Archive for March 2011

Lenten Devotional Series Day 13. Today’s meditation is on the fourth commandment, Exodus 20:8-11. Recently our family had epiphany of sorts. We were falling prey—regularly—to an all too-common problem: saying yes to too many good things. Our margins had disappeared, such that we were hardly getting enough sleep at night, let alone time for spiritual…

Lenten Devotional Series Day 12. Today’s meditation is on John 16:16-28. Among evangelical Christians, it is customary to end our prayers “in Jesus’ name.” Let’s think about how and why we do this in light of the third commandment’s prohibition against misusing God’s name. The most important consideration is this: do we believe effective prayer…

Lenten Devotional Series Day 11. Today’s meditation is on the third commandment, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain,” Exodus 20:7. Traditionally this commandment has been understood in its narrowest sense to prohibit empty promises in God’s name. Swearing “to God,” or “on your mother’s grave,” or even “cross my…

Lenten Devotional Series Day 10. Today’s meditation is on the third commandment, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain,” Exodus 20:7. When Jesus’ disciples asked for instruction in prayer, he taught them to make their first petition, “Hallowed be thy name.” So is that all there is to keeping the…

Lenten Devotional Series Day 9. Today’s meditation comes from 1 Corinthians 10:1-14. At the end of today’s reading, the Apostle Paul reiterates the second commandment in terms of a solemn order to us. It’s not a warning to be on the lookout for idolatry. It’s not a recommendation simply to avoid it. No, he commands…

Lenten Devotional Series Day 8. Today’s meditation comes from Genesis 1:26-31. “Don’t craft any images,” God repeatedly instructs Israel. What does God have against images? It’s not that he’s hostile to religion. As a matter of fact, the beliefs of ancient Israel shared many religious concepts with her neighbors, such as sacrifices, temples, and a liturgical…

Lenten Devotional Series Day 7. Today’s meditation comes from Exodus 20:4-6. The first commandment establishes the priority of the Lord over everything else. It teaches that we are to give him our primary allegiance. In prohibiting idolatry, the second commandment is a further application of the first. We keep the Lord first by fleeing from idolatry.

Lenten Devotional Series Day 6. Today’s meditation comes from Exodus 20:4-6. In a hilarious scene from the film Talladega Nights, race car driver, Ricky Bobby (played by Will Farrell), offers a blessing before a meal: “Dear tiny, infant baby Jesus… Dear eight pound, six ounce, newborn baby Jesus, don’t even know a word yet, just a…

Lenten Devotional Series Day 5. Today’s meditation comes from Revelation 2:1-7. Nine years ago, I enjoyed a wonderful lunch with a beautiful woman.