Devotion
Journey into the Promised Land
David Jacobs
I am an American. I am also (mostly) proud to be an American. When I think of my homeland, I mostly consider the incredible landscapes; places so beautiful it is hard to imagine that they even exist. I also consider the people; coming from all over the world yet somehow bound by an underlying culture. Lastly, I think of our beliefs; although some may disagree, it is a country that wants to be free, to be a leader, and to hold strongly onto our beliefs. I have a powerful connection to my homeland, but my true allegiance lies with another power; a power far greater, one that crosses borders, language, and even time. I am a Christian above all else, and no matter what happens to my country, I will always pledge my allegiance to God.
Abram proves his loyalty to God famously in the book of Genesis. Few characters in the Bible are as loyal and devout as Abram, and his loyalty is rewarded. It is rewarded with a covenant between God and his family, one that will last for generations. He trusted in God, venturing out into the unknown, because he knew where his allegiance laid; his allegiance was not to a place, not to a person, not to a country. His allegiance was to God. He encounters a multitude of difficulties but always perseveres because he knows, as we all should know, that God always stands by his side.
Prayer
O God, my Shepherd, keep me from doubt. I pledge my allegiance, my undying loyalty, to you, now and forever. I know that like Abram, my faith in your word, coupled with a commitment with my own words and deeds, will lead to a reward. I thank you, gracious God, for I know that this reward is one that I truly do not deserve. I pray this in the name of your son, Jesus Christ, who died so that I may live. Amen.
Devotion
Love the Foreigners
Frances Taylor
Have you ever thought that the Holy Family were refugees just as Israel and his family were when they went to Egypt to escape the famine? They fled from those who would kill them to a country not their own, trusting that they would be safe. They weren't asked for a passport; they weren't asked if someone there would vouch for them; they most likely didn't know the language and they probably didn't have a job lined up. Joseph did what he needed to do to keep Mary and the child Jesus safe. How many fathers and mothers today must flee from persecution? How many leave everything they know to find safety for their children? Those of us who have always lived in freedom can't begin to understand what this means. Yes, many of us know poverty, discrimination, fear of the violence of the streets, but not the unrelenting fear that many of our neighbors have faced. How might our attitudes be different if we looked at every family seeking asylum as a "holy ...
