Devotion
Go and Tell
Frances Taylor
He is risen! First the angel and then Jesus tell the women at the tomb to go and tell the apostles that he is risen. We have finished Lent, we have rejoiced with all the Alleluias of Easter and now it is our turn to go and tell! On Ash Wednesday, people walked around with ashes on their foreheads to let them know that Lent had arrived. Do they now walk around with a joy that makes people stop and ask them why they are so happy? We Christians claim to be Easter people, but I don't often see that glow of love on people's faces. I once heard a priest say that we are supposed to be God's chosen people, not his frozen people! I never saw Billy Graham with a frown on his face when he talked about God and his relationship with Jesus. Perhaps that is why so many people followed him and came to Christ because of him. Now, we are not all going to become a great evangelist such as Billy Graham, but we are called to have the same spirit shining in our lives, not afraid to tell people of our love of God, of our decision to follow Jesus Christ. Let this Easter season shine in you so that others seeing you stop you and ask what makes you so joyful, begging you to let them in on the secret, which you are happy to share with them.
Prayer
Risen Lord, may our joy this season of Easter shine forth in our daily lives. 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.
