Devotion
Blessed is He
Frances Taylor
Blessed is often a synonym for "happy." If happy is what we want to be, then the psalmist gives us some ideas as to how to achieve it. The main thing he tells us is what not to do and who to avoid. Understand whose advice we listen to comes first. It can be difficult to know who is wicked, who is trying to lead us away from God. As we know, Satan will never come to us offering us something unpleasant; everything Satan offer us looks good. What's in it for me, is a question that isn't asked by the person putting God first! But it is often the way the "wicked" entice us to make our decisions. Scoffers, the nay-sayers in our company are the ones who often question the very existence of God. Religion is considered bunk and people who believe, fools. Get what you can now, how do you know there's an afterlife? Do these people in our lives make us happy? Not me!
I find my happiness with positive people who believe as I do in a loving, compassionate and forgiving God. To be happy, we need to get our counsel from Scripture. Most people read the Ten Commandments and think they know them. But read a little further and the commandments are broken down into some very specific rules to live by. Jesus goes further with the Beatitudes, another list that promises happiness and is an important part of his Sermon on the Mount. If we meditate on these guidelines and from them take counsel, our life may not be free of pain or trouble, but we will be happy.
Prayer
Lord, may I love your laws. Amen.
Devotion
The Weeds
Frances Taylor
This parable is packed with images. It was very difficult to choose just one, but after reading it over several times, I looked again at just what – or who – the weeds represent. Reading further in Matthew we see this line, "The Son of Man will send his angels and they will collect out of his kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth." Those who cause others to sin! We talk a lot about peer pressure when we are talking about our youth. We warn them to stay away from friends who might get them into trouble. But what about us? Have you ever thought that you, or I, might cause others to sin? We would all like to think of ourselves as the wheat – after all, aren't we here? But what about when we're not in church? Do we laugh at dirty jokes, or tell them? Help our teens get into movies that are restricted or give into pressure and download them to watch at home? Do we overlook it when there ...
Morning Prayer
Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
Inspiration
Jesus knew what was to be in store for him after Judas sold out his name with a kiss. Yet, instead of resigning himself to desperation and doom, he instead saw the glory that would come, the glory within which his name would live on. Think; in the face of ones own defeat or impending trouble, do you cower in fear, or do you find courage in your Heavenly Father?
Prayer
Lord Almighty, grant me the strength to carry on in the face of darkness and difficulties. Grant me to courage in the face of challenges that seem insurmountable. For I know in you Lord, all things may be possible. In Jesus' name I pray and ask for grace, 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.
