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.
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.
