Devotion
A Community of Love
Frances Taylor
Today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Trinity. This is one of the great mysteries of Christianity and one that is a stumbling block to many. How can we even try to understand its meaning? Maybe it's not important to try and understand, but to reflect on its importance in our lives. God is Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, a community of love. When I was young, I was taught that the work of the Father was creation, the Son, salvation and the Holy Spirit, sanctification. So, within the Trinity there are distinctions and yet unity. We are called by our baptism to be a community of love. There are distinct roles that each of us plays and yet we are called to be one in love for all. We are one family, all children of the one God, saved by the actions of the Son who became one of us so that we could be "joint heirs with Christ" and filled with the Holy Spirit so that we may go forth and tell others of this great mystery. The early Christians were well known for the love that they showed one another. I wonder what the non-Christian world sees when it looks upon us today. Do they see a community of love or do they see discord and conflict? While it's true that we can't change the past, we can work to change the present. If every Christian family became a witness of God's love, what would happen in our neighborhood, our city, or our world? We have a choice. We can say that one family more or less can't make a difference or we can decide to become an example of the great Community of Love that is the Trinity.
Prayer
O most Holy Trinity, help your people today become a symbol to the world of a community of love. Amen.
Morning Prayer
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Inspiration
How can we know and obey the will of God for our lives? It will not happen if we are conformed to the ways of this world. But we must be transformed within, that that change may have its visible outward effects. And that transformation is by what? by the renewing of our minds, through conformity to the Word of God.
Prayer
May I not be conformed to the pattern of this sinful world, Lord, but instead seek to be conformed to the patterns and teachings and commands found in your holy Word. Transform me through your Spirit, I pray, by renewing my mind unto godliness. Amen.
Night Prayer
Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.
Inspiration
God calls us to love all people, even our enemies. But He especially calls us to love our brothers and sisters in Christ. Our love for one another is what sets us apart as God’s children. And when we need to rebuke our neighbor, love demands that we do so plainly, and without enmity. For our goal is not to condemn, but to heal and restore.
Prayer
God, I am thankful for the people that You have placed in my life. My church family has been a blessing and a source of strength to me. Help me to grow in my love for them so that we may reflect You even more. And when words of rebuke are needed, give me the grace to speak Your truth in love, for the good of Your people and the sake of Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Devotion
We Are Reconciled
Frances Taylor
From the beginning of human sinfulness, humanity needed to be reconciled with God. But what human was perfect enough to take away the guilt of so many? Only a human being who was also divine could accomplish this. God promised a Savior, but no one expected that the Savior would be the Son of God who took on our flesh, become one of us so that we might be redeemed. We certainly don't deserve this gift as each one of us has sinned. We continually go against God's law and then get into a cycle of repentance, being forgiven, promising to change – which we do for a little while – and then start the cycle all over again. If God has reconciled all people to himself, what right do we have to refuse to reconcile with others who have offended us? Forgiveness is not always easy especially when we are hurt by those who are closest to us, family members or close friends. We all are aware of families torn apart, neighborhoods in turmoil and even nations ...
