Ephesians 1:15-23

I keep asking that the…

Zephaniah 3:1-20

"For the LORD your God is…

That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

[…

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

[Isaiah 7:14] As we move through the final days of Advent and into the season of Christmas,

   Today's reflection is sparked by one of the most popular Advent hymns, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel."

This hymn, originally composed in Latin, is one of the oldest in any hymnal. It is based on an even older set…

Psalm 2:1-12

Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry,

and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities—

for his anger flares up in an instant.

But what joy for all who take refuge in him!

[Psalm 2:11]

Psalm 2 celebrates the authority of God and the granting of this authority to one who is identified as God's son (2:7). In its original context, the son of God is the king of Israel. He was God's son in that he was anointed,…

[Ephesians 1:8-10] With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. I have spent the last three reflections focusing on the "mystery" of God's will, his plan "to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ" (1:10). Before I move on in Ephesians, I thought it…

When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13

Like most people, I enjoy hosting my friends. When people I know well come over for dinner, I feel relaxed and happy, glad to share my home with them. But as one who is not naturally extroverted, I find it harder to welcome people who are unfamiliar to me. Thus the exhortation of Romans 12:13, “Always be eager to practice hospitality,” is a challenging one for me.…

Psalm 124:1-8

Our help is from the LORD,

who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 124 offers a stirring word of encouragement. It begins by asking a rhetorical question: "What if the LORD had not been on our side?" (124:1). The simple answer is: We'd be a complete mess, utterly without hope. But, because God is on our side, "the trap is broken, and we are free!" (124:7).

The last verse of this psalm reminds us of the glorious power of the Lord who is there for us: "Our help…

Ezekiel 34:1-10



Human one, prophesy against Israel’s shepherds. Prophesy and say to them, The LORD God proclaims to the shepherds: Doom to Israel’s shepherds who tended themselves! Shouldn’t shepherds tend the flock? You drink the milk, you wear the wool, and you slaughter the fat animals, but you don’t tend the flock. (CEB)







Today's news is full of stories of leaders who care more about themselves than about the people or institutions they lead. They…

Psalm 69:1-36 

But I keep praying to you, LORD,

     hoping this time you will show me favor.

In your unfailing love, O God,

     answer my prayer with your sure…

s There Any Point in Praying for Non-Christian Rulers?

1 Timothy 2:1-4

Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and…

Ezekiel 41:1-26



Above the entrance, from the interior to the exterior of the temple, and on every interior and exterior wall, there were carved winged creatures and palm trees. The palm trees were positioned between the winged creatures, and each winged creature had two faces.



[Ezekiel 41:17-18]



The fact that we can perceive things as beautiful, I believe, points to the existence of a God who loves beauty and created us in his own image. I talked about this in…

Ezekiel 41:1-26



Above the entrance, from the interior to the exterior of the temple, and on every interior and exterior wall, there were carved winged creatures and palm trees. The palm trees were positioned between the winged creatures, and each winged creature had two faces.



[Ezekiel 41:17-18]



In the past several days, I have been considering whether it's appropriate to display art in spaces set aside for worship. Along the way, I shared my experience of…

Yes, joyful are those who live like this!

     Joyful indeed are those whose God is the LORD.

[Psalm 144:15]

The bulk of Psalm 144 deals with David's role as king. He praises God for the help God has given him and he asks for more of it. Then, in verse 12, David changes course. He prays…

Ephesians 1:4-6

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

[…

Ephesians 1:4-6

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

[…

Ephesians 1:4-6

[In love] he predestined us for adoption to son ship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.

[Ephesians 1:5]

Mention the word "predestination" among Christians and you're likely to get strong, diverse responses. For some in the Calvinist/Reformed tradition, you'll get a cheer, because predestination is believed to be a core doctrine of the faith. Predestination encapsulates the grace and sovereignty of God. For folks in the…

Ephesians 1:4-6

[In love] he predestined us for adoption to son ship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.

[Ephesians 1:5]

Mention the word "predestination" among Christians and you're likely to get strong, diverse responses. For some in the Calvinist/Reformed tradition, you'll get a cheer, because predestination is believed to be a core doctrine of the faith. Predestination encapsulates the grace and sovereignty of God. For folks in the…