Devotion
Living the Message
David Jacobs
There's been a lot of talk in the modern age about spending time calling for something to be done on social media rather than actually doing something. Even as Christians, it's easy to feel good about ourselves for sharing God's word with others and testifying about our faith on the internet. Is it enough?
Jesus said that to the watching world, believers should be like salt and light. If we add salt to soup, no one can deny the improvement in taste. If we bring a lamp into a dark room, darkness will flee. Everyone testifies their personal belief and priorities first and foremost by the way they live their lives. Our character, conduct, and even our conversations should reflect the necessity of Christ and make a clear statement about the glory of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
When we are filled with a hope to have an impact on the world, a good place to start is by studying the scriptures. Studying the lives of Abraham, Moses, Daniel, David, Mary, Esther and others teaches us the way they learned from their mistakes, the ways they coped with difficulties and how they interacted with the Lord. The Biblical accounts also show us that our Father in Heaven has goals for our lives, and that He wants us to be like Christ.
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...
