Devotion
Finding the desire to hear God
David Jacobs
Our church recently did a series of workshops on listening. The participants got to experience what it feels like to not be listened to, feeling anger and frustration. Then we discussed what is more important when listening, ability or the desire to listen? Overwhelmingly, people said they were now realizing how important it is to want to listen.
The principles in the Scriptures teach us the way to live holy lives. But in order to receive God's instructions, we must learn how to hear Him speak through His Word.
In the days of Nehemiah, the Israelites who helped to rebuild Jerusalem were good listeners. After working together to restore the city wall, they asked Ezra to read to them from the scrolls containing God's laws. The reading lasted for hours, during which time the people stood and listened intently as the scribe read. They had come together, intent on learning about God's character and determined to follow His plan. For this reason, the Levites translated "to give the sense so that [the people] understood the reading" (Nehemiah 8:8).
Understanding what pleases the Lord is essential so we can obey His plan. That means we must be good listeners who develop greater, attentiveness and zeal for Him, so that when we hear his word being preached, we will be filled with the desire to hear it. As we learn, we should be prepared not only to share the Word with others but also to explain it so they, too, can know God and obey.
Prayer
The voice of God might be coming from places we don't expect it. As seekers of God's holy way, we must constantly keep our ears open to his word, whether it comes from a church leader or from a child. At the same time, we must stay vigilant and use judgment to make sure that what we are hearing is not from someone trying to deceive us and lead us away from God's plan.
Devotion
Abraham is Father of All
Frances Taylor
There are questions in every age about the importance of the Old Testament for Christians. Abraham is considered to be the Father of Faith for Jews, Christians and Muslims. We forget that it was Abraham who believed in the doctrine of only one God. It is through him and his descendants that this tradition comes down to us. Another fact that we can overlook is that Jesus was Jewish. He was born a Jew, lived as a Jew, died, rose and ascended into heaven as a Jew. Because we believe that he was the Messiah, the Christ, and we follow him, we are called Christian. Without the Old Testament, we wouldn't understand the promise of salvation; we wouldn't understand why it was important for Jesus to be of the family of King David. We would not understand his teaching either, because Jesus quoted from Scripture – the Old Testament – frequently. He told us that he came to fulfill the Scriptures, not to abolish them. In the same way, we can ...
Morning Prayer
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Inspiration
We have a responsibility, as Christians, to abstain from the sinful practices we partook in before we became saved. While it may be a gradual process of change, we should ensure that we are putting in our best to play our part in resisting temptation. God enables us to resist temptation, but it is up to us to actually resist.
Prayer
Dear God, I pray that I will always be a person of action. Father, I take delight in my new life in you and I do not desire otherwise. I pray that in times of temptation, may I act on the strength you have given me to flee and/or resist. May I never rely on excuses or procrastination, Lord. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Night Prayer
Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.
Inspiration
We have chosen to surrender our lives and serve the Lord. We serve Him by witnessing, completing missionary projects, and ministering to those in need. There is always work to do and a world full of people to help. We will look for opportunities to provide for our brothers and sisters in Christ by any means necessary. We are servants to one another as a service to the Lord; He will never forsake us.
Prayer
Dear God, Help us see the world through Your eyes. We desire to serve those around us by reflecting Your love through our actions. You will never forsake us, and we will continually lift praises of thanksgiving to You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
