Devotionals

"Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, »

"I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts »

"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it." Matthew 11:12 "Grab it and growl" is one of the late Paul Anderson's frequent quotes. In a sense, it captures the meaning of this text. The »

"Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.’" Genesis 1:26 "One may understand the cosmos but never the ego; the self is more distant than any star" (G.K. Chesterton). There is nothing more complex in all creation than the creature created in God's image. Add »

"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:15-16 "Time, like an ever-rolling stream, bears all its sons away; they fly forgotten, as a dream dies at the opening day," so reads a verse from the hymn »

"When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about.'" Luke 2:15 Unusual, to say the very least. The Christmas story of the nativity is so »

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.'" Matthew 2:1-2 »

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." Micah 5:2 "O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie; above »

"Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:3-5 In the deep darkness of a Vietnam night, »

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3 Martin Luther said, "True humility does not know that it is humble. If it did, it would be proud of the contemplation of so fine a virtue." It is hard to imagine that a man »

"Jesus replied, 'The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.'" Matthew 13:11 Not everyone connects with the Gospel when they first hear it, not even after they have heard it repeatedly. Nor do they always connect for the long »

“Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 As daylight broke upon the Normandy coast, thousands upon thousands of soldiers stuffed in landing craft made their way out of the lowered doors into several feet of surf, in some »