Devotion
Cleansing yourself of sin
David Jacobs
When I was young, I can distinctly recall a conversation that I had with my mother: I did something that I knew she would disapprove of, so I did not tell her until what I had done was obvious to everyone. She asked me, "Why didn't you tell me this?" I explained that I thought that what I did was the right thing to do but that she would not approve of it. As patient and loving as always, she explained that she would love me not matter what I did. I apologized to for not telling her but I pressed her a bit further. I asked her if she would be able to love and forgive me if I committed murder. She said, "You will always be my son. I would not approve of what you did but I would be there in jail, visiting you whenever I could."
My mother is as wonderful a person as I have known. She is forgiving and loyal almost to a fault, but so was Jesus! Christ was the son of God, totally aware of the betrayal that Judas Iscariot had laid out for him. Jesus does not condemn him; he does not try to negotiate with God to change his fate; he does not run away from the pain that he will soon undergo. Instead, he preemptively teaches the disciples a lesson, washing the feet of his soon-to-be betrayer. In doing so, he shows a forgiveness that is hard to fathom, one that plagues Judas after Christ has been killed.
By washing the disciples' feet, Jesus also teaches them to wash one another. They need to take care of each other, more than ever before, because Jesus knows that he will soon be leaving. We too, should take his advice to heart. As believers in Christ, we must work together, regardless of past transgressions, and help one another wash sin away.
Prayer
God almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth, in your name I pray. In your infinite mercy and love for me Lord God, grant me the ability to reciprocate, not only to you, but all my brothers and sisters. You have washed our sins away, and keep doing so when I ask you. I ask that you help us all work together, to cleanse ourselves of sin, so that we may join you, one day, in paradise. 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.
