Devotion
The Secret of Happiness
Frances Taylor
Have you ever played a team sport? When the team plays as one, they are more apt to win. But even if they don't win, they still share in the knowledge that they did the best they could. Jesus prayed that his disciples and those who followed them would be one. That they would be one just as the Father and he are one. What would it be like if we all acted as one in Christ? How would our families be different, our communities, our church, our world? What we need to remember, is that this is a unity based on love. God is love and we are told that as long as we remain in love, God remains in us. In John's Gospel, we are told the secret to joy is love! It is so easy in our world today to create division. The politicians don't even bother to listen to one another since they might find a good idea in what their opponent says. The media follows every instance of wrongdoing and hypes those circumstances that will create conflict and chaos. This is not to say that there have not been, nor will most likely be instances of real wrongs, but the way it is presented by the media often creates more problems than it solves. That they may be one! Hate and fear divide; love unifies. Let us work at looking for the things that unite us and also work at those that divide and see if we can help bring about the unity for which Jesus prayed.
Prayer
Dear God, we all want happiness and joy in our lives and we look for things to make it happen. You have given us the answer! Teach us to love. Amen.
Night Prayer
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Inspiration
Sometimes, we needlessly complicate our faith, and that can quickly put us on the wrong path. Fad teachings and new doctrines seem to emerge every day, but we already have God’s word and we already have the Lord’s Supper. We need not reinvent our faith with extraneous rituals, they only lead to polluted doctrine. Instead, let us hold to the simple gatherings and foundational truth that we have already been given.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for revealing Yourself to me in Your word, and thank You for the simple communion that I share with my fellow believers. Please work in these things to build me up, so that I may be satisfied in You. Give me the wisdom to discern unsound doctrine, so that I may remain steadfast in Your truth. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Devotion
One of You Will Betray Me
Frances Taylor
Judas betrayed Jesus, Peter denied him and the rest ran away. I don't know what I would have done in their situation but I'm glad I will never find out in such a dramatic fashion. However, when I have sinned, I have betrayed him. When I have not stood up for my faith, I have denied him, and when I walk away from situations and allow others to suffer because I did not act, I have run away. Holy Week gives us an opportunity once again to reread the Passion of Christ and reflect on what happened then, and what is happening now. Would I have been part of the crowd crying out for crucifixion? Would I have had the courage to stand at the foot of the cross? I think back over the times I have failed to do what I know is right, when I have acted in an unkind and sinful manner. At these times, I am in that raucous crowd, I am asking for crucifixion. I ask forgiveness for my sins of the past that Jesus bore on that cross for me. Once again, I pray ...
