Devotion
Ash Wednesday
Frances Taylor
As the season of Lent begins, what are your thoughts? Some people respond to Lent by giving up something. For some, it's chocolate, or dessert, or alcohol; for others, it's smoking or some other habit. There are also people who see this as an opportunity to give up time and spend their time doing good works. They may volunteer at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. They may collect food or clothing for the poor. Others take fasting to heart and take the money they might have spent on snacks and give it to the poor. What does God want of us? He wants a pure heart, a heart that is full of love and compassion, of forgiveness and kindness. Lent is a time to take stock of our lives. What do we need to change in order to "rend our hearts?" In Joel's day, people showed that they were repentant by wearing rags – rent garments – and sitting in ashes – not bathing.
Many of us go to church services on Ash Wednesday to get ashes placed on our foreheads. What does it really mean if that is one of the only days of the year that we go to church and then do nothing more to show our love of God? Are we actually showing a change of heart, a repentant spirit? Or are we hypocrites? Joel tells us what God expects, as we begin this holy season, may we truly prepare to celebrate Easter.
Prayer
Lord, you give us this season of Lent each year to remind us of the sacrifice that your Son Jesus made on our behalf. May we use this time to become more worthy of his sacrifice. 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.
