Devotion
God’s word is the judge
David Jacobs
A few years ago my father died. He was a larger-than-life figure to me and I have always felt inadequate in some way because I constantly compare myself to him. He was an excellent student; I was a decent student. He worked incredibly hard; I got by with charm. He was the best father anyone could hope for; I felt unable to take care of even myself at times. I spent so much of my life doing things to prove that I was worthy to him, not based on things that I wanted to do but by doing things that I thought he would want me to do.
Right before he passed away, he told me that he was proud of me. He told me that all he ever wanted was to give me a better life, to be fulfilled, and for me to be a good person. I had made mistakes, but he seemed to not even remember them. All of the guilt and insecurity that I had felt was my own. I was projecting my own beliefs on how he felt onto myself...and they were not even accurate!
Many Christians are wracked with similar feelings of guilt, anxiety, and insecurity regarding their faith, behaviors, and even thoughts. Read these verses and understand that Christ did not come to judge you! He came to save you, by sharing his word and showing you a path to peace. The world can seem to be filled with darkness, and our faith constantly challenged. Christ was the light for the world and for all believers. Let that light shine inside you, share it with the world, and stamp out the darkness that fills you with feelings of guilt, despair, and worthlessness. God shared his light; go share yours!
Prayer
Generous God, help me to spread light to the world. Assist me in changing my feelings of guilt and insecurity to feelings of hope and love. You sent your son, Jesus Christ, to save us. I will do all that I can to follow your Word, so that his sacrifice will not be for naught. I pray all of this in your holy name, thanking you for showing me the way, 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.
