Devotion
Receiving the Holy Ghost and being freed from sin!
David Jacobs
Everyone deals with feelings of insecurity at times. Personally, I have always compared myself to the people that I most look up to, namely, my mother, father, and Jesus. Doing so has made me feel inadequate often: Christ is God in human form but I am just a man; Christ never sins and I sin often; Christ died and rose from the dead and I am fearful of death. These feelings hinder my growth as a person when I feel them strongly, and it is why verses like these are so important to me.
In these verses, Christ appears to the disciples, proves that he is truly reborn, and breathes the Holy Ghost into them. Their sins are forgiven. They, and all believers, are good enough for Jesus to say these words, to die and sacrifice himself so that our sins, the sins of inadequate mortals, would be remitted. When I remember these verses, I no longer feel inadequate; I, too, feel reborn. The Holy Ghost lives in me as he does in you. My sins are forgiven as are yours. With this in mind, how can I ever feel inadequate?
Prayer
Dear God, my Heavenly Father, who sent his only begotten Son to us, show us peace and mercy. I, like the disciples reunited again with Christ, feel joy in your presence, O Lord. I am weak, but with you am strong, and thank you for reconnecting me with your miracles and wonders. For joy is what my heart wants, and joy is what it shall receive, accepting your blessings and your everlasting embrace. Amen.
Devotion
True Prophecy
Frances Taylor
Peter is warning the people against false teachers and false prophets. There were false prophets among the Israelites and there would be again. Men, then, and men and women today who would lead people away from the will of God in order that they might exert influence over the leaders of the times to achieve their own ends. In ancient times, the prophets worked to bring the people back to living as God wanted them to live. The false prophets wanted to keep their jobs as the favorites of the kings and kept telling them not to listen.
Today we have many false teachers as Peter predicted who try to turn the words of Scripture to their own agendas. These people have often called for hate instead of the love which Jesus asked for. They have called for vengeance instead of forgiveness or mercy. They bring about division instead of unity. The true teacher will be attentive to the word of God and do his or her best to make Jesus law of love more visible in ...
Morning Prayer
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Inspiration
I constantly compare myself to Jesus Christ. Although I think that it is a good thing to contemplate how you live and compare it to Christ, it can also be very difficult. Jesus is the Son of God. It would be impossible for us to ever be as good as him because he was created without flaws. God sent him to earth as a mortal man, as a sinner, so that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5: 21) It is an impossible standard to reach, but is there any other person that you would rather be more similar to?
Prayer
Divine God, powerful creator of both Heaven and earth, I pray that these words convey my sincere gratitude to you for sending Jesus to us. Forgive me, Father, for I am selfish and weak, acting directly against your heavenly mandate. I know that Jesus Christ has shown light on a darkened ...
