Posts Categorized: Devotional

Kingdom Righteousness

Posted November 21, 2016 | Judith Ingram

Scripture

Matthew 5:20 (NLT)

“But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!”

Consider

Followers of God long for righteousness. We try to live moral and upright lives. We give our tithes, volunteer our time, and perform useful services in the pursuit of God’s favor. Despite what we know about sin, we cling to a secret hope that if we try hard enough, we can achieve a level of goodness that will meet God’s standards and justify our lives.

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Rest Like a Child

Posted November 14, 2016 | Judith Ingram

Scripture

Psalm 131 (NLT)

LORD, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp.

Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

O Israel, put your hope in the LORD—now and always.

Consider

This psalm is a song for pilgrims on their way to worship the Lord in Jerusalem. There is speculation that the author was a woman, particularly a mother who has nursed a child at her breast.

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One Nation Under God

Posted November 7, 2016 | Judith Ingram

Scripture

Daniel 9:18-19 (NLT)

“O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your city—the city that bears your name—lies in ruins. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy.

“O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! For your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for your people and your city bear your name.”

Consider

This passage is part of a prayer that the Old Testament prophet Daniel prayed on behalf of the ruined city of Jerusalem.

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The Danger in Blessings

Posted October 31, 2016 | Judith Ingram

Scripture

Job 29:1, 18-20 (NLT)

Job continued speaking…”I thought, ‘ Surely I will die surrounded by my family after a long, good life. For I am like a tree whose roots reach the water, whose branches are refreshed with the dew. New honors are constantly bestowed on me, and my strength is continually renewed.'”

Consider

Is there such a thing as being too blessed? Can an abundance of good things be bad for us? Like Job, we can get so comfortable in the goodness of our lives that we expect our blessings to continue indefinitely.

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Sinner or Saint?

Posted October 24, 2016 | Judith Ingram

Scripture

Psalm 5:4-5 (NLT)

O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness; you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked. Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence, for you hate all who do evil.

Consider

In this prayer for the morning, David reflects on a classic theme found among the wisdom writings of the Old Testament; that is, there is a strong demarcation between the godly and the wicked of the world, between the righteous whom God loves and their lying enemies whom God abhors. If we are honest, we must admit that this line of demarcation is not as clear as David describes.

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