Devotion
Eating from the wicked buffet
David Jacobs
Gang activity is a plague on much of the world. Like-minded people, usually with little bright future prospects, join together and commit illegal acts. Usually the more people that you get together, the easier it is to commit criminal acts and the worse these acts become.
One simple way to avoid evil is to reduce one's encounters with it, for like begets like. The Devil hates nothing more than to be ignored, greedy as he is for attention. But surrounded by evil, one is perhaps better off not only staying silent, but in actively refusing in cooperating or colluding with it. These can be as big as certain unethical corporations who boycotts, or as small as steering clear of groups of friends at school who are doing drugs. For evil is dark, thick and enveloping; but never shame in shining in Gods light, for at least trying to do right.
Prayer
God my Heavenly Father, protect me from darkness, lend me your light. Grant me your Love and guidance, and help me show my refusal to all that is evil. For I abhor sin my Lord, and wish to take no part in it; to show it no indulgence, to grant it no permission. Grant me your hand my shepherd, and lead me from the wilderness. Amen.
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.
