Devotion
See the invisible, hear the inaudible
David Jacobs
Have you ever been to a different country and worshipped at a church? On a musical mission trip to Brazil I experienced this unique opportunity. I am unable to speak Portuguese, so it was basically impossible to understand what was being said in the service. However, I was part of my church orchestra and we got to share the ministry of our church through music with various churches in Brazil. It was an incredible experience: we were able to communicate our passion for Christ and celebrate our joyous worship to God together, thousands of miles from home, in a place where we could not speak the language. We didn't need to speak the language, because we knew that we all believed in the same things.
Paul writes these letters to churches in places that he may never get to see with his own eyes. He writes these letters to new believers in Christ, thirsting for more knowledge and guidance from Jesus. He writes these letters not knowing the people's situation entirely, but understand the same things that I understood in Brazil: devotees of Christ look at more than just what can be seen; they hear more than just what can be heard; they look at what is unseen and unheard. Christ the man could be seen and heard, but his message, God's word, is eternal. The material world will come and it will pass, tied to a specific place and time. The Lord, our God, Paul's God, the Corinthians' God, is everlasting.
Prayer
Dearest Lord, your kingdom come, your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Grant me the wisdom to look beyond that which my eyes can see, beyond what my ears can hear, beyond what my hands can touch. Help me, loving Lord, to deal with loss and give up my temporary possessions. I long to join you and your only begotten son, Jesus Christ, in eternal bliss. You are my God, my strength, and my redeemer. Amen.
Devotion
Let us Bless The Lord
Frances Taylor
This is one of the psalms attributed to David. He is thanking God for rescuing him and promising to bless God at all times. He asks us to join him in his praises. He says his soul shall boast in the Lord. St. Paul tells us that we, too, should only boast in the Lord because it is he who always saves us. So, today, make a list. Make a list of everything that you are thankful for. Make a list of every success you have had and every failure you have survived. Make a list of every person who has helped you grow as a person and as a Christian. Now, look at it. Each of the items, events or persons on these lists are blessings from God. Either now, or before the day is over, bless and thank God for each of them. Ask God, also, to bless each of the people you have listed that you might be a blessing for them. If some of them are now with God, they would still like to hear you say thank you. God is so good to us all the time, and as one of my favorite ...
Morning Prayer
He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Inspiration
Jesus tried to minister to the people in his town, but they rejected that he was the son of God. They only saw him as the son of a carpenter. There are many other Jews, who were referred to as God's own, who rejected Jesus Christ as the son of God, too. This is how Jesus ended up being crucified. But this did not deter Christ from His mission. He held nothing against anyone who rejected them. He forgave them and prayed that they would be saved.
Prayer
Dear God, I thank you for your son, Jesus Christ, who loved us so much, he did not hold it against any man when they wronged Him. Lord, I pray that I can exemplify this kind of love in my life too. I cannot do that without your help, Lord. May you help me to follow the example your son set for me, Lord. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
