Devotion
Easter Joy and Hope
Frances Taylor
Alleluia! Happy Easter! I hope you are feeling the joy and hope that this day and season brings. It is a reminder that this is not all there is, that our life continues because of Christ. What does the joy and hope of Easter mean to you? Stop for a minute, take a deep breath and smile! Think about those things that bring you joy. Is it family? Friends? The birth of a child? And hope, what gives you hope? So often we are bombarded with media blasts that tell us how dismal the future looks and how "I" have the answer! Sometimes hope can be hard to come by! If there is one person who can make our future better, it's Jesus! Last Friday, we felt the pain and the hopelessness of the disciples. Today we celebrate the hope and the joy of the Resurrection. If we have walked with Jesus these past few weeks, truly looking at our lives, changing what needs to be changed, asking forgiveness for our sins, it's time to look to the future with confidence and hope. Easter is a day but also a season. Let us work at continuing the hope and joy we feel today each day during these next weeks. Let us look for those things, those moments, those people who bring us joy and celebrate them every day. Today the glass is overflowing with feelings of joy and hope, don't let the glass run dry.
Prayer
Gracious and glorious God, thank you for sending your son to save us. Thank you for the love you have for us. May we always be grateful to you and never take your love for granted. Help us to be witnesses of your love to all we meet. 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.
