Devotion
The price of greed
David Jacobs
I go to a gym regularly. At my gym, you need to pay to buy a card in order to use the showers. One day I saw a shower card on the ground, and I took the card and thought little of it. I figured that I could use it sometime and the person that lost it might not care or notice. A few days later, the gym asked if I had found the card, and feeling guilty for doing so, I had to sheepishly turn in the card with less money on it. It was a moment of weakness and embarrassment, and I have hopefully learned my lesson.
In these verses, Naaman comes to Elisha expecting to be immediately cured of his skin disease. Elisha tells Naaman to clean himself in a nearby river, which Naaman eventually does. Naaman is thrilled to be cured of his disease and offers to pay Elisha a considerable amount for curing him. Elisha does not accept the offer, but one of the followers of Elisha, Gehazi, quickly follows Naaman and lies, saying that Elisha has changed his mind and wants the reward after all. When Elisha asks Gehazi what he has done, he lies again, and Elisha curses him with the skin disease that he had just cured Naaman of.
"What goes around comes around" is a phrase you may have heard. If you inject positive energy, generosity, and love to the world, that is what you shall receive in return. If you emit negative energy, sin, and take from the world, that is what you will receive in return.
Prayer
Nobody is free of sin, myself included. Is some reward money or a shower card at the gym worth knowing that what you did was wrong? Repent, learn, and repeat. Ask the Lord for forgiveness. He is waiting.
Devotion
Give Good Example
Frances Taylor
If we ever needed a reminder of how important it is to practice what we preach, this is it. Not only are we encouraged to help others, but we are also warned about giving bad example or leading others, particularly children, away from the Lord.
I have spoken to many people who say that they became a Christian because of the example of people in their family, friends or strangers whose joy is so great they want a part of it. I also know people who have turned away from the faith they once had because they consider those who proclaim themselves to be Christian are hypocrites. Most people don't start out wanting to be Christians because of doctrine. They are influenced one way or another by people. Are you someone whose life exhibits the joy of knowing Jesus and his saving power? Am I? Do your actions give testimony to your beliefs? A person can go to church each week, Bible classes during the week and give every impression of being a devout follower of ...
Morning Prayer
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Inspiration
There is nothing at all – nothing on the earth and nothing in the spiritual realms – that can separate us from the love of Christ. No matter what any person or principality tries to do in our lives, they will never be able to quash the love Christ has for us. The love God has for us is eternal – it is here to stay for good.
Prayer
Dear God, I thank you for the love that you have for me. Thank you, Lord, that this love will never leave me and it will never forsake me. No matter what anyone tries, or whatever may come my way, Lord, I thank you that your love will always be with me. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Night Prayer
I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
Inspiration
As Christians, we know that we find peace in God. And today, we’re reminded that He promises peace to His people. But we have to do our part, which is listening. It’s when we turn away from wisdom and pursue foolish and selfish endeavors that peace eludes us. But when we turn our ears to His wisdom, He leads us on the path to peace.
Prayer
God, in You I have received peace that passes understanding. Speak Your wisdom to me, and teach me to not be distracted by my own foolish ambitions. Give me ears to hear You so that I may remain close to You and move in Your peace wherever I go. In Jesus’ name, amen.
