Devotion
Closer than a Brother
Chipo Biti
There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother and his name is Jesus Christ. Jesus loved you way before you were born and he will continue to love you when you leave this earth. His love is not seasonal and it is not conditional. He loved you way before you knew of him or even chose to receive him into your love. He values you so much he counted it worthy to die on the cross for your sins. There is no one on the face of this earth who will ever be able to match the love that Jesus has for you. When friends come and go, you can be assured that there is someone you can rely on without fail. He will never leave you and he will never turn his back on you. He is for you and He desires for you to walk in the freedom that he has given you.
There are also people on earth that God uses to be close to us in the good and the bad times. These friends are not many but when they come into your life, they have no intention of leaving. These are the friends you can call on at any time and they will gladly help you. These are the friends that you can trust, no matter what. They are gifts.
You should also desire to be the kind of friend who people can rely on. Good friends may be hard to find but you should strive to be someone a person can consider a friend who sticks closer than a brother. The love of God should compel you to be someone who can be trusted and someone who can encourage, exhort, and comfort others when they are in need of it.
Prayer
God's love should be your guide when it comes to how you treat your friends. While we may live in a world where it is hard to find people to trust, you should be one of those people who can be trusted. Your friends should have comfort in knowing that you will always be there, no matter what.
Jesus led the way so that we could follow his example on how to love and how to be friends who are always willing to give.
Devotion
Lot’s Rescue
Frances Taylor
When I read about Lot and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, I tend to think about Lot's wife and her turning back just when salvation was in her grasp. The angels had brought the whole family to safety; all they had to do was follow God's instruction not to turn back. It sounds so easy. I wonder what was so important to Lot's wife that she turned back? I'm sure that Lot was grateful to God and to the angels for rescuing him and his family and also saddened by the loss of his wife. We, too, have been rescued. We have been rescued from the fear of death, from the effects of our sinfulness and from eternal damnation. We have chosen to follow our deliverer, our Savior, Jesus Christ. What is there in our lives that is so important to us that we risk losing it all? Because we do turn back, just as Lot's wife. We often return to old habits, old companions that lead us into sinful situations, old temptations that we think won't entrap us. We choose to...
Morning Prayer
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Inspiration
When it comes to judging situations, we should never be partial in our reasoning. If we try to favor one party, instead of being just, we are doing a great injustice to the wronged person, and we are also doing a great disservice to ourselves as children of God. Be fair in every situation and strive to do the right thing. There is no honor in partiality.
Prayer
Dear God, I ask for your wisdom when I am asked to mediate situations. Lord, may I never be swayed by money, or anything else that could cause me to be partial. May my reasoning be just and pleasing before you, and may it be the truth I speak and nothing else, Lord. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Night Prayer
Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.
Inspiration
We cry out to the Lord when we are troubled. We ask for guidance, help, and protection because we know He is always listening. God comforts our anxious spirits and calms the brewing storm within our hearts; We can always count on our Heavenly Father to be present and prepared to help us fight any battle we encounter. God has been our refuge since the beginning; He will remain our rock of salvation until the end.
Prayer
Dear God, we are thankful for Your presence in our lives. We know we can always call out to You in times of trouble. You are always present and prepared to help us when we need You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
