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.
Night Prayer
A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
Inspiration
Often, we speak before we have to opportunity to think about our words. In the heat of the moment, we immediately express negative feelings without analyzing the situation first. We jump to conclusions when directing meetings and speak in haste with our children before evaluating all sides. As leaders in any setting, we must be tactful and make decisions by weighing all details. Instead of expressing emotions with our authority, we must seek to mediate justly and reflect the mercy of God with our decision-making.
Prayer
Dear Lord, Please forgive us when we jump to conclusions and fail to lead with mercy and grace. Guide us to reflect Your character when You place us in a position of authority. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Devotion
A Simple Creed
Frances Taylor
Although the last verse of this passage is considered to be a portion of a hymn prayed by the people in the communities around Ephesus, I think of it as a creed, a simple statement of beliefs. It lets us know that they believed that Jesus was God, coming in the flesh, who was justified, or vindicated as another translation has it, by the Holy Spirit, seen by the angels, which could mean actual angels in heaven, or that he was seen by the disciples and others considered to be holy, preached by those disciples to reach out to a world that believed in the message of the Good News and was received by the Father into heaven where he would reign. Of course, I could be wrong about the actual meaning of the hymn, but it really doesn't make any difference. It makes me think about creeds, or statements of belief. I know there are a few formal ones such as the Apostles' Creed, or Baptismal Creed, and the Nicene Creed which expands a little on the first. But ...
Morning Prayer
For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
Inspiration
It may seem that the lives of some non-believers are often much easier and carefree than our own. Unshackled to principle, they may float free between pleasures with no particular conscience. But this 'freedom' is not true freedom, and one shouldn't mistake it for what it really is; being lost in the wilderness. This 'freedom' of the non-believer does not extend into the afterlife, and is in fact, shackled only to this, our material world. Since they have not had to endure the call of their consciences, they will not find our God's eternal peace.
Prayer
Lord God our Creator and Father, let me endure all that is sacred, just and fair in this world. Help us understand in facing our sufferings that we are doing so for you sake, in your glory. Thus, give us grace and show us mercy, for in answering to our consciences, we know we are doing your work. Help us stay pure ...
