Devotion
There is only the word of God
David Jacobs
There are times when we feel like we have been stripped of everything we love. It is in these times that we must remember that having faith in Christ is what truly makes us wealthy. When I was growing up, hearing different interpretations of the scripture made me question if I was truly following the word of God. I felt "empty". It is in the Book of Revelation where we can turn to remember that "he that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death" (Revelation 2:10). By listening to the word of Christ, and not those who use his name to promote their own ideas, we can avoid the tribulations that come from following the word of heretics.
We should expect our churches to follow the word and teachings of Christ. While there are certainly examples of institutions that misrepresent the fundamentals of Christianity, as followers of God, we need to remember that ultimately our devotion is to him. When I was overwhelmed by different people telling me how to properly be a Christian, it was in the scripture I found the courage to only follow the word of God, and comfort in my own interpretations of what it meant to be a true follower of the Lord.
Prayer
With the amount of information and news we are bombarded with on a daily basis, it is necessary for all of us to take a step back and question the validity of what we are hearing. Revelation 2:9-17 warns us of those who pretend to be someone they are not to try and persuade us to act against our better judgment.
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.
