Devotion 

Beware the Leaven

Frances Taylor 

Jesus must have been shaking his head at them, frustrated by their lack of understanding. He must feel the same about us too. What is the leaven of today that we need to avoid? Let's think about that for a minute. Who do you listen to? It's very difficult to avoid the leaven of the world. We are confronted daily with ads promising to make our life better if only we buy this, take that, behave in this way, avoid behaving that way.

When I was much younger, I used to watch the soap operas on television. The couples were married, went to church, would often invite the minister and his wife over for dessert after Sunday dinner. Only the "bad" girls would try to seduce the "good" men. Beds were single and only the "bad" girls were shown having sex, and everyone was fully clothed and no one cursed or used foul language. Action or crime shows left the violence to the imagination, and good always triumphed over evil.

Today, violence, sex nudity, crude language ...

Morning Prayer 

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Inspiration 

The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, after everything He endured, is the same Spirit that resides in us, Christians. It was the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, that gave Jesus Christ's body the power to rise from death after the mighty battle He endured. Think of the power that dwells in you! You have no reason fear any hint of death or destruction because the Spirit of the Living God dwells in you.

Prayer 

Heavenly Father, I am overwhelmed by the magnitude of the fact that your Spirit, the Holy Spirit, has counted my body worthy to dwell in. Father, I will never stop thanking you because my body has been quickened. In times of illness, I am healed. When my heart aches, I am relieved. When I require strength, I am empowered. It is all because of you, God. It is ...

Night Prayer 

This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Inspiration 

As humans, we’re accustomed to earning things. We work for our paychecks, we study to earn good grades, and we compete to win prizes. So we earn the Holy Spirit and receive His power by doing good, right? No, since none of us can earn the perfection that God demands of us. Rather, we receive the Spirit by faith, and He then compels and empowers our good works.

Prayer 

Thank You, Lord, for giving me the gift of Your Holy Spirit. I did not earn such a precious gift, and I am relying on Your grace alone. Empower me by Your Spirit to grow in my faith, to deepen my trust in You, so that I may cling tightly to You.  Work through me and be glorified in my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.