Devos 365

  John 1:29-34   29  The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30  This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31  I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32  And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33  I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34  And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” John the Baptist is certainly one of the weirdest individuals in the story of God’s people. His birth is miraculous, as he is born to an older woman past her childbearing years. He lives out in the wilderness, eating locusts and h...

1 Peter 1:13-21 13  Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14  As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15  but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16  since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17  And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18  knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19  but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20  He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21  who through him are believers in God, who...

Psalm 130 1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! 2 O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! 3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. 5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; 6 my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. 8 And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities. This psalm falls into the category of the Songs of Ascent (Psalm 120-134). These 15 prayers were recited by those making pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The group would chant as they walked and this particular psalm pointed hearts and minds in the direction of repentance before a forgiving God. Each pilgrim brought with them their own personal or family sacrifices (lam...

Hebrews 7:15–22 15  This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16  who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17  For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” 18  For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19  (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. 20  And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21  but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’” 22  This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. Jesus as our High Priest is a HUGE concept and important in th...

Genesis 22:1-18 1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2  He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3  So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4  On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5  Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6  And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7  And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here ...