Devotion
Thou Shalt Not Kill
Frances Taylor
Okay, who of us hasn't called someone a fool? Jesus gives us a whole different understanding of the commandments than we get from taking them literally. This is only one of the commandments that he delves further into. Most people don't resort to murder and most of those that do don't usually start that way. If you were never angry, you wouldn't get to the level of murder and if you didn't call people names, you might not get angry. Violence often begins with the mouth. Jesus understood that there is a certain progression to sin. If we have a quick temper, we are more apt to strike out first with the mouth and then physically, then with greater violence. This applies to most of the commandments. In another place, Jesus mentions how lust is the first step toward breaking the commandment concerning adultery. It is not a surprise that the 7 deadly sins are at the root of most evil. We all know them: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, anger, and sloth. We need to take a better look at all the commandments and see what bad habits we might have developed and work to change them.
Prayer
Lord, you have given us rules to live by that will bring us peace and happiness in our lives if we only are willing to follow them. Help us to be faithful to your word. Amen.
Night Prayer
He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
Inspiration
Mary had been given good news and a great honor, having been blessed with the joy of bringing Jesus into the world. Yet, she remained humble, recognizing that all power and authority belonged to God. And God would use the humble to exalt Himself and reveal His power. And all of this to His glory!
Prayer
Lord, like Mary, we rejoice in Your power. You humble the proud and You lift us the lowly. You have proven Your love and Your might over and over with everything that You do. Thank You for calling me to be Your child and Your servant. Instill a humble heart in me so that You, and You alone, may be glorified in all that I do. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Morning Prayer
For the body is not one member, but many.
Inspiration
All believers do not have the exact same spiritual gift(s) from God. None of us have arrived at perfection, and God uses each of us in different ways to help each other grow in grace. We should not despise any member of Christ's body based on their having a different gift than what we have been blessed with.
Prayer
Help me to appreciate and benefit from the gifts you have given to others, Lord. May I not think my gift is more important than everyone else's but give thanks to you for the great diversity of gifts you have so graciously bestowed! Amen.
