Devotion
Go, Tell the Good News
Frances Taylor
It would be easy to read this gospel passage and get depressed! However, this is only if you read it with a narrow focus. Jesus was speaking to the "Chosen People" of Israel, those who were first, and yet didn't seem to get the message. We are actually the "last" because we are descendants of those who were brought to Jesus through the work of the disciples. But what is the "narrow gate?" It's really not enough to say that we know "about" Jesus; that we went to church a few times. The question is really, but what did we DO? The answer to the question about what it means to do the will of God is really, "Go out to all the world and tell the Good News." This is from the gospel of Mark, then how do we do this? If you have ever been in love, you know that it is almost impossible not to let people know about it. And, if you do try to keep it a secret, all someone has to do is look at your face and they can tell there's something different about you. You light up when you see those you love be it friends, children or your spouse! Do you light up when you are in the presence of God? Does your face glow when you talk about your faith? How do people know that you love God? Are you the kind one in your neighborhood, at work, at school – at home? Is your life – and I ask the same questions of myself – a witness to what you profess to believe? St. Francis of Assisi is credited with saying that we should preach the gospel always and, if necessary, use words. As we go forward with our efforts of the new evangelization in our planning, the answers to these questions become even more important. Our role as disciples is to go and tell the good news. May those who know us and come to know us see in our words and our works that we truly believe that the "Good News" is Jesus.
Prayer
Gracious God, help me to show my love for you in my actions as well as my words. Help me lead others to you. 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.
