Devotion
It’s Not Fair!
Frances Taylor
I have to admit that I love this gospel! I am so reminded of people who want to balance everything so it's fair. I do something for you, so you have to do something for me that is equal to what I did for you. You know what I mean.
The child who counts the presents under the tree and sees that little brother or sister gets 10 gifts and he/she only gets 3 – never mind the fact that the three cost a lot more than the 10! Of course it goes deeper than that when it comes to a person who has changed his or her life around, whether from alcohol, drugs, criminal activity, etc. There are those who believe that a person should be punished for life. Generosity of spirit is considered the crime when someone gives a person a second chance. Two weeks ago, the gospel talked about helping a person change and last week it spoke of our need to forgive. Now we are asked to not judge and to give someone a chance.
Several years ago, I asked the middle school children to bring in a can of protein filled food for the food pantry. One girl came with nothing because her mother had said that the people didn't deserve to get food as they came in a car to collect it. Just as with the people at the food pantry, the workers who came late to work in the vineyard have various reasons for needing help. I once had a student who spent several weeks in a residential program to get over her drug addiction. When she returned to school, she was shunned by the "good" kids because they were told by their parents to stay away, and by her former friends because she wouldn't party with them anymore.
The same happens to many who have paid their debt to society, but people won't let it go. Jesus didn't worry about keeping score; God doesn't keep score. Those who come to know and believe in him early in life will have a more fulfilled life on earth, but those who come to know him at whatever stage of their lives, will be welcomed into the kingdom with open arms. Which of you would not welcome back a "lost" child? Why would you expect anything less from God?
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for your generosity; may we be equally generous with others. 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.
