Devotion
His Workmanship
Chipo Biti
We are the workmanship - the creation - of God. He took time to form us in His image. When He created us He desired that we enjoy and prosper in our relationship with Him. At the beginning of time, before the Fall, there was no pain or suffering. Man was left to flourish, multiply, and enjoy the best of what God had created for them. God created us with love. He has loved us from the beginning of time and He actually intended for us to live a perfect life of fulfillment. The work that man was required to do was work that He enjoyed.
Unfortunately, this all changed after the Fall of Man. Evil entered the world and so did pain and sorrow. Things changed for mankind. We became at war with the world and with one another.
But in a world filled with trials and tribulations of many sorts, we can be confident because we are loved by God and we know that the plans that He has for us will always work us. Think of it like this, God managed to sort out the greatest thing of our lives - our salvation. Without Jesus Christ, we would all be damned to hell and there would be nothing that could save us. But God, out of His endless love for us, sent His son to take the fall for us so that we would be able to live.
We are loved by God and, as His children, we love Him too. We have been created with a purpose; God has a plan for our lives.
After the Fall, God did not turn His back on mankind. He could have chosen to wipe everyone out and start again but He could not do that. The love He had for man was too much for Him to try and wipe them all out. Instead, He came up with a redemption plan that came in the form of Jesus. While we may not be able to live in that paradise right now, a time will come where we will. When Jesus returns, we will live a more glorious life - free of all evil, pain, and sorrow. Until then, we will hold fast to God's promises and root our Hope in Him.
Prayer
Now, as Christians, we walk confidently because we know of where we are headed. We have received eternal life. A life that will not be revoked from us because of the love that we have for God. In a world filled with hopelessness and uncertainty, we can walk with our heads held high because we know that all is truly well with our lives. If God could turn around our eternity, the greatest thing in our lives, for us, what can't he do? Is there anything more important than the fate of our eternity? No! So walk tall, dear believer, and know that you are covered.
Devotion
Culpability
Frances Taylor
This is an interesting passage because, among other things, it talks about sin and who is considered guilty of sin. Paul is talking about how he has been forgiven, how God has been merciful to him because his actions were committed in unbelief. In order for sin to be committed, one needs to know he is committing it. No one can commit sin in retrospect. Sin is always a deliberate act. This can be hard for some to understand. Actions can be considered sinful, even though the person committing them may not be culpable. For example, lying is a sin. However, is the two year old hiding behind the curtains sinning when he or she claims not to have broken the vase? No, because the child has no understanding of the difference between truth and lie. Those who do not have a relationship with God, who do not know the commandments, who have never heard of Jesus, may commit sinful actions, but are not guilty of sin. This is what Paul claims is his situation. Paul ...
Morning Prayer
And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, ) full of grace and truth.
Inspiration
When the Lord sent his only Son, he sent also his word. For his body was this very word made flesh. Importantly this was not simply a manifestation of God's word, but also rather an 'animation' of it (meant here in the original Latin as 'animare' –'to instill with life or spirit'), an instance of God's love and divine grace in action, among us.
Prayer
Lord, I am grateful for your mercy in showing us your word made flesh so that we may be redeemed. Further, I am grateful to you for showing us your love and grace through your only begotten son. Let his body not have been torn and broken for no avail, but feed us now in the Eucharist. Let not his blood have...
