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
The Lost Coin
Frances Taylor
We all know the story of the lost sheep and the prodigal or lost, son, but do we remember the story of the lost coin which is sandwiched between the two in Luke's Gospel? The ten drachma were most likely the woman's dowry and very important to her. She rejoices with her friends just as Jesus tells us the angels in heaven rejoice over one sinner repenting. I hope the angels rejoice several times a day! These three parables tell us how important it is to repent, to turn our lives around and get back on the right track. I once taught in a juvenile facility where a young man told me he was bad and could never be better than he already was. He was sixteen years old! He had already given up hope. He couldn't see any way out of the life he had been leading. I tried to tell him he wasn't a bad person but had made bad choices. He couldn't believe me. I wondered how many times in his young life he had been called "bad?" I still am bothered when I hear a parent,...
Morning Prayer
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Inspiration
Though the shepherds were startled and afraid by the angel, they could hardly be blamed perhaps for not recognizing the absolute significance of the events that were coming to faithfully unfold in front of their eyes that very night. Little did it perhaps yet dawn on them what miraculous event was coming to pass. However, can we even now dare to fully comprehend the magnitude of Christ's teaching and salvation? Have you truly considered its implications for your life? Be not like the shepherds, for one has already heard their ...
