2020

Devotion for December 21, 2020

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David…

Devotion for December 20, 2020

“The Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel” (which means ‘God is with us’).” (Isaiah 7:14) In light of a busy world Jesus invades humanity with a God-sized announcement. You could focus on so many things…

Devotion for December 19, 2020

“We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us.” (Romans 8:26) As a pastor, I have sometimes heard members of the church say, “I can’t even pray anymore.” When people are depressed or physically run down or overwhelmed by grief, they can sometimes find it impossible to…

Devotion for December 18, 2020

“Then our mouth was filled with laughter.” (Psalm 126:2) Laughter has all sorts of benefits for us physically as well as mentally. I sometimes wonder whether we laugh enough, and some of my corniest jokes are an attempt to help people to have a laugh and receive the benefits. There is even a form of…

Devotion for December 17, 2020

“The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16) In the book Huckleberry Finn, the main character — Huck, as he was called — needed fishhooks. Someone had told him that God always answers prayers, so for three days Huck Finn prayed for fish hooks. But he received none. So he concluded:…

Devotion for December 16, 2020

“His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3) When I look in the mirror, I see an ageing face with wrinkles, greying hair, and glasses — an image that continues to change as the…

Devotion for December 15, 2020

“You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty?’” (Malachi 3:14) In the last book in the Old Testament, Malachi, the Israelites asked, “What’s the use in serving God?” During this pandemic it’s a question nonbelievers and…

Devotion for December 14, 2020

“Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will dwell in your midst, says the Lord.” (Zechariah 2:10) How are your Christmas preparations going? Do you even feel like celebrating this year? This has been a year of challenges and uncertainty. I’m sure we have all made plans that ended up being abandoned. Many…

Devotion for December 13, 2020

“But with righteousness he shall judge the poor and decide with equity for the meek of the earth.” (Isaiah 11:4). Isaiah is prophesying the coming of a new king. This will be a king who exhibits all of the qualities we believe a king is supposed to have. And as we read further in the…

Devotion for December 12, 2020

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God … He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.” (Isaiah 40:28) In the play Requiem for a Nun, the author, William Faulkner, says through one of the characters that after God created everything, he lost…