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.
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.
