Devotion
Spy Wednesday
Frances Taylor
What price do I place on Jesus' head? For Judas it was thirty pieces of silver. I know you're thinking, "Not me!" Stop and think: when was the last time you chose your needs over that of your family? I'm sure you know people just as I do, whose pay check is not always spent on food, rent or mortgage. These are people who gamble, drink, use drugs, of other forms of entertainment and waste the monies that should be used for their families. This is the price that they place on Jesus' head.
For some, money is the god, as it was for Judas. For others, it's fame or pleasure. For others, it's just indifference or apathy. No one sits down and says that their actions, or non-actions, are betrayals of Jesus. But they are. There are other times when we make a choice that goes against everything we say we believe. Whatever the reason for doing this, we suffer the same sense of guilt that Judas felt when he fully realized the consequences of his behavior. Judas tried to return the money, but it didn't stop the crucifixion. Sometimes we are unable to undo the damage we have caused.
On a very minor and non-sinful way, I still carry some guilt feelings because my daughter's roommate didn't make it to her wedding because I didn't make sure she had a ride. Now, I understand that this was an oversight and completely unintentional, but she wasn't able to celebrate a once in a lifetime event. I have listened often to people telling me their regrets. Some were sinful, others not, but they were things they couldn't undo. Today, we take stock of the prices we have put on Jesus' head and commit to doing better.
Prayer
Compassionate and forgiving God, I'm sure you listened to Judas' and Peter's confessions of sorrow as you have listened to mine. Thank you for your love and patience with me and help me be a better person in the future. 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.
