Devotion
Getting to the Top
Frances Taylor
What is so important that we ignore all that Jesus has taught us? Is getting the promotion worth climbing all over others, perhaps stealing their ideas and claiming them as our own? Cheating, lying, and falsifying records! These aren't the only sins committed just to get to the top. In the long run, is it worth it? So many people have gotten a job on false credentials, but when found out they fall from the top to the bottom and have problems getting another job. We make jokes about politicians, but it's no joke when those who want to be our leaders take money for their campaigns from organizations or companies and promise to support their agendas if elected, or if they lie about their opponents.
Fame is another thing that people have been known to want to the detriment of others. There have been assassins who just wanted their name to go down in infamy and had no compassion for those they killed. Whether it's fame, fortune, or power, there will always be people who will do anything to get it. I don't know how people justify bad behavior so easily, but considering the scandals revealed practically every day, there are those who don't seem to worry about it. I'm afraid we can easily encourage some bad behavior by treating scandals as entertainment.
This passage is a good reminder of what is truly important – eternal life. We have been given all we need to achieve that goal, and nothing is worth having that could make us lose it.
Prayer
Loving God, may we always keep our eyes on what is most important and that is spending eternity with you. May we follow the path that leads to you and ignore the temptation of the world. Amen.
Devotion
Abraham is Father of All
Frances Taylor
There are questions in every age about the importance of the Old Testament for Christians. Abraham is considered to be the Father of Faith for Jews, Christians and Muslims. We forget that it was Abraham who believed in the doctrine of only one God. It is through him and his descendants that this tradition comes down to us. Another fact that we can overlook is that Jesus was Jewish. He was born a Jew, lived as a Jew, died, rose and ascended into heaven as a Jew. Because we believe that he was the Messiah, the Christ, and we follow him, we are called Christian. Without the Old Testament, we wouldn't understand the promise of salvation; we wouldn't understand why it was important for Jesus to be of the family of King David. We would not understand his teaching either, because Jesus quoted from Scripture – the Old Testament – frequently. He told us that he came to fulfill the Scriptures, not to abolish them. In the same way, we can ...
Morning Prayer
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Inspiration
We have a responsibility, as Christians, to abstain from the sinful practices we partook in before we became saved. While it may be a gradual process of change, we should ensure that we are putting in our best to play our part in resisting temptation. God enables us to resist temptation, but it is up to us to actually resist.
Prayer
Dear God, I pray that I will always be a person of action. Father, I take delight in my new life in you and I do not desire otherwise. I pray that in times of temptation, may I act on the strength you have given me to flee and/or resist. May I never rely on excuses or procrastination, Lord. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Night Prayer
Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.
Inspiration
We have chosen to surrender our lives and serve the Lord. We serve Him by witnessing, completing missionary projects, and ministering to those in need. There is always work to do and a world full of people to help. We will look for opportunities to provide for our brothers and sisters in Christ by any means necessary. We are servants to one another as a service to the Lord; He will never forsake us.
Prayer
Dear God, Help us see the world through Your eyes. We desire to serve those around us by reflecting Your love through our actions. You will never forsake us, and we will continually lift praises of thanksgiving to You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
