Devotion
The Blind Leading the Blind
Frances Taylor
If there's one thing I learned as a parent, I get more frustrated when my children exhibit "qualities" that I dislike in myself and then see in them. It can be hard to look honestly at our faults and yet there are times when we are more than happy to find fault with others. Sometimes the problem can be an unwillingness to admit ignorance and so we refuse to listen to the ideas of another because it might mean that we are wrong.
We all know the saying, the blind leading the blind, but do we ever apply it to ourselves? In the days before GPS, we had to rely on a map, our memory or the directions of a friend to get us from place to place. If I get lost, do I stubbornly resist asking for help? Trust me, I have experience in this! Do we hold others to a standard that is higher than we hold ourselves? Am I someone who calls a person dishonest because he or she is spreading rumors that are false, but see no problem with taking home office supplies from work? Am I a "do what I say not what I do" parent? Do I punish my children for using the foul language they learned from me? Do I excuse myself for the same things I find fault with in others? Being blind to our faults can cause problems with our relationships. No one is perfect and Jesus knew that.
Today we are given a reminder that we need a self-check, and if you're brave enough, ask a friend to give you that check-up. Then we can work on removing the beam in our eye.
Prayer
Compassionate and forgiving Lord, help me to see myself clearly and work on becoming a better person, refraining from judging others and worrying only about my own faults and failings. 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.
