Devotion
Feed The Birds
David Jacobs
During his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus painted pictures for the listeners so that they would better understand. The verse above is one of those examples, using birds as an example of why humans should not worry.
I want to ask you to take a moment and to just be quiet. Sit still and let your mind be at ease. What happens? Not so easy to let your mind at ease, is it? Humans are not too good at switching off their minds, and when we sit still our minds are filled with the worries, temptations, and general thoughts of the day. What are yours?
Now look at the verse and think of birds. They do not appear to have the same worries and concerns that we do. God takes care of them and we should trust that He will take care of us. Regardless, we will die, and if we do not have trust in God, our life will be worth nothing. Make your life mean something: trust in the Lord, make his teachings the center of your focus. Leave everything else, like the birds do, to God.
Prayer
Generous and loving Lord, thank you for caring about me. Forgive me for letting my mind wander and think about trivial and worldly concerns. I know that my life should be focused on you, with all of my thoughts dedicated to my obedience to Jesus. Grant me the wisdom to follow you more closely, heavenly Father, so that I may reside with you some day, in heaven. Amen.
Devotion
Abraham is Father of All
Frances Taylor
There are questions in every age about the importance of the Old Testament for Christians. Abraham is considered to be the Father of Faith for Jews, Christians and Muslims. We forget that it was Abraham who believed in the doctrine of only one God. It is through him and his descendants that this tradition comes down to us. Another fact that we can overlook is that Jesus was Jewish. He was born a Jew, lived as a Jew, died, rose and ascended into heaven as a Jew. Because we believe that he was the Messiah, the Christ, and we follow him, we are called Christian. Without the Old Testament, we wouldn't understand the promise of salvation; we wouldn't understand why it was important for Jesus to be of the family of King David. We would not understand his teaching either, because Jesus quoted from Scripture – the Old Testament – frequently. He told us that he came to fulfill the Scriptures, not to abolish them. In the same way, we can ...
Morning Prayer
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Inspiration
We have a responsibility, as Christians, to abstain from the sinful practices we partook in before we became saved. While it may be a gradual process of change, we should ensure that we are putting in our best to play our part in resisting temptation. God enables us to resist temptation, but it is up to us to actually resist.
Prayer
Dear God, I pray that I will always be a person of action. Father, I take delight in my new life in you and I do not desire otherwise. I pray that in times of temptation, may I act on the strength you have given me to flee and/or resist. May I never rely on excuses or procrastination, Lord. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Night Prayer
Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.
Inspiration
We have chosen to surrender our lives and serve the Lord. We serve Him by witnessing, completing missionary projects, and ministering to those in need. There is always work to do and a world full of people to help. We will look for opportunities to provide for our brothers and sisters in Christ by any means necessary. We are servants to one another as a service to the Lord; He will never forsake us.
Prayer
Dear God, Help us see the world through Your eyes. We desire to serve those around us by reflecting Your love through our actions. You will never forsake us, and we will continually lift praises of thanksgiving to You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
