Devotion
Hope We Can Believe In David Jacobs
What is hope? And what do you feel when you are hopeful? The Apostle Paul asks that we are not ashamed for our hopeful thoughts and feelings. In Hebrews 6:11, it says: "And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end." The same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end. What is the basis for our hope? We have answers that we can believe in.
2 Thessalonians 2:16 - "Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,"
Colossians 1:23 - "If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
1 Peter 1:3 - "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,"
All Christians have reasons to be hopeful: we have been given the gift of salvation from our Lord Jesus Christ. Maybe we feel that we don't deserve this and we should not be hopeful because of our sinful ways. It is right: we don't deserve it. We have been given it, however, and with this gift God also asks that we remain steadfastly faithful, filled with hope. The Scriptures and the life of Christ act as encouragement so that we might have hope (Romans 15:4). We owe it to God, to rejoice in His glory, to celebrate the life of Jesus, and to remember that we are surrounded by the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
What is the opposite of being hopeful? Think about that for a minute: do you want your life to NOT be filled with hope? Do you want it to be filled with doubt and despair? Of course not, and neither does God. A hopeful life is a happy one. Paul knows this and asks us to rejoice in the name of the Lord. We must rejoice, lift our hearts, minds, and voices, rejoicing in his name. A hope that we can believe in! Amen.
Devotion
Satan Has Been Defeated
Frances Taylor
Salvation and power have come with Christ and Satan has been defeated. Sin and death have been conquered by the actions of one man, Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, both human and divine who came into the world to bring the Good News of salvation by living, dying and rising for us. As Christians we claim to believe this but our actions sometimes deny it. Unfortunately, people seem to resurrect Satan all the time. We allow him to lead us away from God, forgetting the way to the Father that is love, and giving in to Satan's path of hatred, anger, pride, lust, chaos and destruction.
Satan, of course, doesn't present these as bad things, he makes them seem attractive. He presents sin as goods to be desired, as things to make us happy or give us pleasure. It can be hard to stay on the path that leads to God when the world seems to be crowding us and pushing us off of it. How easy it is to forget the sacrifice that bought our freedom! Which of us ...
Morning Prayer
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Inspiration
It is right for us to defer to others and to rejoice with others when they have cause to rejoice over some blessing in their life, instead of sorrowing before them over some problem in our life. It is right also to weep with those who weep, showing compassion and feeling for them in their grief instead of "dancing joyfully before those who mourn" as if insensitive to their sorrow.
Prayer
Give me a discerning spirit, Lord, to know when to rejoice and when to weep. Let me show concern for others and their situation and life events instead of just focusing only on my own. Let me show true compassion and genuine joy in the right way and time to others. Amen.
Night Prayer
For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Inspiration
Christ's crucifixion is the perfect example of obedience to God. Death on a rugged cross was not an enjoyable experience for Him, yet the outcome allowed us the opportunity for salvation. God asks us to complete countless works in His name. Often, they do not feel enjoyable, yet we understand the result of our obedience is far above our comprehension. We trust that any ordeal we face will have the best outcome regarding God's plan for the world.
Prayer
Dear God, we will trust You when You ask us to complete works in Your name. Even though the tasks appear challenging, we have faith in Your plan and continue to live our lives according to Your will. In Jesus' name, Amen.
