Devotion
There is only one Messiah, Jesus
Frances Taylor
Jesus was walking around Jerusalem openly. The people knew that the Pharisees and the chief priests wanted to kill Jesus, but they couldn't understand why they were letting him walk around still teaching. Might the rulers have changed their minds and come to believe that Jesus was the Christ? I'm sure it was a confusing time for those who had heard and seen Jesus. Do you ever wonder if you would have been a believer? I do. You know, we have centuries of fathers in faith before us. Christianity has been handed down from one generation to another since the time of the apostles. But if you're anything like me, there have been times when you have had doubts. In fact, if you have never had doubts, then how do you know you have faith? As children, we learn about Jesus from our parents or grandparents, or others close to us, and because we trust them, we believe. As we grow older, we learn more about Jesus from many sources. Perhaps we read the Bible, or listened to or watched the evangelists on television or the radio. Maybe we went to church and listened to the preaching, but at some point, we have to make a decision. We either test out our doubts and come to a faith that is our own, or we can go along following others without an adult faith. Of course the last choice is to walk away. Just as the people of Jesus' time had to figure it out, so do we.
Prayer
Lord, you have planted the seed of faith within us and led us to this time of decision making. As adults, may we freely choose to follow you. 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.
