Devotion
The only true word
David Jacobs
In modern times, more people are losing their faith in religion, which is and was the backbone of civilization for thousands of years. Many people claim that religion is not real and that science is the path to truth. Are science and religion opponents? Science has advanced us to heights that we could have hardly imagined. Science has attempted to answer questions about existence, make our lives better, and increase our chance of survival. However, science cannot answer all questions and it does not provide a moral path to walk on. Christianity does. Science and Christianity are not opponents. They are teammates.
Many have claimed to be prophets and many of these prophets have been correct about many things. Some have been correct about most things, accurately forecasting things that seem almost impossible to predict. In these verses, a prophet comes to King Jeroboam, refuses to eat with him citing his wicked ways, and predicts that the altar shall break in half, which it does. The prophet was blessed by God early in this chapter, but makes the mistake of listening to another prophet later in the chapter. After listening to the false prophet and going against God's commands, the prophet is killed by a lion after leaving.
Think back to the state of our current world: as more people leave religion and listen to other "prophets." Has the world improved? People are more lost than ever before, turning to temptation and sin where they used to turn to God. Do not make the same mistake as the prophet in these verses!
Prayer
Continue to walk the righteous path, the path laid out by Christ, a moral path to God' Heavenly Kingdom. It is the way, the truth, and life. Thanks be to God!
Night Prayer
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
Inspiration
God is our portion, our ultimate source of peace and happiness. We do not need to understand His ways or timing; we only need to know that He is always with us. God is our safety net, and He guides us through each struggle or hardship. We know terrible occurrences are bound to happen as we live in this imperfect world, but we have hope because God is with us every moment. His love will never fail.
Prayer
Dear Lord, we depend on You for peace and happiness all the days of our life. We are blessed because we can face any obstacle with You by our side. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Devotion
The Name Of God
Frances Taylor
God's name as it is written in Scripture is either Jehovah or Yahweh, or just YHWH. All are translations of He is Who He is. Because the Jewish people did not call God by the name he gave Moses. It is for this reason that the Jewish people were so angry when Jesus said that before Abraham came to be I AM. To say God's name was to blaspheme. For the people of Moses' time, names had power. They felt that to use the name of God was to say that they had power over God, and so the name was sacred. I can remember an uncle of mine who would often take not just the Lord's name in vain when he was angry, but would also use it to curse whoever he was angry with. I'm sure you know many people who do the same without even blinking an eye.
Good Christians, all, who would be horrified if they were called on it. We are offended when people use foul language, why are we not offended when the Lord's name is taken in vain? A friend of mine used to work in the office ...
Morning Prayer
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
Inspiration
The contrast or tension between our worldly masters and our ultimate devotion to the Lord. These two things may not always be in conflict, so our obedience to both can be considered harmonious, even beneficial. But perhaps more often times than not, there is a disconnect between the two, just as in Christs' own time. The law of man is important in helping us maintain social order, modeled imperfectly as it is on God's moral order. But it is not and never will be the Law; for God does not respect our borders and our small islands of land with their governments. God respects what dwells ...
