Devotion
To Live In Christ
Frances Taylor
We know that we who have been baptized have been baptized into his death so that we might rise with him. The words may be a little different from those of Paul, but the message is the same, if we are willing to accept it. By accepting our baptism, we are choosing to live a life of faith, remembering the sacrifice of Jesus. It's a willingness to die to self, not easy. Of course, for Paul the dangers were more immediate, and for many Christians today, that hasn't changed. But some have said that it would be easier to die once for our faith than to have to die every day. I hope I never have to face that possibility, but having just written that, I think I do have to face that and we all do. We all will need to face death one day, whether or not it comes suddenly or after a lingering illness. We will have to face the reality of death. Will we be at peace, even joyous that we will be with our God? Or will we be fearful, our faith tested for a final time? This is Satan's last chance to get to us. Hopefully, by dying with Christ in spirit, and living in him, our faith will be strong when it is time to die with Christ in the flesh.
Prayer
Loving God, we have willingly been baptized in the death of your Son Jesus. Help us live in him so that we will be ready to meet him at the end of our earthly lives. Amen.
Night Prayer
Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
Inspiration
We surrender our lives to the Lord because we have faith in His love for us. We praise Him for His goodness on our good days and cry out to Him during trials. God has never left our side and continues to reach His hand out to hold and guide us through each obstacle. Even when life is not going the way we planned, we will sing praises to His name from the mountain tops because He is our ultimate refuge.
Prayer
Dear Lord, we are devoted to You. We need You desperately and will stand with You continually every day of our lives. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Devotion
Passover
Frances Taylor
And so still today, the Jewish people celebrate Passover and one of the traditions is for someone to ask why we celebrate this feast, and the youngest child answers with the story of the Passover. Jesus was celebrating Passover with his friends on the night before he died. I know this reading comes up during the summer, so it's not the time for Passover, or the Passion of Jesus, but I have a question. What are our traditions surrounding the passion and death and resurrection of Jesus? Do we celebrate the end of Lent on Holy Thursday? Do we spend time with Jesus on Good Friday remembering his sacrifice? Is Easter all about candy and the Easter bunny? Today, many of our churches are practically empty on Easter Sunday and the children think more about an Easter egg hunt than God. Would the youngest member of the family be able to tell the story of why we celebrate? God brought the Israelites from slavery to freedom at the original Passover, but Jesus brought ...
