Devotion
Satan at work
David Jacobs
Before my brother had married his wife, she went through several tragedies in a very short period of time. Her father died, mother died, and then her stepmother committed suicide. This would test the mettle of any human, and she fell into a depression. She turned to drugs, alcohol, and was in a destructive relationship that she couldn't seem to get out of. God did not abandon her, and she thanks my brother for saving her life. She is one of the strongest people I have ever met, and if you met her, you would never think that she had gone through such a dark period in her life.
Satan is real. The temptation of sin bombards us, and with the ease of access that we have in the technologically advanced world that we live in, most of these sins are just a click or phone call away. Satan is lurking, ready to pounce when we least expect it, like a lion stalking a lamb. In these verses, God boasts of Job's excellence, and Satan vows to show God that Job will curse him when pushed to his limits. Poor Job! A good man made to suffer, a wandering lamb for the prowling Satan.
Prayer
What can we do to eliminate Satan's role in our life? By surrounding ourselves with a group of other faithful Christians, we will have strength in numbers. Two is greater than one, and it is especially useful to have a safety net of friends in faith when we are struck with misfortune. Like my sister-in-law, without this safety net, the suffering may wander and make her easy prey for Satan. As Christians, we are united, a mighty herd stampeding with goodness over all the earth.
Devotion
The Barrier is Removed
Frances Taylor
Moses had brought the Israelites out of Egypt and now they were wondering if they were any better off! They had reached the Red Sea, and couldn't see any way around this barrier that had been placed before them. But God knew what he was doing and Moses followed his instructions and the sea parted so that the Israelites could pass through on dry ground. A question sometimes asked at a job interview is, "What do you do when you face an obstacle?" How would you answer? Would you try to go around it, through it, or perhaps over it? Moses could not go around his obstacle and knew that without help, he could never bring all the people, animals and supplies through it. So, he asked God for help. Was that the first thing you thought of? There is a saying, "If God brings you to it, he will bring you through it." The key here is to ask God to bring us through it.
We often face challenges in our lives, especially when we are trying to live as Jesus wants...
Morning Prayer
Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
Inspiration
What is grace? It is the free and unmerited favor of God, his gifts to us. One such example was the salvation brought to us by Christ. It is state of being favored and of being the chosen people. One such further example would be the Israelites, who God led to their promised land. We today, have inherited this grace. We today, are simultaneously unworthy of him, yet we are his chosen. Rejoice, rejoice in his grace.
Prayer
To my Lord God almighty, who art in Heaven, I thank you for your divine light and grace, given to me every day. I may not be worthy, I may not be pure and perfect, but I beg you to be merciful. For in your grace, in your faith, I may go on to improve each day. In your grace, I will strive to be a better servant, here as in Heaven. Amen.
