Devotional
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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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Daily Readings: Luke 2 and Psalm 18 The history of the world shifted on what would later be written and sung about as that “Holy Night” – the night of Jesus’ birth. The Son of God had been conceived and carried to term in a womb He had created. He had survived on the amniotic…
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After months in the epistles, our reading plan loops back to Luke’s Gospel today and we re-centre ourselves on where this Good News of Jesus all began. Luke, a medical doctor and a very systematic man, wrote his Gospel as an orderly account of the events of Jesus’ life and ministry. He aimed to help…
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Daily Readings: Hebrews 12-13 and Psalm 16 In Hebrews 11, the author celebrated the faith of a long list of heroes and heroines. As chapter 12 begins, he exhorts his readers to realise that they are part of the same Family as these “witnesses”, who had stayed faithful despite the worst forms of trial and…
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Daily Readings: Hebrews 10-11 and Psalm 15 It was not enough for Christians living in a world filled with the sort of violent hostility as is described in Hebrews 11:35-38 to be inspired by the example of the great heroes and heroines of the faith as are listed in 11:4-34. They needed to make every…
