Devotion
Try Not To Judge
Frances Taylor
Would you choose to go to a doctor that you were friends with in High School? Or you had as a student if you were a teacher? Sometimes we question the abilities of people we know too well. I remember when one of my students joined the police force and I thought about all the trouble he caused! I know a priest whose friends couldn't believe he was "holy" enough. Well, today we read about the call of Levi, Matthew, the tax collector. Although Levi immediately answered the call to follow Jesus, there were a lot of raised eyebrows! Does Jesus know who he's eating with? Doesn't he know these people are sinners? Have you ever caught yourself judging the worthiness of others? I know I sometimes fail in that. But Jesus answers them by stating that he came to call sinners. Do we think that the churches should be filled with saints? Is that what we think we are? Lots of questions in this reflection but sometimes we need a wake-up call and the beginning of the year is always a good time to do this. Jesus tells us not to judge but we can't seem to help ourselves. There is a Native American saying that tells us not to judge anyone until we have walked a mile in his moccasins. It's a new year, and I'm trying for a new attitude.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, thank you for choosing to call us while we are still sinners, for choosing to save us in spite of our unworthiness. Give us the courage to follow you and the willingness to change. Amen.
Night Prayer
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Inspiration
Christ's words are everlasting. Though kingdoms around us rise and fall, the Kingdom of God reigns forever. We have faith in every word spoken by our Lord and Savior because He is trustworthy, dependable, and will never break a promise. His promise of salvation brings us hope and happiness; Christ's message is more precious because it is eternal. We are delighted to serve our heavenly Father and will continue to praise Him for His love and dedication.
Prayer
Dear God, You are the beginning and end. We trust Your Word because You have repeatedly proven Your unconditional love. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Devotion
False Gods
Frances Taylor
Moses spent forty days and forty nights on the mountain and the people were frightened. Okay, God had performed many feats of power in Egypt to get Pharaoh to let them leave. He blocked the chariots of Pharaoh's army so that they could escape, he dried up the water so that they could reach dry land, fed them with manna and fowl in the desert so they wouldn't go hungry and they promised to obey God's commandments, and now they were worshipping a golden calf. What had God not done that they didn't trust him? We can look at them and say that they were fools, but they could probably look at us and say the same. When we remember all that God has done for us, why don't we trust him? Now we don't go out and carve an idol out of gold, or even wood, but we do manage to find idols just the same. Sometimes the idol is ourselves because we feel that we are the only one we can trust. For some the idol is money which people think can solve all the problems of the ...
Morning Prayer
To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
Inspiration
What Jesus Christ did through his death on the cross and his resurrection is something that humans cannot understand. Only God has the wisdom to understand. Yet, it is through our faith that this is real and true that we are saved. The crux of our salvation lies in believing in something only God truly knows. The glory of this mystery will be revealed to us in eternity.
Prayer
Dear God, your works are too amazing to comprehend. As humans, our earthly wisdom is not enough to understand Jesus' death and resurrection, but I believe it is true. As creator of the universe, I know you can do far more than I can imagine. Your ways are not like our ways. While I am living in my earthly home, give me the wisdom I need to share my faith with others in a way that they will understand. In Jesus' name, amen.
