Devotion
Pleasing God, Not Man
Frances Taylor
Paul didn't preach for his own gain. He wasn't trying to win friends. Actually, he made many enemies because of his preaching. The Jews weren't happy that he preached Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah. The Greeks weren't happy because he was preaching a way of life that said that their way of life was immoral. The pagans weren't too thrilled either for the same reason. Paul preached to bring the Good News of salvation to all that would listen. He wasn't worried about the consequences to himself, even though he had suffered beatings and torture as well as imprisonment because of his preaching. He made many converts in Thessalonica as well as in Philippi as well as other countries, such as Greece, but he wanted them to know that they were not alone in their new faith. He wanted them to know that what they had been taught was true, that they could depend on it, that it came from God. God was the only one Paul was trying to please. What about us? Who do we try to please? Do we try to please others, ourselves or God? We all know people who we might call "pleasers." They will tell you what they think you want to hear.
I once was watching one of my favorite mysteries on television and the plot concerned a woman running for a state office. Her speech writer had quit and she asked one of the main characters to do the job for her. She was reading a speech she had given the week before to get an idea, and was told that it wouldn't work for the next group because the first speech was for young mothers who cared about daycare and the next was for a senior citizen center. When she asked if the candidate really believed in daycare centers, he said that she did that day. We can choose who we please and how we choose to do it. Will it be God or man?
Prayer
Lord, you have given us so much. You have shown us the way to you which is a way of truth and love. It is important that we choose to please you above all else. 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.
