Devotion
Afraid or in love?
David Jacobs
Do you think that you have ever witnessed a miracle? Picture yourself in Moses' time: you would have witnessed plague after plague, one unexplainable miracle after another (and still the Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go). How did the witnesses to these miracles feel? Afraid. In the Old Testament, much of the miracles that God performs are meant to make the witnesses fearful and obedient. God parts the Red Sea, finally allowing the Israelites to escape to freedom and in turn killing many of the Egyptians. When the Israelites saw this, "the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses." (Exodus 14:31) Are you fearful of God or not?
There is one major difference between the Old and New Testaments: God sent His son, Jesus, to live amongst us, to better understand us, and to save us. We have talked about the miracles of the Old Testament and how they typically strike fear into witnesses. Ponder the miracles of the New Testament: Jesus heals people, feeds people, even resurrects a person! How would you react to witnessing these events? The differences in the Old and New Testament God and the miracles that were performed in each allow us to get a better understanding of God's desires for us. He certainly wants us to obey and follow Him, but he no longer wanted to do it through fear. He sent Jesus to convey his message in a way that would not strike fear in our hearts.
In these verses, a final miracle occurs, with God allowing Moses to part the Red Sea so that the Israelites could escape and stop the Egyptians. It struck fear in the witnesses but it allowed for the ancestors of Christ to survive, to remain obedient and devout, so that the most important messenger, God' son Jesus Christ, could relay God's word so that we could all understand.
Prayer
Abba Father, precious Lord, I am amazed at your power and grace. I thank you for allowing me to understand your message in a way that other believers have not had the opportunity, understanding the sacrifice that you and your son, Jesus Christ, made for me. I pray that you grant me the wisdom to better understand your word, to better convey your word to others, and have the bravery to share it with those that need it the most. I pray all of this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Night Prayer
The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.
Inspiration
When a king rules with fairness and justice, his kingdom will flourish. If the same king accepts gifts or bribes, his kingdom will fall. We've all observed a person in a leadership position who acted wrongfully. Perhaps a boss did not discipline employees fairly, or a political leader accepted kickbacks for legislation decisions. These corrupt actions lead to their demise. Scripture advises leaders to maintain justice with fair decision-making. As leaders, we must reflect on the mercy and grace God shows to us and lead others in the same fashion.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for coaching us in our leadership endeavors. We have faith in Your Words and will lead Your people accordingly. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Devotion
The Widow of Naim
Frances Taylor
This story of Jesus' raising the son of the widow of Naim gives us some information that lets us know just how important it was for this widow. At that time, women had no way to earn a living. They were property of their parents until they became property of their husbands, and actually moved into the home of the husband. Now that this widow's son had died, she had no one to take care of her. The compassion that Jesus showed meant life to that widow. I'm sure the leaders weren't too happy that the power of God to raise someone from the dead rested in Jesus. There must also have been those who were saying, "Why her and not me?" We all will die and we will all lose someone we love including those of us who have and will lose children. We can easily read this passage and question. It can be difficult to understand God's plan for us, even though we keep trying. It is better to concentrate on the positive than the negative. A priest I once knew lost ...
