Devotion
When betrayal strikes
David Jacobs
When I first started my professional career, I had a side business that generated a good amount of income for me. My partner and I split the work evenly and it seemed that nothing could go wrong. I was happy, he was happy, and our customers were happy and kept coming back for our services. That changed quickly however, when an outsider promised my partner much greener pastures if he would abandon me and work with him. Sadly, my partner listened, and our business crumbled, as did our friendship.
I was unable to get over this event for a long time: I was betrayed by someone I trusted completely, and the promises that the outsider told my partner were impossible to keep. Shortly after starting their new business my partner was betrayed by the outsider, and we were both left alone. He came to me asking for forgiveness but I was not ready to grant him it at the time. Rejecting his request burned me up inside, making me feel more hateful and angry as a result. When I finally accepted his apology, a load was lifted off my shoulders, and we both seemed to learn a valuable lesson.
Judas is one of the most despised figures in the Bible, betraying Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Like my partner, some of us have our price, no matter what we may believe. Also similar to my partner, I imagine that in time Judas came to despise his thirty pieces of silver, overcome with guilt. In later verses he returns the money, knowing that after Christ' condemnation they had become worthless. Jesus had preemptively forgiven him, teaching him a lesson before he had been betrayed and after. Money will come and go, but friendship and love can last much longer. The love of God...forever.
Prayer
Lord in Heaven, you have shown me the power of forgiveness. I know that I have sinned and will sin again, but you are always there. You have sent your son, Jesus Christ, to die for all of us, teaching a lesson about forgiveness and life eternal. Let me not fall into greed, or become a slave bonded to material goods. I am forever indebted and forever owe my servitude to you. 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.
