop. It's the shortest chapter in the Bible but the vision it p...  Read More

Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled. (Luke 4:21) This entire week has all been about the Mission of God. It's an old mission, one set in motion in the Garden of Eden and while sidet...  Read More

Declare his glory among the nations, his wondrous works among all peoples. (Psalm 96:3) Human beings have a strange ability, and might I way a tendency, to take in information, intellectually process ...  Read More

All the ends of the earth have seen our God’s salvation. (Psalm 98:3 As humans, we have a tendency to see the glass half empty, the world darker than it is, and the future uncertain. Yesterday we reme...  Read More

I will also make you a light for the nations, to be my salvation to the ends of the earth. (Isaiah 49:6) After the nations were dispersed at Babel and Abram (eventually God's people the Israelites) it...  Read More

Blessed be the LORD, my rock who trains my hands for battle and my fingers for warfare. (Psalm 144:1) Strength comes in many forms, but in the Kingdom of God, it has a very particular form and feel to...  Read More

A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him. (Mark 1:27) By now we've well established the fact that the conflict and resistance in the cosmos exists in both...  Read More

I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.  (Psalm 121:1–2) For two days now we have discussed the reality of spirit...  Read More

"Very well,” the LORD told Satan, “everything he owns is in your power. However, do not lay a hand on Job himself." (Job 1:12) I know too many people who, as they begin to be exposed to the reality of...  Read More

When heaven feels silent and the battle feels hidden, Daniel 10 reminds us that God hears, God sends help, and unseen resistance never means He has abandoned His people....  Read More

The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the LORD. (Psalm 24:1) "Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD of Armies, he is the King of glory." I love the way this passag...  Read More

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. (Ephesians ...  Read More

While rebellious nations and rulers still rage against God, their defiance is futile because the true King is already enthroned and the nations will ultimately belong to Him....  Read More

Psalm 82 sheds light on the unseen realm and brings us into the courtroom of the Most High, where corrupt spiritual rulers stand condemned before the Judge of all the earth....  Read More