Devotion
They Will Scatter
Frances Taylor
How well Jesus knew human nature. Self-preservation is strong within each of us. His disciples were afraid and ran away when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus and stayed away for fear that they too would be crucified. I'm so glad that I don't have to face that challenge. However, there are still people who do face death for being a Christian. More frequent are times when standing up for our beliefs can lose us friends, jobs and even members of our families. We then have choices to make, do we give in and lose respect for ourselves, or do we accept the consequences of standing firm. I knew a woman who refused to accept help to outfit a soup kitchen because she disagreed with the firm's involvement in making weapons for the military. People have lost their jobs for demonstrating against pollution, racial injustice, or for equal pay for women, equal opportunities for jobs, affordable housing, education for all. When we fight for justice, we can run into problems, but this is what we are called to do. Some will scatter, and some will stand firm. Which will I be? Which will you?
Prayer
Lord, it is often easier to walk away from the challenges of following you. Give us the strength to stand firm in our faith and live as you would have us live. 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.
