Devotion
Sin’s Punishment
Frances Taylor
People often blame God when bad things happen and feel it's God's punishment for sin But this passage from Genesis lets us know that sometimes sin brings its own punishment. We all know the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors that his brothers were so envious of since they were jealous of their father's preference for Joseph. We know how they sold their brother and told their father he was dead and how Joseph wound up in Egypt. Now the brothers are in Egypt seeking food because there was a famine in Canaan where they were living. Joseph recognizes them, but they don't have a clue. Now, they feel the guilt of having sold their brother and know that they deserve whatever happens to them. Sin has effects. People who lie aren't trusted. People who steal, find it hard to get a job. People who flaunt authority, who feel the rules don't apply to them, run into problems and often find themselves in jail. Many of these people will ask, "Why me? Why is God doing this to me?" The answer is obvious to others. God isn't doing anything to them, they have done it to themselves. The easy answer to avoiding these problems is just don't sin, but we know that that isn't always possible. What we can do is to take responsibility for our behavior, recognize our sins, ask for forgiveness and ask for help to avoid sin in the future.
Prayer
Forgiving Lord, you don't need to punish us as we seem to do a good job of doing that ourselves. Help us to recognize our sins and ask you for forgiveness as well as the strength to avoid the situations that lead us to sin. 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...
