Devotion
Love in Loyalty
Chipo Biti
Elisha was loyal to Elijah until the very end. When it was time for Elijah to leave the earth, he tried to leave Elisha behind. Elisha refused to do so. The thought of letting Elijah go anywhere on his own was not something Elisha was going to allow. As Elijah's right-hand man, Elisha always took care of Elijah's needs and his wellbeing. He didn't see it a loathsome job but as a duty worth fulfilling. He did it with all his heart. Elisha was aware of the fact that he was going to be Elijah's successor but he never let that interfere with the work that he needed to do.
He served Elijah honorably, without resentment or reservations. Elisha was also aware that Elijah was about to leave. He could have chosen to leave Elijah behind and started with his own ministry. He could have left Elijah to go on the journey alone. But he chose to be honorable and be with Elijah until the very end. When they encountered different prophets, they tried to inform Elisha of Elijah's impending death, but Elisha was not deterred.
When we are working as assistants to other people, we should never see it as a lowly task. Pride is what will make us think that we are better than the position we find ourselves in. Pride is not a godly trait to maintain. It always causes strife and disrupts harmony. If you have to serve as an understudy to someone - be it in church, at school, or at work - see it as an opportunity to work honorably. Be loyal to the people that God has assigned as authorities in your life. Loyalty does not mean that you have to do every single thing they ask, though, especially if these requests are not godly. Being a loyal servant simply means that you work with an open heart, willing to be of help wherever you can.
Prayer
When the time comes for you to take over from your predecessor, be humble. Do not gloat about it - that is not honorable. Do not shirk your responsibilities, either. If the quality of your service is dependent on the position you receive, then that does not mean that you are serving honorably. You are only lying to yourself.
Let the love in your heart extend to the people that you are serving.
Night Prayer
And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.
Inspiration
Delilah asks Samson what makes him strong so his enemies can attack him in his weakness. Satan is like a lion, constantly on the prowl, searching out our weakness and working diligently to distract us from the path of righteousness. We rely on the Holy Spirit to help us focus when the enemy tries to trick us. We are thankful for the Holy Spirit's presence and guidance every moment of our earthly lives.
Prayer
Dear Father, We praise You for the presence of Your Spirit in our daily lives. Please continue to encourage us to remain watchful as Satan plans his attack. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Devotion
The Law of Life
Frances Taylor
Freedom! Doesn't it sound great? We all want freedom, but what is true freedom? According to Paul it is freedom in the law of the Spirit of life in Christ. Unfortunately, most of us don't want freedom, they want license. Freedom does not mean that a person can do whatever he/she wants. We are given free will so that we can choose the GOOD. My freedom ends where yours begins and there are people who forget that.
When we follow Jesus law of love we are truly free. We don't even have to worry about the commandments because they are all based on love – love of God and love of others. Later in Romans, Paul talks about this in a question about the obligation of the Jewish people to follow the law as opposed to the Christians who are no longer subject to the law because they need to follow the way of love. We must follow civil laws, but first we must know them. For example, we must know the speed limit and follow it when we drive. We must know tax laws, ...
