Devotion
Why do bad things happen to good people?
David Jacobs
I am a firm believer of good things happening to good people. What you reap is what you sow; if you sow good things, it will grow more good things; so bad, more bad things. However, what happens when bad things happen to good people?
One of the best person I have ever known was also my oldest friend. We knew each other since we were babies, growing up together with our families. He was good at everything; he was the captain of our high school soccer, baseball, and basketball team. He was the class president and valedictorian of our school. He didn't drink, smoke, or curse. He was a good Catholic boy that volunteered always. He eventually went to and graduated from Harvard, finishing at the very top of his class. Everyone in our hometown knew of and were proud him.
One day, he slipped and fell off of a balcony in a freak accident and died. That was it. We were all devastated; his family was unsure how to process the information, let alone move on without him. It left us all wondering: Why God? Why?
At the beginning of Job, it sets the tone for what is soon to come. He was not just a good man; he was a perfect man. He loved God, loved his family, and even asked for forgiveness on his family's behalf. Like my friend, God should reward him for his behavior...right?
Prayer
We must remember, there are more than just the forces of God at work. As we will read in the next verses, Satan is real and does all that he could to test Job's faith. Lest we forget, God has rewarded us; He has given us life, created the earth, and sent His son, Christ, and with his blood, we have been redeemed. There may be tragedies that occur during our time in the worldly kingdom, but what matters is the eternity we spend in the heavenly one.
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.
