Devotion
We are the chosen generation
David Jacobs
We live in uncertain times: many would say that today, a new 'dark age' has befallen much of the world. War, pollution, disease...there is so much darkness that it can be easy to not notice the light. However, is today any darker than the days of Sodom and Gomorrah? Did the light of salvation not shine divinely now as it did at that time? It was not God changing how brightly the light shined, no. It was the inhabitants that chose to ignore and be blind to it.
Today, there are challenges to ones faith everywhere, just as it was with Lot: sex, drugs, violence...any type of sin that you can imagine seems to be commonplace in the society that we are currently living. There are times I wonder whether it is responsible to have a child in today's era, forgetting how the light of the Lord never ceases to shine. The choice is mine. The choice is yours. For those who are fortunate enough to know and have chosen to accept Christ, we may consider ourselves chosen by God. We have a responsibility to shine forth in the darkness, as a new nation of light, not limited by geography and distance, but instead brought together by faith.
Prayer
Lord God Almighty, help me realize how lucky I am, to be warmed and bask in your eternal light. Grant me the strength to shine brightly as an example to others, so that with my word and deed I may help spread your light, especially at the darkest hours. Lord I humbly ask that you use me as a vessel for others, so that they may see you as I do. Please, my God, use me so that I can show others that we are chosen to shine, and together we can change the darkness to light. I pray all of this in your holy name, Amen.
Night Prayer
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Inspiration
We despise the thought of a pile of dirty dishes in the sink. The outside is easy to clean; it's the caked-up residue on the inside that's so difficult to remove. Jesus compares the scribes and Pharisees with dishes that have been wiped clean on the outside while dirty inside. The Pharisees took exceptional care of their outward appearance and neglected their inward spirits. We are guilty of allowing our hearts to be left filthy as well. We look and act as we should while our souls are full of darkness. We must continue to converse with the Holy Spirit daily and trust His guidance to cleanse our sinful nature.
Prayer
Dear God, Please forgive our sinful nature. We yearn for cleansing from within, so we are genuine witnesses to Your name. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
