Night Prayer
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Inspiration
If we say we believe God, but still choose our own way, does our belief mean anything? If we say we trust God but still keep Him out of our decisions, do we really trust Him? If we profess to love God but fail to love our neighbor, is our love for God genuine? Our works will never earn our salvation, but genuine saving faith will compel good works, proving our salvation as the living Spirit works through us.
Prayer
Lord, I love You, believe You, and trust You. Thank You for calling me to faith and imparting me with salvation and righteousness. Empower me to live in Your righteousness so that my works may testify to Your saving power as my faith carries me past all doubt, ...
Night Prayer
Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.
Inspiration
When we act with selfish intentions, we can be sure to get bad results. We might enjoy small gains and superficial victories for a short time, but they do not last. Sowing seeds of violence and deception will only yield pain and destruction. Wickedness cannot produce goodness, so let us always be mindful to sow seeds of grace and mercy.
Prayer
Gracious Lord, forgive me for the ways in which I have acted out of selfishness and pride. I have hurt others, damaged relationships, and caused ruin. I pray Lord that You would bring healing to right these wrongs and that Your grace would fill me. Empower me to move forward in Your love, so that I sow the grace and mercy that produce healthy and nourishing fruit. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Devotion
From Death to New Life
Frances Taylor
How many of us have cried out with Martha and Mary, "Lord, if you had been there, my brother – sister, mother, father, child, friend – would not have died?" Today's reading lets us know that Jesus was and is there when a loved one dies, and is ready to call him or her out to new life. Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. Just in case we still had doubts about the possibility of resurrection, Jesus clearly shows that all is possible. Lazarus, of course, no longer walks the earth, so he must have died again and been buried again, and this time, he awakened into eternal life, not his earthly one. And so, all of us who have been baptized into the death of Christ have been promised that we, too, would awaken into eternal life.
Mother Teresa once said that since she had died with Christ in baptism, she had nothing to fear. This gave her the courage to walk amid the streets of Calcutta helping the poor, the sick and the dying. What holds ...
