Devotion
You Are The Light of the World
Frances Taylor
How can we be salt and light in today's world? Jesus tells us in the last part of this passage; let people see your good works. Of course this presumes that we are doing good works and that we are not doing them to look good, but to glorify God. Everyone can recognize a hypocrite. We can tell when someone is showing off. We also can recognize people who do the right thing because it is the right thing to do. Not only are we supposed to be the light of the world but to point out to others the lights in our world. So often the people we hear about are those doing the wrong thing. How often do we hear about the true heroes in the news, the people who go about their business quietly volunteering in soup kitchens, homeless shelters, after-school programs, and in so many small ways that make a big difference in people's lives. These are the ones who are lighting up our communities, salting our world, making a difference. This is supposed to be us. It is our job to go into our neighborhoods, our communities and make a difference by bringing our Christian values into the workplace, our families and in whatever situations we find ourselves in. These values determine the way we do our jobs, the way we raise our children and love our spouses, the way we vote and every other aspect of our lives. We are called to make a difference.
Prayer
Lord, you have given us a challenge. Help us to be the salt and light you expect us to be. 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.
