Night Prayer
The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
Inspiration
Do you ever think that if you become rich, all of your problems would go away? From today’s verse, we learn that wealth brings its own set of anxieties. Fear of theft and loss can rob a rich person of sleep and peace. But the one who is sustained with daily bread from the Lord rests in comfort, knowing that God meets all of his needs.
Prayer
Gracious God, each day You sustain me and my family. Thank You for Your provision, which is always enough. I take comfort in Your faithfulness, and it is with gratitude that I take shelter in the shadow of Your wing. Grow me in contentment, so that You and Your grace may always be sufficient for me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Devotion
The Last Will be First, and the First Will be Last
Frances Taylor
Jesus is speaking to his disciples who have given up a lot to follow him. Peter and Andrew, James and John have left both their families and their work as fishermen, Matthew was a tax collector. All have given up their homes, jobs and families to follow Jesus. This message of Jesus must have been a consolation to them. It should be a consolation to us as well. Although many of us have not had to give up that much in order to be Christians, some have.
I know a nurse who had to make a choice to keep her job at a clinic that began doing abortions which was against her conscience. Another woman became a whistleblower when she discovered illegal actions at her place of work. At other times, we may have to give up friendships because they are toxic. The last phrase is interesting to us, but for Jesus it referred to the Jewish people who were called first to know the only true God and the promise of a Messiah, and yet so ...
Morning Prayer
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Inspiration
Jesus replaced the multitude of Laws and commandments we'd received in the beginning with the two mentioned in the verse. But if you pay attention closely, you will realize all the commandments are summed up in these two commandments. The Christian life is about loving God in our actions, our thoughts, and our words. It is also about treating every person we encounter with love, free of prejudice and resentment.
Prayer
Dear God, I ask that you help me abide by the commandments, applying your word in my life so that my love for you will be evident to everyone around me, in truth and sincerity. I also ask that you help me love every person around me, Lord. In Jesus' name, I...
