Devotion
Nothing Is Hidden From God
Frances Taylor
Little children who are just learning about unhappy parents try to hide what they do. They figure if it's hidden, they won't get punished. As adults, we can sometimes feel the same way about God. I have this feeling that one of the reasons teenagers or young adults who are testing the limits, avoid church because they don't feel comfortable in God's presence! Just like children, we can think we can hide from the Father. Not possible! Even in our daily lives, we know that when we do the wrong thing, we can be found out. People think that they can deny responsibility for their actions, but "the truth will out." The person who takes credit for a project at work, but others who know the truth will let the employer know. The person who denies responsibility runs into the same problem. There is always someone who knows the truth and will be happy to share it. When I was teaching, there was a very intelligent student who made some very bad choices and went about it in a not so intelligent manner. He was great on the computer at a time when most students were just at a beginning stage. Several students paid him for research papers. He looked up the material and printed out the papers. He made two very bad mistakes. First, he didn't think I would recognize the source of the material; and second, he printed them out with the same font. All of those involved got great big F's, and he got into serious trouble with his parents. Even if you don't get caught, God knows what you have done, and waits for you to confess and ask forgiveness.
Prayer
Lord, you know what we do in the dark as well as what we do in the light. May we acknowledge our sinfulness before you and ask for your forgiveness. 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.
