Morning Prayer
He must increase, but I must decrease.
Inspiration
John was content to decrease in perceived importance and popularity among the Jewish people if only Christ Jesus would correspondingly increase. Like a man introducing another at the podium, he was all too willing to step down and let the one he introduced take the limelight. He knew himself unworthy to be even a lowly slave of Christ, to unloose the straps of the sandals of one so exalted and holy.
Prayer
Lord, let us be content to be a door keeper in the house of our God rather than to dwell in the tents of the wicked (Psalm 84:10). Help us to decrease in our own estimation and you to increase. Lessen our opinion of ourselves to that which squares with truth, and help us to see increasingly how exalted and glorious you truly are. Amen.
Night Prayer
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Inspiration
We despise the thought of a pile of dirty dishes in the sink. The outside is easy to clean; it's the caked-up residue on the inside that's so difficult to remove. Jesus compares the scribes and Pharisees with dishes that have been wiped clean on the outside while dirty inside. The Pharisees took exceptional care of their outward appearance and neglected their inward spirits. We are guilty of allowing our hearts to be left filthy as well. We look and act as we should while our souls are full of darkness. We must continue to converse with the Holy Spirit daily and trust His guidance to cleanse our sinful nature.
Prayer
Dear God, Please forgive our sinful nature. We yearn for cleansing from within, so we are genuine witnesses to Your name. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
