Devotion
Teach Me, Guide Me
Frances Taylor
Who teaches you? Who do you allow to guide you? One of the passages we reflected on once before concerned "blind guides." Sometimes it's hard to know who we should be listening to. The psalms tell us that our teacher and guide is the Lord. Paying attention to Scripture, both the Old and New Testaments, reading them, studying them, reflecting upon them provides the guidance we need. But we need to reach out to them, because if we don't we will allow blind guides to teach us. The media is more than happy to teach and guide us. Do whatever you want, regardless of the consequences; climb over others to get to the top; lie if you can so you can avoid being blamed for something; money is more important than family; lust and greed are just ways to get what you want. This is the teaching of the world. The commandments have a different idea of what is right and wrong. The Beatitudes lead us in another direction as well. Working for peace and justice is the way of God. Sacrifice is the way of the cross. Love and forgiveness, compassion and kindness are the ways of Jesus.
We are all children of the one God, created in his image and for the purpose of taking care of the created world. When we care for one another, we are following God's guidance. When we welcome the stranger, reach out to the poor and the vulnerable, we are allowing God to guide us. Let us return to the Scriptures again and again to teach and guide us through this life so that we may enjoy their fulfilment in the next.
Prayer
Lord, you are the way to truth, may we look to you always to lead us. 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.
