Devotion
There have been many kings but only one God
David Jacobs
If you come from the western hemisphere and have studied history, there is a decent chance that you have heard of the notorious Henry VIII. Infamous for his romantic exploits and treacherous betrayals, King Henry VIII also gained notoriety for the schism with the Catholic Church in 1534. This may lead you to believe that he was a pious believer of God, but when you consider the litany of sins that he publicly committed, I think it is fair to say that he may have thought of himself on nearly the same level as God. The verses in this devotional discuss the importance that Timothy placed on all people, regardless of their position or status in life, giving thanks and praise to God. No matter the conditions or the situation that we live, it is important to give our thanks and praise.
The way that we worship the Lord is usually done in an environment of calm and serene communion. I feel this is true for the home or church as if is for our greater society. Whether we are King Henry VIII or an ordinary citizen, it is our duty to labor for God and partake in his creation, and support and nurture one another. If we dare to dream of the world we wish to inhabit as one conducive to worshipping his name, then it begins with generosity towards ones fellow man. Find the way that you feel most comfortable worshiping God, and give generously to Him. No matter what is going on in your life or around you, we owe everything to Him.
Prayer
Lord above, open my heart towards your creation. I ask that you grant me the strength to pray for those who do not pray for me. Humble me in thy sight, magnificent God, so that I may have an honest and clean heart to serve thee with, in turn serving my fellow man. Grant me all this Lord, so that your creation, as it is in Heaven, may all sing your praises. Amen.
Night Prayer
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
Inspiration
When multiple flocks of sheep become blended, there is no need to worry. The good shepherd will call out to his sheep, and they come directly to him because they know his voice and will not confuse it with others. As God's people, we often become mixed up in things of the world. Sin is tempting as we surround ourselves with the wrong crowd; God is always watching and calls us back to the fold. We find Him when we are lost because we know the sound of His voice; it's the only one we've chosen to follow, and we do not confuse it with others.
Prayer
Dear God, when we are lost, we listen for You. Your voice is precious and will guide us back to the fold where we belong. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Devotion
The Word of God
Frances Taylor
If there's one thing I know about Christians and the Bible, is that there is an ongoing debate about whether it is the word of God or the word of men, and what that means. We all agree that the Bible is the living revealed word of God, but! There are wide differences in how that is interpreted. There are some who believe that every word of the Bible was dictated to someone who wrote it down. For others it is purely men's thoughts. For others, men were inspired by God to write their experience of God. I don't know where you find yourself on this continuum.
For most people who believe that the Bible is inspired either word for word or as guided by God, the Bible tells God's truth. Unfortunately for those of us who speak English, we have to rely the sources we have had over the years as guides to how the Scriptures should be interpreted. I have had many people ask me which translation is correct, but there's no clear answer.
The Bible has been translated ...
Morning Prayer
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
Inspiration
Suffering will be a part of our lives as Christians. The New Testament is filled with warnings about the suffering Christians will incur because of their decision to follow Christ and not the ways of the world. Millions of Christians across the world are subjected to torture, isolation, and mockery just because they have chosen to follow Christ. But Christ has also assured us that we will not endure this suffering alone, and a reward lies ahead for all of those who suffer for the name of Jesus Christ.
Prayer
Dear God, I pray that in times of persecution and great tribulations, may you strengthen me and encourage me to keep going on. I also pray for my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who endure great pain and torture for choosing to follow you. May you comfort them in these trying times, Lord. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
