Devotion
Persevere
Frances Taylor
Have you ever talked to a new Christian a month or so after his/her baptism? I have. You might think that they would still be on top of the world, but often they wonder why they feel like the world is against them. Living the Gospel is not an easy task to begin with and the new Christian can be surprised by the challenges. One woman began to have nightmares about past issues in her life. Another person was surprised that his friends didn't want him around because he was now too "holy." Just as with Adam and Eve, Satan can be jealous of their relationship with God and wants to stir up trouble. In this passage from Hebrews, the early Christians are reminded of the abuse they suffered because of following Christ. They are told to hold fast to their confidence in God. We need to stay firm in our confidence in God whether we are new to Christianity or have been Christians from our youth. Life is always going to throw hardships at us. Some will shake our faith and there will be those who will say that these hardships mean either that there is no God, or that God has abandoned us. Not true. God is with us in the difficult times. As with the early Christians, we need to stand firm and persevere in our faith, knowing that God will never abandon us. All we need to do is call upon him.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, just as you were with your son, Jesus, in the difficult times in his life, we know you are with us as well. Help me to persevere knowing that you are with me. Amen.
Devotion
True Prophecy
Frances Taylor
Peter is warning the people against false teachers and false prophets. There were false prophets among the Israelites and there would be again. Men, then, and men and women today who would lead people away from the will of God in order that they might exert influence over the leaders of the times to achieve their own ends. In ancient times, the prophets worked to bring the people back to living as God wanted them to live. The false prophets wanted to keep their jobs as the favorites of the kings and kept telling them not to listen.
Today we have many false teachers as Peter predicted who try to turn the words of Scripture to their own agendas. These people have often called for hate instead of the love which Jesus asked for. They have called for vengeance instead of forgiveness or mercy. They bring about division instead of unity. The true teacher will be attentive to the word of God and do his or her best to make Jesus law of love more visible in ...
Morning Prayer
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Inspiration
I constantly compare myself to Jesus Christ. Although I think that it is a good thing to contemplate how you live and compare it to Christ, it can also be very difficult. Jesus is the Son of God. It would be impossible for us to ever be as good as him because he was created without flaws. God sent him to earth as a mortal man, as a sinner, so that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5: 21) It is an impossible standard to reach, but is there any other person that you would rather be more similar to?
Prayer
Divine God, powerful creator of both Heaven and earth, I pray that these words convey my sincere gratitude to you for sending Jesus to us. Forgive me, Father, for I am selfish and weak, acting directly against your heavenly mandate. I know that Jesus Christ has shown light on a darkened ...
