July 5, 2021
Netzer
Sometime in the first century, as Jewish refugees returned from exile, they settled in an area near the Sea of Galilee and named their new town Nazareth after the tender, new shoots of the Olive tree.
Devotionals
Devotionals gathers Christian Standard articles designed to encourage daily faithfulness through Scripture, prayer, and reflection. Here you’ll find short, accessible readings that connect God’s Word to everyday life—offering wisdom for discipleship, comfort in hardship, and reminders of the hope found in Christ. These devotionals aim to help readers stay rooted in the gospel, grow in spiritual maturity, and practice consistent habits of worship and obedience.
July 1, 2021
A Time for Courage
The church historically has multiplied during times of persecution, and it’s possible we will see growth as we come out of this pandemic. The church needs to be courageous.
July 1, 2021
Lemuel’s Mother: Praiseworthy Advisor and Model
We know little of Lemuel except that he was a king, a poet, and a man who appreciated his good mother.
July 1, 2021
Mary: Waiting with Faith
Mary used her mind to inform her heart. She observed, she listened, she reflected, she sought wisdom and understanding. We can do the same.
July 1, 2021
Hannah: Grit and Grace in Desperate Circumstances
At a time when people were doing what was right in their own eyes, our hero courageously trusted and committed to what was righteous before God.
July 1, 2021
Esther: Choosing the Right Thing Even When It’s the Hard Thing
No matter the outcome, choosing the right thing when it’s the hard thing is always a good thing.
July 1, 2021
Manoah’s Wife: Unnamed but Not Anonymous
Israel was in big trouble, and they needed a big solution, and God revealed his big plan to a wife who displayed big faith.
July 1, 2021
Ruth: How God Weaved Her Story of Redemption into His
Ruth went from being an outsider to being part of the lineage of Jesus. Her story helped pave the way to the greatest story ever told. Your story can have great impact, as well.
July 1, 2021
Deborah: Bronze-Age Wonder Woman
Deborah's complete confidence in God made her a strong leader for her people.
June 21, 2021
God’s Presence
We set aside time for this meal to thank God for his promises, provisions, and most of all, his presence.
June 14, 2021
Our Greatest Need
Mankind needed a mediator, a rescuer, to act as a go-between from God to people. We needed someone who understood the needs on both sides of the divide . . .
May 31, 2021
Crown of Glory
The only earthly crown Jesus ever wore was made of thorns. Yet it was through his suffering that Jesus received a spiritual crown no human eye has ever seen.
April 19, 2021
Stories
By taking these symbols of Jesus’ body and blood, we announce we believe there really was a Jesus, and he really did die for us and carried all our sins down to a grave . . .
April 1, 2021
The Angel’s Profound Invitation: ‘Come, See!’
The most profound invitation ever offered to the human mind is couched in the language of the angel who said to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, “Come, see!” (This is a 1961 article about the resurrection by Ard Hoven.)
April 1, 2021
A Life-Changing Truth from Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus
Who we are becoming is more important than what we are doing. This statement has been part of my spiritual formation for the last five years, and yet it is antithetical to the values of the culture and country in which I live. An aspect of the American dream is to pull yourself up from nothing to make something of yourself. Unfortunately, that noble rags-to-riches quest has become a stamp of identity. For many of us, our identity is found in what we can do, provide, give, and improve. Who are we if not a successful businessperson, parent, grandparent, or
April 1, 2021
How Simon of Cyrene’s Unexpected Journey Can Change Us
I relish my memories of playing college football. I often think back to the locker-room antics and bus rides. I think about the big wins and bad losses. I remember all the sayings from the coaches and laugh; some would be fight-worthy insults except for the personal relationships we had. In saying all of that, I should clarify that I wasn’t just an ordinary football player, I was an offensive lineman. I specify that because most offensive linemen would tell you what we most enjoyed about football was moving a man against his will wherever we wanted to push him.
April 1, 2021
The Guards at Jesus’ Tomb:
‘Did That Just Happen?’
By Trevor DeVage with Mark A. Taylor My buddy Aaron and I were at our friend Matt’s house. We were 17, Matt’s folks were out of town, and we were bored. Matt’s stepdad’s prize vehicle, a beautiful, brand-new, gold Buick LeSabre, sat in his driveway. “Don’t drive the car unless it’s an emergency” the stepdad had told Matt before he left. “And if it is an emergency, call me, and I’ll tell you where I’ve hidden the keys.” It took us about 10 minutes to find the keys and 5 minutes more to jump into two cars (Aaron was driving
April 1, 2021
The Roman Centurion:
Caught Between Kingdoms
The Words of the Roman Centurion When He Came Face-to-Face with the True Son of God Still Resonate His retirement drew near. He’d been serving Rome faithfully for 23 years. Now 43, he was ready to hang up his helmet. His decision to enlist with the Roman military had been a practical one. As a poor man’s son, he knew he needed a stable source of food and shelter. He often wondered what life might have been like had he chosen a different profession.* Had he been a farmer or fisherman, perhaps his closest friends would still be alive. Perhaps
April 1, 2021
One Victory
History is full of victories. Some, like the Super Bowl, are watched by millions of fully committed fans only to be forgotten the next year by all but the most committed. Some victories actually turn the tide of history from one empire to another, leaving those who follow to speculate on what might have happened had the battle been lost and the tide not turned. Some victors are heralded as the greatest of all time but are later found to have cheated to gain an unfair advantage. Some victories change the course of history but are completely forgotten by later
April 1, 2021
Put Yourself in the Story
Imagine being an eyewitness to Jesus’ final days on earth: his entry into Jerusalem, his celebration of Passover with his followers, his trial, death, burial, resurrection, commission, and ascension. Try to put yourself there as part of the crowd or one of his followers or even one of his detractors on the dusty streets of the Holy City. In this issue, we provide nine character studies of people who witnessed these historic events. None were the main characters in Jesus’ passion, but all were vital to the story. (By the way, this is a sequel to last April’s Easter issue.)
