Other people are more successful than you, more popular than you are, more good looking than you are, make more money than you do, are more accomplished than you are, are smarter than you are, and stronger than you are.(Before you throw something at me, hold on for a moment.)David was a young shepherd boy. … Continue reading People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord?
Month: April 2025
Thy sea is so great, and my boat is so small
John F Kennedy served as the President of American in the early 1960’s. I recently heard that he had a copy of an old Breton prayer on his desk: “O God, thy sea is so great, and my boat is so small.” How true. It’s a commentary about those times when life seems overwhelming. It’s … Continue reading Thy sea is so great, and my boat is so small
Play your part
The Apollo 13 spacecraft launched into orbit in 1970. Many of us know the general parameters of the story because we’ve seen the moving starring Tom Hanks.In short, things go sideways. Stuff starts breaking and the lives of the astronauts are in danger. At home, everyone watches their TV screens in suspense and send up … Continue reading Play your part
Whose likeness is this?
In yesterday’s devotional we focused on a passage from Mark 12 where some hypocritical leaders were trying to trap Jesus with a question about paying taxes to Caesar.Today let’s zero in on another element of Jesus’ response. As usual, there is more going on in the text than what first meets the eye.They asked him … Continue reading Whose likeness is this?
Render to Caesar
In Mark 12, some hypocritical leaders were trying to trap Jesus with a question about paying taxes to Caesar.It was a clever trap. Caesar (the Roman emperor) was a man named Tiberias. He was not very popular, could be very cruel, and levied heavy taxes on the people. The Jews felt like they weren’t fully … Continue reading Render to Caesar
Priorities and social pressure
In yesterday’s devotional I highlighted something from Augustine: “The essence of sin is disordered love.”In short, we all love certain things and certain people. But if we get the order wrong, that’s a problem. For example, if I love my job to the neglect my family, that’s sin. In that scenario I’m living in a … Continue reading Priorities and social pressure
Disordered love
Church Father Augustine said: “The essence of sin is disordered love.”*What did he mean?We all love things. We love people, we love friends, we love music, we love certain ideas, we love our favourite snacks, we love our hobbies, and we love God (hopefully!) But if we love things in the wrong order this, Augustine says, … Continue reading Disordered love
What’s to be learned from a dog’s yellow fur
A boy had a little dog named Remmy while he was growing up. Remmy was a Jack Russel. He was mostly white with one brown ear. And he was very loved.One day it snowed outside. Remmy went out into the garden. That’s when the boy noticed something about his beloved dog. He wasn’t white anymore, … Continue reading What’s to be learned from a dog’s yellow fur
Not some, but all
In Mark 12:30 Jesus said: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”We could take a lifetime to fully grasp the implications. With each new year we gain new insights, and seek fresh strength, to put those words from … Continue reading Not some, but all
Delays are not denials
We know that God answers prayer. We know that he is near to those who call on him in truth (Psalm 145:18). We know that he hears us when we ask things according to his will (1 John 5:14). We know that when we draw near to him he draws near to us as well … Continue reading Delays are not denials
