Devotion
Speak Lord, Your Servant Is Listening
Frances Taylor
The Lord called, "Samuel, Samuel." Samuel didn't recognize the Lord's voice. Now, imagine the Lord calling your name. Would you recognize his voice? I'm sure I have missed it many times in my life. Samuel needed Eli to help him understand what was happening and once he understood, he immediately said yes. In order to hear and understand the Lord's call to us, some things are necessary. First, we need some quiet in our lives. The world is full of noise. Some of this noise is unavoidable – traffic, construction, machinery, etc. – but much of it we inflict upon ourselves. How much time do we spend listening to the radio, the television, video games, idle chatter? In order to hear the Lord, we need to turn away from the noise and turn toward the Word of God. Samuel also needed the help of Eli, a man who had been listening to God's voice for many years and had served the Lord as a priest. Although he was old and had not always been faithful, he could help Samuel know how to respond to the Lord's call. God has put people in our lives to help us in our search for God's voice and sometimes we are called to be help for others. Have you ever heard someone say to you, "That was just what I needed to hear?" Or perhaps it was you who needed someone to say just the right thing to you. Once you do recognize what the Lord is calling you to do, you have two choices, either to respond as Samuel did or think about the difficulties you might encounter, or how you might offend a friend, or think of all the things you need to do first. We choose what to do. We can listen for God's voice or turn away; we can do as the Lord requests, or refuse. God has given us free will, the question is what will we do with it.
Prayer
Lord, open my ears to hear your voice, open my heart to respond to your call with love and trust. 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.
