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.
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.
