NorMel House Devotions

  Family. For some, family is a happy, healthy, and comforting thing, but for others, it can be quite a painful word. For some, hearing the word family brings thoughts of warmth and love, but there are also those who feel anxiety, or fear, or anger, some even feel bitterness or regret. Family is supposed to be a beautiful gift; there are many verses in the Bible that speak about how a wife and children are a blessing and a gift from the Lord. "He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord." (Proverbs 18:22 ESV) And turning to Psalm 127:3-5 ESV, we read, "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!" Proverbs 17:6 ESV says, "Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers." Family is meant to be a gift, but because we live in a sinful world,...

 Joy – a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. Do you feel joy? It’s not typically the word we use in conversation; we tend to say we’re happy or glad about things. The question remains, though: do you feel joy? There are two types of joy: reactionary joy or joy that is ‘soul-deep’. Soul-deep joy is a deep and lasting joy, regardless of circumstances. Proverbs has many verses that speak about joy; “The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish” (Proverbs 10:28). Or we can turn to Proverbs 17:22, where it says, “A joyful heart is a good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Where do we find ‘soul-deep’ joy? We saw in Proverbs 10:28 that it comes from the hope of the righteous. What is that hope? In Luke 2:10-11, we read, “And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Our...

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 ESV During His time on earth, Jesus suffered greatly for the sins of others. Though He was perfect, He took the weight and the punishment for our sins upon Himself. Pain is a result of sin, and while we all experience it in different ways in our lives, He is the only one whose pain was solely the fault of others. 1 Peter 2:21-24 tells us, For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth. When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed. ...