Devotion
Go Make Disciples
Frances Taylor
The sending forth of the apostles – and us! Go, make disciples, is what Jesus told them and us to do. He didn't say to go and make followers, but I have a feeling that, unlike the apostles, that's what we tend to do. Do those we baptize, or their parents, realize that they are being called to be disciples?
Disciples are people who sit at the feet of the master and learn from him so that they can go forth and make other disciples. It's not enough to just be baptized, the last part of that passage is so important, that we must teach them to observe all that Jesus commanded them. We've come a long way from the days of the apostles and the early Christians. They were anxious to learn everything about Jesus and his teachings, and often asked the apostles or other disciples to stay longer than they had planned so that they could continue learning.
I'm not sure about where you live, but most adults around me will bring their children to classes, but don't think that they need to go. I wonder how many people would go to a doctor who stopped his studying after high school. That goes for other professions as well. Do we really think we have learned everything we need to learn about Jesus? I know that I learn more and more every time I read the Bible. I learn even more if I am reflecting upon it with others. This week will end the Easter season and bring us again, Pentecost. As we remember the Holy Spirit coming to the apostles this weekend, let us ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten our minds and motivate us to learn so that we will become more like disciples than followers.
Prayer
Lord, you commissioned us as well as your apostles to go into the world and spread your message. Please give us the graces we need to embrace this work. 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.
