Devotion
A Sincere Relationship
Chipo Biti
We need to be sincere in our hearts when it comes to our relationship with God. There is no need for us to feel as if we need to pretend in God's presence. God knows us more than we know ourselves. When we commune with Him and act like we are without any worries or thoughts, we are only being hypocrites. Our hypocrisy will actually prevent us from totally connecting with God. God pushes us to come to him wholeheartedly, ready to fellowship with him without any restrictions or doubts.
In all honesty, God is the only one we can express the depths of our hearts to in confidence. When we tell people, there is a high chance that we will be let down. But when we tell God, there is a definite possibility that we will receive peace, assurance, and the wisdom to handle the situation.
Our hearts have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus, making us free from the power of sin. This allows us to come to God with a clear conscience, free of guilt and shame. We have been purified by Christ. This is what this bible verse, Hebrews 10:22-23, is trying to tell us. We have been assured of our purification and there is nothing that should convince us otherwise.
As Christians, we really have become new creations in Christ. We no longer define ourselves by our sinful nature. We identify ourselves in Jesus Christ.
We are to hold on to the faith with all our heart, mind and soul. There are many factors in the world that will try discourage us from having faith in God. We cannot afford to pay attention to any of them. This is why we need to remain rooted in God's word.
Prayer
God's Word will keep us firmly rooted in faith, always reminding us of the goodness of God and the glory to come.
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.
