Devotion
Passing the torch
David Jacobs
Older generations tend to view younger generations as spoiled. So much has changed in modern times from generation to generation that it is quite hard to accurately compare them. So much responsibility and sometimes so much burden is placed on each new generation that it can seem daunting for the younger people in the world. How can they live up to the expectations of previous generations? The older generation may also think that they have failed their children, because the world may be "worse" than it was when they lived. All we can do is try to teach one another, and learn what we can from past experiences.
In these verses, King David is handing the throne and much of its responsibilities to his son, Solomon. Solomon has been chosen by God to construct a temple in Jerusalem. You can imagine the pressure that the not-yet-appointed King Solomon would be feeling; first, he must follow in the footsteps of his father, one of the most-beloved kings in history, and second, his first order of business is to construct a temple in God's honor. It could make any person of any generation crumble.
Luckily, David gives Solomon his blessing and constructive advice on how to rule. The most important tenet of the advice: serve God with a perfect heart and a willing mind. Now imagine modern society doing the same: what a perfect world we would live in!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I pray to you today asking to help me create your temple on earth. Let your heavenly kingdom be the focus of all humanity, now and forever. Lord God, give me the wisdom like Solomon, the goodliness of Saul, and the obedience of David, so that I may serve you with a perfect heart and a willing mind. Amen.
Night Prayer
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Inspiration
Sin rules our lives until we accept Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. When we invite Him into our lives, our old sinful heart dies, and God creates within us a new one, where sin no longer rules our life; God does! Our thoughts and actions begin to change because we no longer desire a sinful lifestyle. We joyfully devote our lives to serving Him and inviting others to understand His promise of salvation.
Prayer
Dear Lord, we are sinners born again and recreated to live according to Your will. We are grateful for Your love and the peace we experience by abolishing our old sinful self. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Devotion
Satan Has Been Defeated
Frances Taylor
Salvation and power have come with Christ and Satan has been defeated. Sin and death have been conquered by the actions of one man, Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, both human and divine who came into the world to bring the Good News of salvation by living, dying and rising for us. As Christians we claim to believe this but our actions sometimes deny it. Unfortunately, people seem to resurrect Satan all the time. We allow him to lead us away from God, forgetting the way to the Father that is love, and giving in to Satan's path of hatred, anger, pride, lust, chaos and destruction.
Satan, of course, doesn't present these as bad things, he makes them seem attractive. He presents sin as goods to be desired, as things to make us happy or give us pleasure. It can be hard to stay on the path that leads to God when the world seems to be crowding us and pushing us off of it. How easy it is to forget the sacrifice that bought our freedom! Which of us ...
Morning Prayer
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Inspiration
It is right for us to defer to others and to rejoice with others when they have cause to rejoice over some blessing in their life, instead of sorrowing before them over some problem in our life. It is right also to weep with those who weep, showing compassion and feeling for them in their grief instead of "dancing joyfully before those who mourn" as if insensitive to their sorrow.
Prayer
Give me a discerning spirit, Lord, to know when to rejoice and when to weep. Let me show concern for others and their situation and life events instead of just focusing only on my own. Let me show true compassion and genuine joy in the right way and time to others. Amen.
