Devotion
The Lord Will Be With Us
Frances Taylor
Just as the Lord promised Paul that he would be with him in Corinth, he is with us when we speak of all that the Lord has done for us. God gives us the words we need when we need them.
Have you ever had a friend come and ask for advice or just to share what is happening in his or her life? Sometimes, you are offering them advice or consolation and wonder where the words came from. One of the gifts of the Spirit is understanding, a heart open to the other. When we allow ourselves to open ourselves, we can be open to the other as well. Sometimes we are unaware of our influence on another. I know that there are times when something I heard weeks ago, pops into my head at just the right moment and I'm sure the speaker had no knowledge that his or her words would have such influence. It is the same with us. God gives us the words to say and then they bear fruit in the hearer without our ever knowing about it.
As a teacher, I have had students come up to me years later thanking me for something I said – and I have no idea what they are talking about. God is with us when we are explaining our reasons for our beliefs as well. We needn't be afraid to speak what is in our hearts.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for the presence of the Spirit in our lives. The gifts we have received are there for us to make use of at all times, all we need to do is ask. 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.
