Devotion
Taking baby steps
David Jacobs
I have two children: a son and a daughter. My son was quite cautious as a child, thinking before he moved, pondering any potential dangers that he might encounter. My daughter, on the other hand, was afraid of nothing. She bounded into rooms with the fervor of a small monster, taking her bumps and bruises along the way. It was fascinating to me that two siblings, only a few years apart, raised by the same people in the same house, could have such unique behaviors at a young age. The same is true for Christians.
Learning to walk with Christ is easier said than done. If you are reading this, that is a good step. More than anything, you must maintain a strong faith in Christ. As Paul says in these verses, he may not be with the Colossians physically, but he is there in spirit, for their faith in Christ, unites them. We may receive Christ early in our journey, bounding through the room like my daughter, but our faith cannot stop there. The Christian path never ceases, and whether you exhibit the calculating and methodical approach to walking like my son, or the youthful passion and energy of my daughter, there are a number of paths that lead to the Heavenly Kingdom. One must remember that the path never ends. It is a lifetime journey, and we must walk continuously, constantly striving to be better in the eyes of the Lord.
Prayer
What was your first step on your journey with Christ? Perhaps more importantly, what was your biggest step and when did you walk most closely with God?
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.
