Tag Archives: devotional

Start the New Year with Our Bible Narratives Reading Plan

Start the New Year with Our Bible Narratives Reading Plan

Stories shape us. When we read a story, we enter a world that the author has created and thus become shaped by that world. Experiencing the world of the story forms our imaginations of reality, our perceptions and affections, and even our worldview and beliefs. The same is true—perhaps even more so—with the stories of… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 17: Saul’s Rise and Fall

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 17: Saul’s Rise and Fall

This entry is part 17 of 52 in the series Bible Narratives Devotional You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Week 17: Saul’s Rise and Fall Weekly memory verse: 1 Samuel 15:22 – “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” Weekly hymn: “Jesus Shall Reign” (free download) Weekly… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 16: Samuel and Saul

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 16: Samuel and Saul

This entry is part 16 of 52 in the series Bible Narratives Devotional You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Week 16: Samuel and Saul Weekly memory verse: Luke 1:46–48 – “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call be blessed.” Weekly hymn: O Worship the King (free download) Weekly… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 15: Ruth and Boaz

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 15: Ruth and Boaz

This entry is part 15 of 52 in the series Bible Narratives Devotional You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Week 15: Ruth and Boaz Weekly memory verse: Psalm 19:14 – “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sigh, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Weekly hymn: The Heavens Declare Thy Glory, Lord (Free download) Weekly catechism: What is sin? Sin is any transgression against… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 14: Samson

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 14: Samson

This entry is part 14 of 52 in the series Bible Narratives Devotional You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Week 14: Samson Weekly memory verse: Psalm 17:8 – “Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.” Weekly hymn: Jesus, Lover of My Soul (free download) Weekly catechism: How can you come to know God and what he has made? The fear of the Lord is the… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 13: Judges

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 13: Judges

This entry is part 13 of 52 in the series Bible Narratives Devotional You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Week 13: Judges Weekly memory verse: Judges 3:9 – “But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them.” Weekly hymn: He Who Would Valiant Be (free download) Weekly catechism: What is the greatest commandment? The greatest commandment is to… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 12: Invasion of the Promised Land

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 12: Invasion of the Promised Land

This entry is part 12 of 52 in the series Bible Narratives Devotional You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Week 12: Invasion of the Promised Land Weekly memory verse: Job 19:25 – “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.” Weekly hymn: This is My Father’s World (free download) Weekly catechism: How can you glorify God? I can glorify God by loving him and doing… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 11: Preparing to Enter the Promised Land

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 11: Preparing to Enter the Promised Land

This entry is part 11 of 52 in the series Bible Narratives Devotional You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Week 11: Preparing to Enter the Promised Land Weekly memory verse: Joshua 1:8 – “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 10: Wandering in the Wilderness

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 10: Wandering in the Wilderness

This entry is part 10 of 52 in the series Bible Narratives Devotional You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Week 10: Wandering in the Wilderness Weekly memory verse: John 3:14–15 – “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” Weekly hymn: Be Thou My Vision (free download) Weekly catechism: How do you know there… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 4: A Just God Justifies

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 4: A Just God Justifies

This entry is part 4 of 52 in the series Bible Narratives Devotional You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Week 4: A Just God Justifies Weekly memory verse: Romans 4:5 — And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness. Weekly hymn: Not What These Hands Have Done (free download) Weekly catechism: What is special about God’s creation of you? God… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 3: Lot

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 3: Lot

This entry is part 3 of 52 in the series Bible Narratives Devotional You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Week 3: Lot Weekly memory verse: Psalm 8:1 – “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.” Weekly hymn: Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above (free download) Weekly catechism: How did God make you and all things? God made all things… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 2: Abraham and Isaac

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 2: Abraham and Isaac

This entry is part 2 of 52 in the series Bible Narratives Devotional You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Week 2: Abraham and Isaac Weekly memory verse: Genesis 12:2 – “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” Weekly hymn: “The God of Abraham Praise” (free download) Weekly catechism: Why did God make you and all… Continue Reading

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 1: Creation and Fall

Bible Narratives Devotional, Week 1: Creation and Fall

This entry is part 1 of 52 in the series Bible Narratives Devotional You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Week 1: Creation and Fall Weekly memory verse: Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Weekly hymn: “All Creatures of Our God and King” (free download) Weekly catechism: Who made you? God made me. What else did God make? God made all things. Day 1: Creation Reading: Genesis 1:1-2:3… Continue Reading

Devotion

Devotion

Time is limited. Earthly life ends with a period or even an exclamation point, not with an ellipsis. We are granted threescore and ten years, or, if strong enough, fourscore. Anything beyond that is an excess of superabundance. Eighty years. That number lends each person 29,200 days. If a day were a dollar, we would… Continue Reading

The Power of God

The Power of God

[This essay originally appeared in In the Nick of Time on January 26, 2007.] “Do you have the power of God?” The Great Man bellowed this question in a mock-Texas accent. With popping veins and a hoarse voice, he bawled out a second time, “I said, do you have the POWER of GOD!” Clearly, he… Continue Reading

Shepherds: A Prayer

Shepherds: A Prayer

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Let none disdain the office of shepherd, for shepherds are appointed by You. Did not Israel keep flocks? Did he not claim the spotted and ringstraked as his own? You became his shepherd all the days of his life. How then shall You not claim us… Continue Reading

Living in Uncertain Days

Living in Uncertain Days

Jeff Straub Washington, D. C.; New York, New York; London, England; Mumbai, India; Nairobi, Kenya; Moscow, Russia; and now Paris, France. What do all of these cities have in common? Well, in the light of the tragedy of last week, the answer is obvious to anyone who pays attention to world events: all of these… Continue Reading

Simplicity

Simplicity

God has filled our world with pleasures, and He has given His image-bearers the power to create even more. We could survive by eating insects and drinking water, but we enjoy deep-dish pizza, pork tenderloin sandwiches, Chicago-style hot dogs, and Vernors ginger ale. We could sleep on gravel, but we luxuriate in king-size mattresses, fluffy… Continue Reading