Devotion
Signs of the saviour
David Jacobs
Isaiah is one of the most influential and important prophets in the Bible. He lived about 700 years before Christ was born, during a tumultuous time for the kingdom of Judah. He is one of the few people that were able to foresee the future through a connection with God, predicting many of the most important outcomes that would occur centuries later. In these verses, Isaiah is talking with the newly appointed king of Judah, Ahaz, who is stuck between a rock and hard place with several armies coming to invade his kingdom. Likely in his 20s, Ahaz did not know what to do and sought council with the wiser Isaiah.
In these verses, Isaiah has attempted to help Ahaz, offering him spiritual guidance, which Ahaz refuses. Ahaz is trying to think of a way to save himself at all costs, willing to broker alliances with enemies in order to save his own skin. Isaiah wants to send Ahaz and the kingdom of Judah a message, and he makes his proclamation here to reassure the people of Judah of the covenant that their ancestors made with God.
In hindsight, it may seem that Ahaz is a fool, but what would you have done differently? Ahaz did not know what would happen and he did not have a strong faith to rely on. Isaiah had built a strong foundation based on faith that he could fall on in difficult times. Like Isaiah, we need to foster our relationship with God so that when we see the armies of our enemies, of sin and temptation, we are strengthened by faith, with the knowledge that our God will not abandon us.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I ask that you strengthen my faith today and all days. I know that I have not always been strong, I have doubted, and I have sinned in your eyes, O Lord, and I thank you for being so merciful and patient. You have given me a chance, even a second chance, and I shall not waste it or be unfaithful to you. I want to thank you for giving me these chances, through the virgin birth and the life of your only begotten son, in whose name I pray. 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.
