GOD’S LAW ON THE DOORFRAMES March 19, 2020 | Deuteronomy 6:1–12 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue As an enslaved 13-year-old, future abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass trusted in Christ for salvation. One biographer observed: “Frederick always hungered for knowledge, but after his conversion he had an insatiable desire to read and understand the Bible.” At that time, […]
BLOOD ON THE DOORFRAMES March 18, 2020 | Exodus 12:1–28 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue Inspired by a family friend whose blood donation saved his life when he was a baby, Marco Perez decided to do the same. An Air Force veteran and postal worker in Texas, he donated blood every two weeks (the maximum possible). […]
WHEN SIN CROUCHES AT YOUR DOOR March 17, 2020 | Genesis 4:1–16 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue We have quite a few expressions in the English language that involve doors. An opportunity is often called an “open door.” If “opportunity is knocking” at your door, a response is needed. If you encounter a small opportunity, you […]
Jesus Chose You March 16, 2020 A Scripture Reading — John 5:1-9 Jesus said . . . “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. — John 5:8-9 A lame man at Bethesda met Jesus. When Jesus asked him, “Do you want to […]
March 15, 2020 | Ezekiel 43:1–11 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue Have you ever seen the glory of the Lord? There are passages in the Old Testament that describe how incredible that experience must be. In Exodus at the completion of the tabernacle project, the Israelites hold a dedication ceremony. The author describes the magnificent event: […]
LAMENTING AT THE GATES March 13, 2020 | Lamentations 2:1–11 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue Do you know what it means to lament? A central subject in the book of Lamentations, lament is an outpouring of grief before the Lord. In a recent article in Themelios, Robert S. Smith observed that the contemporary church is out […]
SHUT THE TEMPLE DOORS March 12, 2020 | Malachi 1:6–14 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue In years past, a student would show respect to a favorite teacher with the gift of an apple. But what if the apple was rotten or full of worms? Then what would traditionally have been a sign of respect and honor […]
IDOLATRY BEHIND THE GATES March 11, 2020 | Ezekiel 8 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue On October 31, 1517, now celebrated as Reformation Day, Martin Luther posted his “95 Theses” to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. In them, he attacked then- common practices and beliefs of the Catholic church, including requiring payment […]
GATES OF THANKSGIVING March 10, 2020 | Psalm 100 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue At one time in church history, ordinary Christians didn’t sing. Instead, they listened while sacred music was performed by professionals. But thanks to the Reformation and the invention of the printing press, congregational singing made a comeback. The first hymnal was printed […]
ONE DAY IN YOUR COURTS March 9, 2020 | Psalm 84 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” You may recognize this chorus from the popular worship song written by Matt Redman, but these lyrics actually originated in the Psalms. The sentiment is just as true today. […]