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.
Devotion
The First Fruits
Frances Taylor
In addition to the commandments, the Lord gave the people rules to live by that included dietary laws, laws concerning the various feasts that would offer blessings to God and ways of treating people that probably sound pretty strange to us today. But let's consider this one. Why do you think God is asking for the first fruits of the first harvest in the new land? To me, this is asking for a sign of gratitude for all that the Lord had done for them. He brought them out of slavery in Egypt, guided them through the desert, fed them during their journey, made sure they had water to drink and now is bringing them to a new land so that they can live in freedom. Think back to the story of Cain and Abel and their offerings. Abel offered the best of his harvest; Cain doesn't seem to have done the same. Offering sacrifice was a long-standing tradition at that time, in that culture. It would seem to be the natural thing to do. What are we asked to sacrifice ...
