Devotion
A humble servant of the Lord, no matter the task
David Jacobs
When I was in high school, I tried out for a school play. It was the first play I had ever tried out for or been in, so I was quite nervous. The play was "Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat." Naturally, I wanted to be Joseph, but I didn't end up getting the part. Other students had more experience and were flat out better than I was. I was given another part (narrator) but was immature and refused to take part at all. I attended a performance of the play with my family, and to this day I can remember how great it was. It was a shame that I could not see the bigger picture and be a part of the show.
King David was a loyal servant of God for his entire life. No character more adamantly sings the praises of God than his obedient servant, David, so it is a surprise here in 1 Chronicles to see the Lord choose another king of Israel to build the temple for Him. God tells David via the prophet Nathan that David's son is the one that God has chosen. Although David was prepared to build the temple, Solomon ended up building it as we still know today.
How did David react? The same way he does in nearly every instance that the Lord speaks to him: he praises God, obediently going along with God's plan. If only I had learned my lesson from these verses! Life doesn't always give you exactly what you want, but to be part of something incredible and view being chosen to be a part of something special is a gift in and of itself. David realized this; I did not. Remember these verses the next time you are in a similar situation: we are God's servants and it is a blessing to be one at all.
Prayer
Have you had a similar experience as mine, when you were not selected for something that you wanted? How did you react? How can you be better and more like David the next time?
Devotion
Abraham is Father of All
Frances Taylor
There are questions in every age about the importance of the Old Testament for Christians. Abraham is considered to be the Father of Faith for Jews, Christians and Muslims. We forget that it was Abraham who believed in the doctrine of only one God. It is through him and his descendants that this tradition comes down to us. Another fact that we can overlook is that Jesus was Jewish. He was born a Jew, lived as a Jew, died, rose and ascended into heaven as a Jew. Because we believe that he was the Messiah, the Christ, and we follow him, we are called Christian. Without the Old Testament, we wouldn't understand the promise of salvation; we wouldn't understand why it was important for Jesus to be of the family of King David. We would not understand his teaching either, because Jesus quoted from Scripture – the Old Testament – frequently. He told us that he came to fulfill the Scriptures, not to abolish them. In the same way, we can ...
Morning Prayer
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Inspiration
We have a responsibility, as Christians, to abstain from the sinful practices we partook in before we became saved. While it may be a gradual process of change, we should ensure that we are putting in our best to play our part in resisting temptation. God enables us to resist temptation, but it is up to us to actually resist.
Prayer
Dear God, I pray that I will always be a person of action. Father, I take delight in my new life in you and I do not desire otherwise. I pray that in times of temptation, may I act on the strength you have given me to flee and/or resist. May I never rely on excuses or procrastination, Lord. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Night Prayer
Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.
Inspiration
We have chosen to surrender our lives and serve the Lord. We serve Him by witnessing, completing missionary projects, and ministering to those in need. There is always work to do and a world full of people to help. We will look for opportunities to provide for our brothers and sisters in Christ by any means necessary. We are servants to one another as a service to the Lord; He will never forsake us.
Prayer
Dear God, Help us see the world through Your eyes. We desire to serve those around us by reflecting Your love through our actions. You will never forsake us, and we will continually lift praises of thanksgiving to You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
