Devotion
Walking With Jesus
Frances Taylor
This weekend we celebrate Palm Sunday and we begin the most solemn week of the year – Holy Week. How will you walk with Jesus this week? Try not to let the last minute chores of Easter preparation get in the way of your Lenten journey. Think of the ways you can use each day to walk with Jesus along his way to the cross and to his resurrection. Our churches give us many opportunities during Holy Week to gather in prayer and remembrance. Beyond that, we need to decide what we can do in our daily lives.
Perhaps on Monday we can make an attempt to help someone, call someone, do something for a stranger. On Tuesday, perhaps we can take a minute and pray for those who have served as models of faith for us, both in our families as well as for those who have served in ministry. We might decide that we can fast each day of the week instead of just Friday. As Wednesday is traditionally called "spy Wednesday" we might think of someone we need to ask for forgiveness. Thursday is a great day to appreciate the Lord's example of washing the feet of his disciples and thank those who have served us. Especially we should thank parents and others whose care for us we take for granted. Friday we can think of those times when we have complained about the problems and pains of everyday life and offer them up as a small sacrifice when we remember the torture suffered on our behalf by Jesus. Saturday, we wait secure in the knowledge that Jesus has paid the ultimate price for our sins and has gained for us eternal life. Let us all walk together with Jesus this week.
Palm Sunday! The people shouted in joy as Jesus entered the city and then shouted for his death before the week was over.
Prayer
Lord, let us be people who shout for joy each day, not just for this week, but for every week of our lives in thanksgiving for the gift of salvation. 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.
