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.

December 24, 2006

Christian Standard

An Odd Carol for This Christmas Season

By Jack R. Reese Allow me to share a little Christmas story. I need to be honest, it doesn”t feel much like a Christmas text. It contains no wise men or shepherds, no inn or manger, no swaddling clothes or singing angels. In fact, the birth of Jesus is not mentioned at all. I”m pretty sure this text wouldn”t make a particularly good message for a Christmas card, all decked out in red and green with a festive “Merry Christmas” on the cover. No, I think you will find it an odd selection for a Christmas celebration. But it”s a

December 17, 2006

Christian Standard

Still Unto Us

By Brian Lowery Ours is a violent Christmas. As we pull on gaudy holiday sweaters, some are putting on fatigues. As we decorate trees in our homes, the cedars of Lebanon tremble from war. As we happily sing songs in church buildings, others barely have the strength to hum a dirge. I do not mean to be a Grinch, but these are the realities of our world. Of course, the first Christmas was violent too. Violence Worsened When the holy event at Bethlehem unfolded, there were no sugar plums dancing in the heads of God”s people. They thought only of

November 26, 2006

Christian Standard

The Mysterious and Mighty Ways of God

By Nancy Karpenske I had an appointment to get my hair cut. During that session, I intended to dissolve a friendship. But God had other plans. This is a drama with three characters: myself, my friend and hair stylist Donna, and the Holy Spirit. The three outcomes, if you don”t care to read the whole story: I am thrilled by my friend”s transformation; I am caught again in my own judgmental small-mindedness; and I am astounded by the Holy Spirit working in ways that aren”t mentioned in Bible college. Lonely, Angry, and Bitter It was the cussing, really, that got

November 12, 2006

Christian Standard

Conditions Permitting

By Eric Miller It was the week before my two-year anniversary as a minister and we were finally leaving for a much-needed vacation at the beach in Cape May, New Jersey. As my wife, Tammy, 3-year-old daughter, Emma, and I drove down the Atlantic City Expressway a road sign caught my eye. It was just your average, run-of-the-mill speed limit sign indicating the current maximum speed was 65. However, beneath that large, bold number were these words: “Conditions Permitting.” I thought about those two words as I drove the next 30 miles. God seemed to want me to glean a

October 29, 2006

Christian Standard

Confessions of a Compulsive Adventurer

By Paul Boatman “Grandpa, my friends don”t know I”m this kind of girl.” Six-year-old Allison was reflecting on our day of hiking in the canyons of Indiana”s Turkey Run State Park. “What kind of girl do they think you are?” “They think I”m a girly girl, but I”m an adventure girl!” Adventure! The term is a dominant theme in contemporary culture. I receive winsome advertisements for “adventure travel.” So-called reality television shows contrive adventures for their casts of exhibitionist participants. Interactive Internet adventure games invite virtual participation in activities ranging from mysterious to obscene, all intended to stir a sense

August 13, 2006

Christian Standard

My Epiphany

By Doug Priest It was spring break, two years ago, when I had my epiphany. Our daughter was home from college, and while she and my wife jogged, I walked along behind. Just ahead of me, a bird crossed the sidewalk. The bird looked vaguely familiar, but I could not place it. That night I got one of my daughter”s biology books off the shelf, and there it was, a bird I should have known by sight, a northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus, for those who care). Spotting an unknown bird and then identifying it with the help of a guide

February 12, 2006

Christian Standard

Garden Friends

By Jeff Krajewski Following Jesus is tough. Most days, I prefer simply to practice a little religion. Jesus calls me to a constant dying to the desires of my flesh and to sacrificial service. Meanwhile I experience constant assault on my spirit to do the things I know do not honor Christ. All of this takes a toll on my emotions, my relationships, and my sanity. The point of Jesus descending to this foul place called earth was to demonstrate for us the kind of life we were created to live. I believe in such a life, but living it

December 25, 2005

Christian Standard

Once Upon a Time in Bethlehem

By Tom Lawson Author”s Note: With apologies to those who insist on sticking to what we actually know about important biblical events, the following is offered in the spirit of the season. Mary still weakly held on to Joseph”s hand. Trembling, mostly caused by sheer exhaustion, still came in waves. Joseph dabbed the sweat off her face and tried to smooth her hair. He”d been so wonderful the whole long night. She knew he was as scared as she was, but he tried hard not to sound like it. He had even wrapped the child up in the strips of

December 18, 2005

Christian Standard

The First Christmas Song

By Jan Johnson If you were given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be involved in a venture that would change the world, how would you respond? Would you hesitate as Moses did at the burning bush? Would you agree but then run away as Jonah did? Or might you ask doubtful questions as Gideon did? When Gabriel visited Mary, announcing to her the parenting mission of all time, Mary asked a few questions and surrendered herself. A little later when her older cousin Elizabeth greeted her as blessed among women, Mary burst forth in a seemingly spontaneous, passionate prayer-song. What sort

December 4, 2005

Christian Standard

I Marvel at His Blessings

By Laura Lovejoy “So, where are you from?” I asked. The patient was clearly suspicious of my presence. I thought some casual conversation might help. He mentioned the name of his town, adding, “I don”t suppose you know where that is, do you?” But in fact I did know his hometown, several hundred miles away. When to his surprise, I mentioned something distinctive about his town, he lit up as if to say I had passed the test. And he began the story of his illness and what ultimately led him to seek care here, so far away from home.

August 21, 2005

Reflections on Israel

Reflections on Israel

Ken Read recounts a study tour in Palestine, reflecting on Nazareth, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Bethesda—and on how these places reshape the way we picture the gospel story and respond in faith.

August 14, 2005

Christian Standard

You Are Not Your Own

By C. Robert Wetzel Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20). The Vernon Newland family spent the duration of World War II in a Japanese concentration camp in the Philippines. They had planned to serve in China when the war broke out. When the Japanese invaded the Philippines in 1942 they, along with many foreign nationals, were interred in cruel and miserable conditions. Many people did not survive

August 10, 2005

successful aging

The Stage I”m In

Mark A. Taylor reflects on aging, stress, and the surprising “secret” to living well: strong friendships. He connects research on social support to the church’s “one another” calling to love and encourage.

July 24, 2005

wisdom

Wisdom Is a Good Thing

Reflecting on Ecclesiastes and James, Tom Ellsworth shares how God teaches wisdom through life experiences, relationships, and hard seasons—inviting believers to hold on loosely to this life and keep eternity in view.

June 19, 2005

awe of God

‘Awe’ Moments

From ocean waves to a helicopter view of the Grand Canyon, Tom Ellsworth explores “awe” moments that point to God’s majesty—and to the greatest awe of all: Christ’s total sacrifice for us.