Devotional
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Daily Readings: Luke 12 and Psalm 28 “1 … Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: ‘Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy…” Jesus gave this warning to His disciples at the very height of His popularity, when “a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were…
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Daily Readings: Luke 11 and Psalm 27 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’ 2 He said to them, ‘When you pray, say: ‘“Father…” Notice that the disciple asked Jesus, “Teach us to pray“,…
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Daily Readings: Luke 10 and Psalm 26 The parable of the Good Samaritan (v.30-35) is one of Jesus’ best known stories. It’s point is so crystal clear that we risk not seeing the wood for the trees if we dissect it in minute detail. An expert in the Law approached Jesus with a technical question…
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Daily Readings: Luke 9 and Psalm 25 23 Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. Simply put, the gateway into the…
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Daily Readings: Luke 8 and Psalm 24 It would be very easy to gloss over the opening verses of Luke 8. They stand in the shadows of Jesus’ very dramatic ministry. Jesus has just performed incredible miracles. He has healed the centurion’s son (7:1-10), raised a widow’s only son from the dead (7:11-17), and when…
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Daily Readings: Luke 7 and Psalm 23 In the opening narrative of Luke 7, there is a stark contrast between the approach of the Jewish crowd and that of the centurion. The crowd speaks up on the centurion’s behalf and try to persuade Jesus to heal the centurion’s servant on the basis of the centurion’s…
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Daily Readings: Luke 6 and Psalm 22 Jesus’ ministry had really just begun, but already He was drawing massive crowds as word of His miracles spread. Luke reports that “the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all” (v.19). I’m sure there were those who eagerly expected…
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Daily Readings: Luke 5 and Psalm 21 As I read and reflect on Luke 5, I’m struck by the contrasting reactions to Jesus and His ministry. On the one hand there are those who are awestruck by His authority, power or forgiveness. In awe of Jesus, Peter “fell at Jesus’ knees” (v.8). Knowing of Jesus…
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Daily Readings: Luke 4 and Psalm 20 8 Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.”’ Seldom will temptation come to us as overtly from the devil as it did for Jesus in the wilderness. In any event, I’ve certainly never experienced it that way. Far more common is the subtle…
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Daily Readings: Luke 3 and Psalm 19 It’s hard to imagine how John’s ministry made such an impact in an age of zero technology. All he relied on was word of mouth, and yet people came from across the whole region to hear his message, respond to the Word of the Lord and be baptised…
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