Carols and Lessons
What would Christmas be without carols to sing? Yet how often do we think about the familiar words we are singing? In these devotionals, David Bast tells the stories behind many of our most beloved Christmas carols and links them with appropriate scripture lessons (readings) to illuminate the messages they have for us today. In […]
An Unexpected and Delightful Gift
Read: Luke 1:26-30 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” (v. 28) When was the last time you were totally surprised in a wonderful way? I often travel on behalf of Western Theological Seminary, and this past winter I had the opportunity to go to Uganda […]
Pure Grace
Read: Revelation 20:11–21:8 The home of God is among mortals. (21:3 NRSV) I started this series of devotionals saying that the event we truly await during Advent is not the birth of Jesus but the second coming of Jesus. Our Scripture today takes us beyond that to the culmination of history in the final judgment. […]
Not the Light but the Lamp
Read: John 5:30-36 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. (v. 35 NIV) In today’s passage, John the Baptist is described as “a burning and shining lamp.” He gave off light, but he was not the primary source of the light. We read […]
What a Year It Has Been!
Read: Isaiah 11:1-9 The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. (v. 9) The year 2020 has been an incredible year. The COVID-19 pandemic altered our lives, and we have been gripped with anxiety, fear, grief, and several deep losses. I wish we could start the […]
An Invitation to Turn
Read: Matthew 3:1-12 Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand . . . Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. (vv. 2, 8) Last Tuesday we reflected on “Living while Waiting,” prompted by Paul’s letter to a church harried over the second coming of the Messiah. Now, here we are again, though with an […]
A Sacrifice of Thanksgiving
Read: Psalm 50 You thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you. (v. 21) This psalm presents a scathing critique of the wicked, naming “classic” sins like thievery, adultery, and slander. When the Bible presents lists like this, I tend to feel a little self-righteous. […]
Women Ending FGM
Keren sees the programs as a great way to teach listeners about Christianity, but also about business, health, and family issues. One of the biggest concerns in these remote villages is Female Genital Mutilation, or FGM.
Light in Uncertain Times
Read: Isaiah 9:2-7 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light . . . (v. 2) The devotional you are reading today was written months ago, during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a time of fear and anxiety, and my concerns about my family’s health and well-being are very […]