Devotion
God So Loved The World
Frances Taylor
This passage from John's Gospel is probably the best known by chapter and verse. It is posted on billboards, on signs in ball parks, but I'm not sure Jesus meant it to be a free ticket to paradise. People forget the part about believing and what that means. It's not just lip service. As this Easter season has progressed, we keep hearing about the way to follow Jesus that witnesses to what we believe. As Baptism isn't a one day affair, and neither is just saying that we are believers enough. "Actions speak louder than words" is a phrase that reaches into many areas of life. Jesus expects more of his disciples than mere words. We are called to live our faith. That's not always easy but it's what Jesus wants. And just as Jesus wasn't sent to judge, neither are we to judge. Our job is to spread the message of God's saving love. If he came to save the world, then that means salvation is for all. In Isaiah, we hear, "how beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news." It is still true that we need messengers of peace and salvation and we have so much more to proclaim than those in Isaiah's time. We have the good news that salvation has come. God has sent his Son so that all may be saved. He needs you and me to bring the good news to those who may not have heard it.
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for sending your Son Jesus to bring salvation to the world. Give me the courage I need to be a worthy messenger of the good news. 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.
